How to fix a humidifier with your own hands

An air humidifier is a technical device designed to maintain a favorable indoor climate. Over time, the humidifier needs repair or maintenance. Devices of this type are characterized by certain malfunctions. Some problems can be eliminated by hand, others require contacting a service center.

Purpose and principle of operation of the humidifier

Humidity, normal for humans, is 40-60%. The easiest way to keep it up is with a moisturizer. The need to use the device is determined by the negative effect of too dry air on wooden furniture in the house, indoor plants, and respiratory organs. Low humidity increases the risk of infections.

The device not only saturates the air with moisture. Some devices can function as purifiers and ionizers, which is beneficial for the health of people with allergies and asthma.

There are three types of humidifiers. They differ in technical design and principle of operation:

• steam - the water in the device heats up, and the resulting steam is sprayed out;
• traditional - there is no heating, the air is passed through a wet filter and due to this it is cleaned and saturated with moisture, after which it is sprayed into the room;
• ultrasonic - the design provides for a membrane that breaks water particles into smaller ones due to the vibrations created by it, as a result a cold fog is formed.

Regardless of the principle of operation, all devices perform one function - they increase the humidity of the air. However, their efficiency largely depends not only on power, but also on the type of device.

Varieties of devices

The colors, shapes and designs of humidifiers may vary. The main elements of the steam model are:

• outer case;
• water tank;
• steam generator;
• heating element;
• air cooler;
• electronic control unit.

A distinctive feature of steam humidifiers is the presence of a piezoelectric element that heats the water, turning it into steam. Because of this, they have more power, therefore, they consume more electricity.

The design of the ultrasound model consists of the following elements:

• power board;
• an emitter operating in the ultrasonic range;
• amplifier;
• fan;
• the electronic unit.

In traditional humidifiers, air is sucked in by a fan, driven through a filter and blown out into the room, already saturated with moisture.

Air humidifier maintenance

Continuous use of the device leads to contamination. This causes malfunctions and shortens the service life. In addition to the quick daily care of the humidifier, a thorough cleaning and replacement of parts is essential.

Daily care

Daily care consists in washing the device with hot water and soap, the purpose of which is to remove mucus and scale. For a more thorough cleaning, use a brush.Before cleaning, be sure to unplug the appliance and pour out the water. Since the humidifier is designed with electronic components, it must be washed very carefully so that water does not leak inside. After the procedure, it should be wiped off with a dry cloth and filled with fresh water.

Thorough service

Thorough cleaning is carried out every three days. After de-energizing the device and draining the water, wipe the container inside with vinegar diluted with water. The reservoir is then thoroughly rinsed and dried.

Disinfection

Disinfection is performed with household bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Unless otherwise indicated in the instructions, 100 g of the product is diluted in 4 liters of water and poured into the reservoir. After that, the device must be plugged into the network and wait for steam or fog to be generated, after which the humidifier is immediately turned off. Next, the liquid must be drained and the container rinsed. Fill in cold water again and let the appliance run until the smell of bleach disappears.

The disinfection procedure should be performed outdoors or with open windows.

Change filters

The humidifier filter must be changed periodically. Once it turns gray, it's time to replace it. Using a dirty filter is harmful to health, as tiny particles of dirt enter the air, which then settle in the lungs.

Seasonal service

Before storing the humidifier, you should disinfect it, dry it, and only then pack it and put it on the shelf. Choose a cool place out of direct sunlight. Disinfect again before use.

Fault diagnosis and solutions

Diagnostics of malfunctions is carried out primarily by examining the insides of the humidifier. After removing the back cover, they carefully check all the parts, wires, contacts. There should be no disconnected wires, blackened, swollen, melted elements.

Emitter

The failure of the membrane is evidenced by the presence of cracks on it or soldered wires. If the membrane looks intact, it is wiped with a solution of table vinegar, but before that, the degree of wear should be assessed, it may be better not to repair it, but to replace it. To do this, unsolder the wires from the board and remove the mount.

