Low power on homedics humidifier. My homedics humidifier is 4 years old and is not evaporating the water as fast as it did when new. Do transducers get old??

SOURCE: HE440A Steam Power Humidifier

The most common cause of overflow is when hard water deposits build up and prevent the float from closing. You'll have to open up the unit, make sure there's no water in it, and clean out any mineral deposits.

The problem with these steam producing units is that there is no built in way to remove those deposits automatically. The water comes in, evaporates, and leaves anything else that was suspended in it behind.

SOURCE: Honeywell HE440A steam power humidifier

Honeywell has had lots of problems with this humidifier. They are coming out with a completely redesigned steam humidifier that will be available in a month or two. If you know who installed it (through equipment stickers and such) you can probably get them to swap your old trouble prone unit for the new design for just the labor. If they won't, then push them to talk with their Honeywell distributor about it.

The problem is most likely a stuck float in the humidifier. There are two floats that run up and down. One that tells it when to add water, and one that is a safety. They both tend to get stuck with mineral deposits.

You can fix it by unplugging the humidifier, turning off the water, draining the pan (unscrew the drain on the bottom a few turns), disconnecting the water lines and wires (2 molded plugs and 2 screw terminals-don't worry about if they get swapped). There should be a couple of screws that lock it into the ductwork such that when you remove the screws you can pull the whole unit out to see inside the water tank. Then just clean everything out well and put it back together in the same order.

You really do want Honeywell to get you a new humidifier though.

SOURCE: not adding moisture to the air

Have you cleaned the unit lately? The following is from the owners manual.
1. Turn the humidifier ‘OFF’ and unplug the unit.
2. Lift the main housing and remove the water dispersion tray and the PermaWick™ Filters. The motor is attached to the main housing. Do not place the motor near water. Do not use a wet towel on the motor or motor housing as electrical shock may occur.
3. The PermaWick™ Filter should be cleaned in a vinegar and water solution to remove any mineral buildup. Place in a solution of one (1) gallon of water and eight (8) ounces of undiluted white vinegar. Allow the filter to soak for 20 minutes.
4. After soaking, rinse it several times with clean water. Place the PermaWick™ Filter in a location where it can drip dry while you clean the other parts of your humidifier.
5. Remove the water tank from the base and empty any water that is left in the tank. Soak the base in a mixture of one (1) gallon of water and eight (8) ounces of vinegar for 20 minutes.
6. After soaking, wipe the base with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any mineral build up. Rinse with clean water several times. If you are planning on storing the humidifier, be sure the base is completely dry.
7. Fill the water tank with one (1) gallon of water and eight ounces of undiluted white vinegar. Replace the tank cap and shake the tank vigorously until all interior surfaces of the tank have been exposed to the water/vinegar mixture.
8. Empty the tank of the water/vinegar mixture. Rinse it several times with clean water and then replace the tank cap. If you are planning on storing the humidifier, dry it inside and out, leaving the cap off to allow the tank to completely dry. Continue to clean the other parts of your humidifier.
9. Remove the water diffuser cap by squeezing the two tabs as shown in Figure 3. Rinse the cap in clean water to remove any debris. If the cap contains hard water residue, soak it in a mixture of one (1) quart of water and two (2) ounces of vinegar for 20 minutes. 41553-01 01/03/2008 6 © 2008 Hunter Fan Company
Rinse well and reinstall the water diffuser cap. Do not expose motor or other electrical components to water.
10. Wipe the surfaces of the main housing with a soft cloth.
11. Once all the parts are clean, reassemble the humidifier, and follow the USING YOURHUMIDIFIERto continue use. If you are storing the humidifier, make sure the parts are completely dry, reassemble, and store in a dry location

Marvin

• 85242 Answers
• Posted on Dec 14, 2011

SOURCE: My sunbeam humidifier model SUL 495 does not seem to be working right?

Is there a filter or strainer where the water is pulled up? if so clean it, also you can run some kind of decalcifying product through it like CLR, which is non toxic.