CLEANING HUMIDIFIERS
First and foremost, follow the manufacturer's instructions to clean a humidifier.
It is important to clean the humidifier regularly to remove lime scale caused
by water minerals which collect on the belts, the water
reservoir and other parts that come in contact with the
water.
Regular use of a liquid water conditioner solution will
help to control odor and simplify cleaning. Some units have
dispensers which store and then dispense the solution
directly into the reservoir water.
As air passes through the pad, some particles of dirt
are trapped; also, the pad may become heavy with hard water
particles which collect on the fibers of the pad as the
water evaporates. Even if the interior liner and other
functional parts are made of non-corrosive materials, rust
can result from iron in the water.
The pad, liner and other interior parts need to be
cleaned frequently. Be careful when putting parts back
together so no malfunction will occur. Some humidifiers
have drain outlets--others have to be operated until all the
water is removed before cleaning.
Cleaning the humidifier outdoors or in the basement
with the use of a hose may make it unnecessary to take the
pad off the holder, but there is the possibility that water
may get into the motor or controls.
Plastic parts may be damaged if hot water is used to
fill the tank.
Pads may wear out or become ineffective. Once-a-year
relacement may be warranted.
Between operations, the unit should not be stored or
left for long periods with water in it. Undesirable odors
from the growth of fungus and bacteria may develop.