Humidifiers, like any appliance, are subject to wear and tear and may stop functioning properly over time. Since hiring a repairperson can be expensive, you may want to try a few of these simple repairs on your own; you may be able to get your humidifier up and running again at little-to-no cost. Here are some tips for troubleshooting and repairing your humidifier:
Electrical Problems
Check to make sure that the unit is turned on and that the outlet to which it's connected is working. You can check the outlet using a voltage tester or by plugging into it a working lamp or other device. If the outlet isn't working, check the fuse box. If there isn't a tripped circuit, or if flipping a tripped circuit back on doesn't work, you have a more serious electrical problem and should call an electrician right away.
If there is no electrical problem outside of the unit, the problem is internal. You can try calling a repairperson, but you may just need to purchase a new unit
Humidifier Doesn't Work Well
If your humidifier is working but isn't doing its job as well as it should, there a few things to consider:
- Check the specifications of the unit to make sure it can handle the size of the room it's being used in.
- The humidifier won't do its job well if the doors and windows of your home or the room are open. Also, make sure the fireplace damper is closed.
- Make sure the reservoir of the unit is filled to the appropriate level (as specified in the owner's manual).
- Make sure the unit is clean.
- Lubricate the fan motor with some kind of spray lubricant (your owner's manual should indicate what to use).
Noisy Humidifier
A humidifier that's overly noisy is usually caused by parts that have come loose and begun vibrating. After disconnecting the humidified from the power, remove its cover and look for any loose parts. Tighten screws as necessary. Also, gently wiggle the fan around to see if it's loose at all. If it is, tighten the mounting fasteners. Again, a fan that's not well lubricated can also be noisy, so lubricate the fan as necessary.
Humidifier is Leaky and/or Smelly
Leaks are generally the result of an overfull reservoir or a hose problem. If the reservoir is overfull, simply empty some of the water. Also, check the hoses to be sure they aren't kinked or damaged in some other way.
If your humidifier is giving off a bad smell, it's most likely because the unit is dirty. Clean the tank and evaporator belt with a mixture of water and bleach (1 gallon of water to 2 table spoons of bleach).
If your humidifier still isn't working correctly after you've tried these fixes, you'll probably just have to replace the unit. It's important that you get the right size unit for the space you're heating, so if your humidifier was doing a good job before it broke, you should get one that's similar in size. Hopefully, though, all it will take is a simple repair to get your humidifier up and running again.