Unit only works upside down!

I have been looking for Bionaire information recently and found a very low level of service. Customer services don't know the answers without reading the instruction booklet first and they aren't allowed to talk to the technical department. Stone age or what?

I guess even if you can get inside the chances of buying a replacement switch would be slim. Few units are sealed in my experience even though they might be glued together. There is such a variety of specialist adhesives available today sealed units can be sawn apart with a thin-bladed hacksaw and then put together again to be safe and functional. Careful prising can bear fruit and even using a holesaw to gain access and then fitting a grommet in the resulting hole.

It is as well to check for hidden screws first. These are often hidden under labels or beneath the self-adhesive feet and suchlike.
A faulty switch can be by-passed in the absence of a replacement so it would need to be unplugged or switched off at the power outlet...

I hope this helps.

If it smells like plastic burning. Stop using it immediately. As there could be an electrical short or overheating of the unit. If doesn't smell like plastic burning, you'll need to be more descriptive of what the odor smells like.

There is info on the FAQs from Air-o-Swiss:
http://www.airoswiss.net/service/faq.aspx#35


Q: No mist / unit is not working / empty indicator keeps flashing
A: Fill up the water tank. Check if water is flowing through the demineralization cartridge (attached to the water tank cap). If the water tank is full but there is only little water in the base it indicates that the water is now flowing through the demineralization cartridge.

• Wait for 15 minutes to allow the mist to come out of the unit.
• If the unit is not working and the empty light is not flashing you might have set the desired humidity too low and the current humidity level in the room is higher. That is why the unit switches off automatically.
• If the empty indicator continues flashing and the tank is full, water is not flowing through the cartridge. Exchange the cartridge or the granules in the cartridge after 2-3 months, in areas with hard water exchange the cartridge after 1 -2 months. However, the demineralization cartridge and or the granules must be exchanged at the latest after 6 months or the unit does not reach its full performance.

If the granules are new, see the following instructions:

• Make sure the cartridge and/or granules were soaked for 24 hours, water takes longer to filter through dry granules in cartridge and into the base. Next, remove 2 tablespoons of granules from the cartridge, and throw them away. Too many granules in the cartridge it does not allow water to flow from the tank to the base.

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Q: Unit is running intermittently.
A: How long has it been since the contents of the cartridge were replaced? If 2-3 months have passed, it is time to replace the contents of the cartridge. However the demineralization cartridge and or the granules must be exchanged at the latest after 6 months or the unit ceases operating at its full performance. If the contents of the cartridge were just replaced there are probably too many granules in the cartridge. Remove 2 tablespoons of granules from the cartridge.

I took my humidifier apart to see what was wrong with it and saw the carbon electrodes were caked with salt deposits. While cleaning them off, one of the electrodes broke about halfway down. I noticed the electrodes were hollow - about a 3/16" diameter hole down the middle.
I found a small diameter screw from a toggle bolt assemble, cut the head of the screw off, cut the remaining threaded piece to about an inch long and used it to splice together the broken carbon electrode. I reasoned that the steel piece is only touching the carbon pieces, and not the wire leads, it should be ok/safe resistance-wise. I put everything back together again, and voila, the unit worked!

Turn the unit off, lift the fan assembly off the base, and push the connector together that goes to the float switch on the bottom of the fan motor. If you hold the switch in with your finger (careful not to get into the fan blades) and turn the unit on, the F indication should go away. F (as in Fill), apparently, means the base has no water. The plastic tube that sticks up out of the base floats on the water and pushes the switch. Put it back together, it should work!

When you cleaned it , did you remove water level sensor? If so did you put it back in upside down? The sensor is a plastic cylinder that is held down by a screw and washer.. If you have it in upside down, the empty water red light will be lit,,, if you unscrew the sensor and flip it .. it should start to work again..

Make shure that the the filter in the bottom of the valve is clean. Turn water off use a 1/2 & 7/16 wrench to take apart the bottom connection on valve use a small screwdriver and push the small screen out and clean then put it back together.Use the same wrenches and take apart the top of valve clean inside valve and clean small orfice in plastic water line put back together. Make shure 24volts is gettin to valve you should her a click when furnace is running or fan. It may take a couple times to clean. Hope this helps

turn knob to reset....leave 15 minutes and then turn on

Caring For Your Venta-Sonic Humidifier
IMPORTANT!
Always unplug the unit before cleaning!
When to Clean Your Humidifier

Clean your humidifier weekly or more often during heavy use, depending on your
individual water quality. Clean your humidifier before storing and after long periods
of storage.

When cleaning the inside of your unit, keep water away from the air outlet. Exterior
may be wiped with a damp cloth when unit is off and unplugged.
Cleaning the Oscillator and Water Sensor

Turn off the unit and unplug power cord. Remove tank from base and empty
reservoir in base. Use cleaning brush provided in base to clean off mineral deposits
and sediment from oscillator and water sensor. Do not scrape or clean with tools
that have metal parts. Be careful to not damage the surface of the oscillator.
ATTENTION: Damage to the oscillator may cause the unit to not work properly.

The oscillator (ultrasonic transducer) is highly sensitive. Keep this important part
clean and treat gently. Do not touch the oscillator while the unit is operating.

Do not use soap, cleaning agents, detergents, or other chemicals for cleaning the
tank and humidifier.

After cleaning fill water tank (see instructions above) and return tank to base.
Storing the Venta-Sonic
Switch off and unplug power cord from A/C outlet. Empty remaining water from base
and tank. Clean tank and unit (see for instructions above). Make sure all parts are
thoroughly dry—allow at least 24 hours to dry. Leave the filling cap of the tank
loosened. This will keep the cap and gasket from sticking together. Pack Venta-Sonic
in original packaging and store in a cool and dry place.

You can find your manual at this link:
http://www.venta-sonic.com/pdf/vs207manual.pdf

Good Luck.

sounds like new caps should solve it, but have you tried soaking the old caps in vinegar overnight? these guys are not the only ones, but they have the correct caps in stock at a pretty good price http://www.marbeck.com/humidifier_parts_bemis.html hope this helps :)