Heating season will be here in a matter of months, which means you need to make sure your whole-home humidifier, along with your heating system, are in top shape. Local heating and air conditioning contractor Kemnitz shares a few tips on how to clean and maintain your whole-house humidifier in today’s post.
Take Safety Precautions — A whole-home humidifier is an electrical device, which means you need to either unplug it or switch its circuit breaker off from the electrical panel if it’s connected to an isolated circuit, Most types of humidifiers feature easy-to-open front panels. If the latch doesn’t disengage, check to see if it has a lock or childproofing feature. If it doesn’t, consult the user guide for instructions on how to open the panel.
Clean the Water Panel — The first thing you’ll notice when you open the humidifier is the water or media panel. It’s a screened enclosure that contains layers of media. During operation, moisture is fed down from the top and is retained by the panel. Air is then blown through it, feeding the vents with moist air. The water panel can get clogged by minerals in the water–the same minerals that cause water stains on bathroom fixtures. These minerals combined with the dust and dirt in the heating and air conditioning vents can make the panel quite dirty, so it only makes sense to replace the media every year.
Clean the Water Reservoir — The water reservoir routes excess water away from the humidifier. If the reservoir is detachable, remove it and try to clean off as much limescale as you can. Kill any microbes inside by swirling around a mixture of 50% water and 50% vinegar, then rinse and wipe it dry before putting it back.
Clean the Humidifier’s Exterior — Once you’ve put everything back, check the exterior for leaks, water spots and stains. You can remove water spots by soaking the affected areas with the same diluted vinegar solution for 15 to 30 minutes using a washcloth.
Call Kemnitz for Your HVAC Needs
Kemnitz is your leading provider of AC repair, installation and maintenance services. Give us a call at (949) 467-9157 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Orange County and nearby areas.
Category: Blog Tags: care, humidifier, IAQ, maintenance