Generator

To check the generator, remove the rear cover of the humidifier, connect the device to the mains for a couple of minutes, and then disconnect the power. In this case, the radiator of the transistor should warm up. If it is cold, the generator is faulty. In the presence of voltage, then the power transistor and the control pulse generator are ringed. If you do not have enough experience and knowledge for this, you should contact the service center.

Piezoelectric element

The piezoelectric element is responsible for heating the water, so the serviceability of this part can be easily checked by boiling water some time after turning on the device. If the water does not boil, this indicates a malfunction. First of all, you need to check the generator. If it is the piezoelectric element that breaks down, it is changed.

Fan

The fan must be cleaned. Dust and grease or debris that has accumulated on the base can interfere with its rotation. If the procedure does not help, it means that the electric motor has burned out and needs to be replaced.

Power board

First you need to inspect the board. The contacts may have oxidized and need to be re-soldered. The presence of stains and smudges on the board indicates a breakdown. A multimeter will surely help you to verify this. Capacitors should not be swollen, resistors should be black. The electronic unit cannot be repaired without special knowledge, so it is easier to change it.

If the filter is clogged, you can rinse it first. But filters in humidifiers are still consumables, so they are changed as they become dirty.

Working moments

If the device is mishandled or simply from time to time, certain elements fail. The design of air humidifiers is quite simple, but self-repair of an air cleaner should be performed only if you have basic knowledge in the field of electronics, repair skills and the necessary tools: a soldering iron, a multimeter, a screwdriver.

Stench

According to the operating rules, water must be drained from the device during idle time, even if the humidifier is not used for a whole day. Failure to comply with this rule is the cause of an unpleasant musty smell. This means that a colony of bacteria has settled in the device, which feels great in a humid environment. Mold on the walls of the appliance and blooming water complete the picture.

To get rid of the problem, it is necessary to disinfect the device by rinsing the parts in contact with water and replacing the liquid in the reservoir. Deeper cleaning is carried out using table vinegar. 3 tbsp. acids must be poured into the device for 1 hour. For cleaning, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 10 or 20% citric acid solution are also used. The liquid is poured out, and the reservoir is thoroughly rinsed under running water.

Sometimes it is worth replacing or rinsing the filter with clean water, as bacteria often accumulate there. Some filter models cannot be cleaned, they can only be replaced.

The membrane is cleaned in ultrasonic devices. To do this, disconnect the device from power, then remove the panel located on the back side and the tie, remove the upper roller from the membrane, and pull out the lower one. The membrane itself is removed, washed with water and dried on a towel, then installed in the humidifier in the reverse order. Do not exert a mechanical effect on the membrane, for example, rub it with a metal sponge or scrape with a knife, because of this it breaks down.

When a new humidifier is switched on for the first time, it is not uncommon for the room to smell like plastic. It is normal if after 2-3 hours it disappears and subsequently no longer bothers you.

No steam

Steam is absent immediately after switching on, or at first it comes on, but stops after a few minutes. Lack of steam indicates damage to one of the parts responsible for heating water or spraying. These include:

• generator;
• membrane in ultrasonic devices;
• fan;
• the electronic unit.

The nature of the breakdown can only be determined by disassembling the device.

No air coming in

This malfunction occurs when the air passages are clogged or the fan breaks down. If the blades rotate, but slowly, it is worth cleaning them thoroughly. Adhering dirt may be interfering with rotation. The malfunction may also consist in the lack of contact. The inoperative fan must be replaced.

The air inlet is cleaned, the filter is washed or replaced. If the measures taken do not work, it is worth taking the device for repair.

Doesn't work at all

If the humidifier does not show any "signs of life" at all, the matter may be in the power failure of the device. It is necessary to check the integrity of the plug, socket, wire, the presence of electricity. If no problems are found, disassemble the humidifier, first drain the water and dry all parts. It is necessary to check the functionality of the fuse in the power plug, replacing it in case of failure. Sensors may be damaged.

Air humidifiers can heal the atmosphere in your home, but require daily maintenance. If the device is constantly operated and not cleaned, it will eventually begin to do more harm than good, and subsequently break down rather quickly. Repairing a humidifier can be done by hand, but some problems will have to be solved at a service center.