But in order to serve you well you must maintain and fix your humidifier to prolongs it lifespan. Keep reading to learn how to fix and service your humidifier.
Did you know that a humidifier can reduce snoring? By eliminating nasal congestion, a humidifier will make breathing easier thus reducing snoring. It can also help hydrate your skin and in some cases even help reduce headaches.
Why is my HoMedics humidifier not working?
Here are some reasons why your humidifier is not working;
The humidifier is clogged
If you use hard water, the dissolved minerals will turn to be mineral deposits with time. This sediment can clog the transducer and the heating elements for a heat based humidifier, causing reduced or no mist output.
Other than that, mineral buildup will foster the growth of contaminants and the formation of white dust, putting you and your house at risk.
Solution
- Clean and disinfect your HoMedics model regularly. Every 3 days or week, you have to clean and sanitize the machine thoroughly. Use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water to give the tank and base a scour.
- Add distilled water. Distilled water is your best bet if you want to say goodbye to those annoying scales and lime. It doesn’t contain any minerals, but it is not an excuse you can stop cleaning the machine.
- Use a demineralization cartridge. My HoMedics comes with a cartridge that I can put into the water tank to purify the tap water. It can filter out the minerals and help with reducing white dust. If the water in your area is relatively soft, it should work.
Check this too: Why is My Humidifier Spitting Out Water?
Power issues
Sometimes, when you use an electronic gadget with water, things can get complicated. The moisture particles can accumulate on the cords and power strips, causing malfunction. Or you just forget to plug it in.
Your humidifier cable may also be damaged.
Solution
Use a new power strip or seek professional help. Don’t try to fix this problem if you don’t have related expertise.
The humidifier is out of water
Most, if not all, HoMedics humidifiers have an auto-off function that will stop humidifying when it is going to run out of water.
Solution
To troubleshoot this problem, you just need to refill the water tank with distilled water and your device will work again.
What’s important is you need to get used to changing out the water every day. Then you can avoid the issue forever.
Clean The Steam Chamber: Over time, mineral deposits will build up in your steam chamber—the part of your humidifier that holds water and creates a mist.
Low humidity level
If you’re in a dry climate or if your furnace or air conditioner is running frequently, chances are that your home could use some extra humidity.
But if you have a HoMedics humidifier, you might have noticed that it doesn’t work correctly.
If so, there’s a simple solution to both problems: simply fill up your humidifier with tap water and run it for two hours per day until you notice an improvement in air quality.
As a bonus, adding moisture to your home’s environment, even if only slightly, will make it easier for you to breathe and feel comfortable inside when winter rolls around again.
Why Does My HoMedics Humidifier Have a Red Light On?
Below are the main reasons why the red light is on your HoMedics humidifier;
Low water level
This is the primary reason why HoMedics humidifier red light is on.
Many of us like to run a humidifier all night, and when we wake up, the red light is on. This is common because the tank is empty after 8 or 9 hours of operation.
There is a sensor in the water tank to detect the water level. When it is below a particular mark, the light will turn red, and the machine will stop working automatically.
But the sensor can go wrong at some point, meaning that it will send a wrong message to the appliance despite the tank being full.
In other words, when your humidifier thinks it is short of water, it will turn on the red light no matter what the truth is.
The humidifier needs to be cleaned
Some HoMedics units have another light to indicate whether or not you should clean the device. When it is red, it is time for you to do the upkeep.
As per the information in the instructions and websites, the manufacturer recommends you clean your HoMedics machine every 60 hours. If you don’t follow the instructions, the red light will stay on.
The Nightlight feature is on
HoMedics humidifiers are usually multifunctional. Some combine warm and cool mist models and some have a nightlight feature.
Typically, the nightlight will cycle from 7 different colors, but you can set a fixed one by pressing the button again. So you may happen to set it as red, and you will see the red nightlight showing.
HoMedics Humidifier Not Working Red Light
The red light is an indicator of a low water level or an alert that you should clean it. However, some models have a nightlight function, and red is just one of the colour options.
To remedy the issue, refill the water and see if the light will go off. If this does not work, clean the humidifier.
Note: if the red light is still on after cleaning it, reset the clean filter light by Pressing and holding the CLEAN FILTER indicator until the indicator light goes off.
HoMedics Humidifier Not Working After Cleaning
The most likely explanation is that you just forget to connect to the power source or refill the water after cleaning. Check to see if you plugged it back after cleaning. You can also try to reset it to see if it will work.
If your humidifier isn’t producing mist, check the humidistat. The humidistat may take some time to adjust and reacclimate to the room’s humidity after you’ve cleaned the humidifier thoroughly. Give it some time to recalibrate.
You should also make sure that you refill the tank after your cleaning. Cleaning the humidifier involves emptying the tank, so if your humidifier is no longer producing mist, you may have forgotten to refill the tank.
If your humidifier isn’t increasing the humidity, check the evaporation pads. They won’t function at the level necessary to produce noticeable humidity if they aren’t clean.
