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Caring for a Whole-House Humidifier More autumn home maintenance tips From "Home Maintenance" episode DHMW-103

Host Tim Hockenberry shares tips on maintaining a whole-house humidifier.

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Figure A

Caring for a Whole-House Humidifier

• Securing your windows, which was discussed in the first segment of this "Fall" episode DIY's Home Maintenance workshop, is a great way to control the temperature in your house. Another way is to make sure your whole-house humidifier is ready for winter. (figure A). In the fall and winter, the dry hot air being pumped through the furnace can be tough on you and your house. It can cause dry skin, dry lips, dry throat, etc. Your house feels the heat too.

• Low humidity levels can cause peeling wallpaper, brittle paint and cracks in your wooden furniture. Humidifiers need regular maintenance or they could do more harm than good. The most common type of humidifier is the evaporative type.

• Because you open your unit, locate the water shutoff, usually within reach, and make sure it is turned off.

• After the humidifier is unplugged the first thing you want to check is the media screen. The screen is what water drains across--and it usually has a lot of mineral deposits. White vinegar and water will get rid of this build up.

• If your screen has as external housing, remove it before submerging it in the vinegar bath, to make sure the solution gets into all the nooks and crannies. Let it soak to really loosen up the minerals on the screen. Most of the deposits will come off with a gentle rinse, but if you want you can use a toothbrush to remove those stubborn deposits.

• It is a good idea to give all the other parts of the assembly a scrubbing with the toothbrush, too.

• After a final rinse, reassemble the screen and housing and install it back into the humidifier.

• Evaporative humidifiers have fans that need cleaning, too. Wipe off the blades to remove dust or debris that might have collected. And while you are at it, clean off the intake vent for the fan before replacing the cover.

• Some humidifiers have fans that need cleaning too. Wipe off the blades to remove dust or debris that might have collected. While you are at it, clean off the intake vent for the fan before replacing the cover.

• Some humidifier systems have pumps to remove any excess water that flows through the humidifier. You need to clean these, too. Simply pour a cup or so of vinegar solution into the pump, and let it more through the system to clear out the drain line.

• Turn the water supply back on and check the humidistat. The humidistat functions by sensing the humidity that is in the room and will turn the humidifier on or off automatically as the humidity changes. If you find you have moisture on windows, walls or pictures, you should adjust it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Remember, the humidifier is used in the colder months. Be sure to turn it off when cold weather ends.

DIY Home Maintenance Seasonal Checklist "Take Care of Your House and It Will Take Care of You!"...and you can start by printing out DIY's PDF checklist file.