What if you could breathe easier with a few simple tricks?
If you use a humidifier, you know how much it enhances your quality of life. But if something goes wrong with that humidifier, every breath becomes a struggle.
Fortunately, you don’t have to throw out that old humidifier out. With our humidifier repair tricks, you can notice and fix common problems right away!
Humidifier Repair: Anatomy of a Machine
You don’t need to be an electronics whizz to repair a humidifier. That’s because these machines are easy to understand.
It’s basically a device filled with water controlled by a humidistat. The machine measures the moisture in the air and adds humidity as needed.
Most of the problems occur with filters, foam, or the electric cord. Check our guide below for ways to identify some of the most common issues.
Water Level
Strictly speaking, “noticing” a humidifier problem is the easy part. Either the machine doesn’t turn on or it turns on and nothing is happening.
If it doesn’t turn on, your first step should be to check the water level inside. If that level is too low, it may prevent the machine from turning on.
If you fill the water level back up and it still does not turn on, it’s time to move on to the next potential problem.
Check the Power
If you haven’t done so already, you must check the power cable for the humidifier. Is it properly plugged in?
If it is plugged in but you still suspect a power issue, you can also check the outlet that the machine is plugged into. Try to plug some other items in and see if you can turn the other items on.
When there is an outlet problem, you may temporarily handle things by swapping the humidifier to a new outlet. You will eventually want to repair the older outlet, though.
Floating Down Here
Earlier, we noted that a humidifier detects the moisture in the air and reacts accordingly. How does that work? Most devices have a special float control built into them.
When the float goes beneath a certain level, it can affect the humidifier function or simply tell you that it’s time to add water. Sometimes, though, there are problems with the float.
Inspect the float itself and clean it if necessary. Be careful not to break or bend the float rod.
Move the float around to figure out when the humidifier activates. Change the activation level if necessary and make sure it is working right.
Finally, check the connections to the float’s switch and make sure there are no power problems.
Check the Pad
Most of the issues earlier assume that your humidifier isn’t turning on right away. However, what if it turns on but is not increasing humidity? Then it’s time to check the evaporation pad.
The pad may simply be dirty. If so, cleaning it may restore humidity control.
We recommend simply using water to clean the pad. If you must use soap, make sure to fully rinse the soap out before you re-install it into the humidifier.
If you haven’t done so already, take this opportunity to inspect the reservoir for other problems. And remember that you can replace a pad if you feel it is too old or dirty for a simple cleaning.
Too Noisy
Most people use humidifiers to help them sleep. Therefore, when the machine becomes super-noisy, it can affect your ability to peacefully sleep through the night.
A noisy humidifier almost always means you have an issue with the machine’s fan. At this point, all you can do is test the fan and then either repair it or replace it.
If you don’t feel comfortable playing around with the electronics of your humidifier like this, keep in mind that you can always bring it to a professional.
Humidistat: Let’s Get Technical
Ever have a problem with the temperature in your home? Most people immediately suspect a major HVAC issue. However, the culprit is often a faulty thermostat.
Your humidifier is a lot like that. Sometimes, there is not a real problem with the power or the other parts. Instead, it may be an issue with the humidistat.
If you suspect the humidistat, your first step is to disconnect all the wires that are attached to it. Step two is to use a multimeter and test the humidistat.
Again, you don’t have to be an electrician to pull this off. If it’s working correctly, the humidistat should conduct power in the “on” position and not in the “off” position.
If the multimeter reveals any problems with the humidistat, there is not an easy way to fix it. Instead, your best bet is to replace that part entirely.
Funky Smell
Sometimes, the problem isn’t that a humidifier won’t turn on or has stopped working. Instead, the problem is that the darned thing smells really weird!
If there is a funky smell, the first thing you should do is check the evaporation pad. Cleaning or replacing that pad may be enough to get rid of the smell.
However, if the smell persists, the only other culprit is the water itself. Clean the water reservoir and refill it with clean water to make the nasty smell a thing of the past.
The Tools You Need
We have focused on some of the repairs you may need to make to your humidifier. That brings up an obvious question: just what tools will you need to make this happen?
The good news is that you don’t need too many tools. With some screwdrivers, wrenches, and a multimeter, you have everything you need to get started!
Humidifier Repair: The Next Step
Now you know how to perform humidifier repair. But do you know where you can get the parts that you need exactly when you need them?
We specialize in filters and other parts for humidifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and more. Check out our wide selection of filters for your home today!
The power pn the humidifier won’t turn on!
Initially when plugged into the outlet all lights come on and then disappear and the power stays off
I have just cleaned the entire unit and changed the filter, but it still doesn’t work!
What should I do now???