3
How to Check Your Humidifier
for Proper Operation
For preseason startup, or to check your humidifier for proper operation (for
example, after it has been serviced), follow this four-step procedure:
Turn on the water at the valve which leads directly to the humidifier.
Make sure the water level is set at 1-3/8 inches. Turn the valve adjustment
screw clockwise (
) to lower the water level; turn it counterclockwise (
)
to raise the water level.
Turn the humidistat to its highest setting and observe the humidifier evap-
orator pad. If it does not rotate, turn your furnace on by setting the ther-
mostat higher until the furnace blower comes on. This should cause the
humidifier evaporator pad to rotate.
NOTE:
Wiring the unit to operate independently of or in conjunction with
the furnace blower is up to the discretion of the installer. On installations
where the unit is closely sized (i.e., the cubic footage of the home is at
or near the humidifier’s peak volume capacity), independent operation
allows the unit to operate throughout the full blower cycle, thereby elimi-
nating the lag time involved in starting the humidifier.
IMPORTANT:
Reset the thermostat and humidistat to their correct
positions for automatic operation.
How Water Hardness Affects
Scheduled Maintenance
Your humidifier will accumulate minerals, such as calcium and lime, after
operating for a short period—a sure sign that the humidifier is producing
humidity. The amount of accumulation depends on the hardness of the water
in your area, which means that cleaning frequency will vary from region to
region. You can recognize that cleaning is necessary when the pores in the
evaporator pad begin to become plugged with mineral deposits.
At a minimum, your humidifier will need to be cleaned at the end of every
humidifying season (i.e., the months when you heat your home). Depending
on the hardness of your water, mid-season cleaning may also be necessary.
In areas with particularly hard water, installation of a Skuttle Automatic
Flushing Timer
(see page 5)
will increase the intervals between cleanings.
WARNING:
Excessive buildup of minerals is detrimental to the internal
parts of your humidifier, as well as to the evaporative process.
NOTE:
Under normal heating system conditions, the evaporative pad should
last one-to-two heating seasons before replacement is necessary.
Prolonged
exposure to UV germicidal lamps will shorten the pad’s lifespan.
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