Humidifiers play an essential role in making a home more comfortable and healthy. Using humidifiers strategically can even protect your home from structural damage due to mold, mildew or other moisture-related problems. Just like any appliance, though, humidifiers need regular maintenance. If you neglect to give your humidifier the attention and care it needs, it won’t work properly. To make things easy for you, we put together a helpful guide on simple ways to take care of whole-home humidifiers.
How Does a Whole-Home Humidifier Work?
Knowing how whole-home humidifiers work is key to understanding their required maintenance. Many types of whole-home humidifiers connect directly to the furnace or HVAC system. They use sensors to detect how much humidity is in the air. When the humidity drops to a certain level, the humidifier kicks on, releasing moisture. This makes the air less dry and uncomfortable.
Different Types of Whole-Home Humidifiers
The reservoir humidifier uses a water reservoir and a revolving drum to produce mist. This type is extremely prone to producing mold and mildew if the water stays stagnant for an extended period of time.
Flow-through humidifiers drop water onto an evaporator pad of coated metal or plastic to increase the relative humidity of the air. Unlike drum-style humidifiers, this kind of equipment doesn’t easily get moldy and keeps the air fresher for longer.
A steam humidifier heats water to a boil to generate steam. The HVAC system then distributes this steam throughout the home. Humidifiers like this one work well with heat pumps since they don’t need a furnace to operate. However, in order to boil water, it requires its own electrical circuit.
How Often Should You Clean a Humidifier?
You should check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the exact type of maintenance that your humidifier needs. Different types require different maintenance tasks. You may need to empty standing water from the humidifier on a daily basis and disinfect the unit once a week. Most units use filters that require cleaning or replacement once a month.
Do You Have to Change or Add Water to a Whole-Home Humidifier?
A whole-house humidifier, once installed and linked to your plumbing and HVAC systems, will automatically regulate the relative humidity in your home. This eliminates the need to replenish the tank. The daily water consumption of most models ranges from 1.5 to 12 gallons.
Professional Maintenance for Whole-Home Humidifiers
If you want your whole-house humidifier to last as long as possible, you should have a professional service it once a year. Mineral deposits and other debris might build up within the unit over time, especially in the humidification mechanism and water reservoir. A professional maintenance session removes these deposits and prevents future issues such as mold or bacterial growth.
An expert will also look for damage or leaks throughout the humidifier system, including the water supply line, valves and controls. Next, the technician will clean or replace the water panel or filter. A dirty or clogged filter will hinder the unit’s humidification capacity, potentially worsening air quality by circulating contaminants.
It’s also common practice for professionals to check the humidistat’s settings to make sure it’s producing the right amount of humidity without straining the system. In addition to ensuring proper operation, the technician will also inspect the electrical connections. As a last step in enhancing the interior air quality, the expert may suggest installing other air filtration systems.
Will an Expert Check the Ductwork During Humidifier Maintenance?
Yes, inspecting the ductwork for leaks, obstructions or inadequate insulation is a common part of humidifier maintenance. This is because the ductwork has a direct impact on the humidifier’s ability to supply humidified air throughout the home. A well-designed and well-maintained system of ducts distributes moisture evenly, maximizing comfort. Uneven humidity levels and energy loss may result from ducts that are either leaking or improperly built. For effective heat retention and humidity control, the specialist will fix cracks, remove obstructions and insulate the ducts to the required standards.
Common Maintenance Issues and Fixes
Whole-home humidifiers experience common maintenance issues from time to time. Fortunately, most of them come with fairly simple fixes, especially when left in the hands of a professional.
Noisy Operation
Many things can cause a whole-home humidifier to be loud, such as a broken fan motor, loose parts or mineral accumulation. As part of routine maintenance, an expert will check the humidifier for these possible noise sources. They will remove mineral deposits, tighten loose components and lubricate moving parts. If the noise continues because of more serious mechanical issues, the expert might suggest fixing it or replacing the broken pieces so it runs smoothly again.
Electrical Problems
A professional will check the electrical parts for damage or wear throughout the maintenance process. They will verify the wiring, repair any broken switches or sensors and examine the control board for proper operation. For more intricate electrical faults, the expert may use specialized equipment and procedures to locate, diagnose and fix the problem.
Airflow Blockages
Whole-home humidifiers can experience airflow issues due to blocked vents, dirty filters, malfunctioning blower motors and even dirty ductwork. When doing maintenance, a professional will look for and eliminate any blockages in the airflow system, which includes the ductwork and vents. In addition, they will make sure the fan assembly and blower motor are clean and working properly. All of these maintenance tasks improve airflow and help the unit function with optimal efficiency.
Sensor Issues
There are a number of sensor problems that whole-house humidifiers might encounter, including erroneous humidity readings and sensor failures. As part of routine maintenance, an expert will check the humidity sensors and adjust their settings as needed to provide reliable results. Additionally, they will inspect the sensors for any signs of corrosion or damage, and if needed, they will replace them.
Water Quality Issues
When it comes to water quality, whole-house humidifiers might run into problems like mineral accumulation or microbiological development. To eliminate mineral deposits and microbes, professionals will clean the water reservoir and its components during maintenance. For optimal mineral retention, they might suggest switching to filtered or distilled water. To further enhance water quality and forestall other problems, the expert may also recommend installing water treatment systems such as ultraviolet lamps or water softeners.
Pump Malfunction
Pump malfunctions in a whole-home humidifier usually result from leaks, blocks or mechanical failures. This is why experts test the pump during maintenance to ensure it works like it should. Many pump issues are easy to fix; however, some require replacing the whole pump to get the humidifier working properly.
You can make your home more comfortable with our drain cleaning, heating and cooling services. Our team of licensed and experienced specialists can assist you. We have been providing services to the Greater Chicago area since 2008. We even specialize in sump pump installations and maintenance. To schedule maintenance for the whole-home humidifier in your Plainfield, IL, house, call TR Miller Heating, Cooling & Plumbing now for IAQ solutions.