If you’ve cleaned your humidifier and now it sounds louder than it did before, double-check the fan motors; you may have damaged them during your cleaning.
If it is not a problem with the power source and empty water tank, you can pour out all the water and set all the parts aside to air dry. Once every part is completely dry, you can put them back and try to rerun it.
If it is still not working after this, seek professional services to fix it.
Note: You should always be careful when cleaning a humidifier because it contains a lot of electronic components inside. If you submerge the base in water, the machine may fail when you plug it in.
HoMedics Humidifier Keeps Turning Off
Below are some reasons why your humidifier is turning off;
1. Faulty humidistat
HoMedics humidifiers have humidistats that are programmable. The humidistat is essential for maintaining proper humidity levels. If the humidistat fails, the humidifier will begin to malfunction by turning off and on repeatedly.
A defective humidistat can misdiagnose the relative humidity of the room. This can cause the humidifier to turn off, recording the room’s humidity as achieved, despite the fact it hasn’t altered the humidity of the room.
Solutions
Check to see if the humidistat on your HoMedics humidifier is working. To do so, connect a multimeter to the system and experiment with different voltages.
You’ll need to reset your humidistat if the ohm-meter reads appropriately.
Your humidistat, on the other hand, is not operating if the ohm-meter reads 0 all of the time.
To reset the humidistat settings:
- Press and hold the humidistat button for 2 to 5 seconds, then press and hold the + Button until “CO” (continuous on) is one level above 60%. You can now adjust the settings as desired.
- If the humidistat is faulty, the humidifier will likely need replacing as the humidistats are not sold separately.
2. Water contamination
It’s possible that your HoMedics humidifier isn’t operating because of a water contamination issue in the electrical components. This can happen when you refill it, move it around, or clean it.
When the electrical components come into contact with water, the humidifier may start shutting down more frequently, preventing it from humidifying a room properly.
Be careful when placing the water tanks back on the base to avoid spilling water because this is typically when water accidentally enters the electrical components.
Solutions
To avoid water getting into other compartments, don’t move the humidifier around after it’s full and if you must, carry it with both hands carefully to avoid water spillage.
While cleaning, ensure the water does not get into the electrical compartment.
Always place your HoMedics humidifier on a levelled surface.
After cleaning, allow your HoMedics humidifier to completely dry before using it again.
If you accidentally flood the area where your humidifier is located with water, unplug the humidifier, remove any water, clean it, and allow it to dry fully before using it again.
3. Faulty or incorrectly placed float
Most HoMedics humidifiers contain a float system that controls the humidifier’s automated on/off operation. Although, some, such as the UHE-CM15, do not.
The floats are programmed so that until there is enough water in the tank, the float system remains at the activation threshold.
The float then drops below the activation threshold when the tank runs out of water, and the humidifier switches off. However, some issues like mineral build-up can cause the float to become trapped below the activation threshold, making the humidifier turn off even though the tank has enough water.
Solutions.
Wash away any dirt around the float.
Lift the float at the activation level.
If after doing that it still doesn’t work, replace the float switch or invest in a new humidifier.
4. Settings
A HoMedics humidifier can malfunction due to the settings. When you adjust the settings during winter and forget, the same settings will apply during summer which might not be favorable for you due to house temperature and humidity changes.
When you set your humidifier to not exceed a given percentage, take for example 50%, it will always turn off when the relative room humidity reaches that percentage unless you modify it. Because humidity is relative, it changes with the temperature, in this sense warm air can ‘hold’ more moisture than cool air.
Solutions
To see if you have any setting preferences, go to settings.
By using the + or – buttons, you can remove or adjust the settings based on the current relative humidity.
Confirm the humidity setting is for a relative humidity percentage greater than the current humidity of the room.
How Do I Reset My HoMedics Humidifier?
You can reset your HoMedics humidifier by turning it off and unplugging it before refilling the water tank. Press and hold the red reset button on the HoMedics humidifier faceplate. The red light on the reset button and the clean indicator light will go away after about 3 seconds of holding the reset button.
Reset HoMedics Humidifier after cleaning
The cleaning light should go off at two-week intervals. If there’s no obvious buildup, cleaning it may not be necessary; you can just reset the light. You can reset the flashing cleaning light by holding the power button for five seconds.
The unit should work, even if it does need to be cleaned, so if the unit isn’t working and the cleaning light won’t turn off, your HoMedics humidifier may have a bigger problem.
HoMedics Humidifier Light codes and their meanings
Below are the main lights on the HoMedics humidifier;
- The red light indicates a low water level on the HoMedics humidifier.
- The green light means that you have enough water to operate normally.
- The cleaning indicator is another red light that may appear on the HoMedics humidifier.
- The night light indicates that the humidifier is on and lights up in different colors.
How to clean and maintain your HoMedics humidifier
Follow the following steps to clean your HoMedics humidifier;
Items needed
- Soft brush
- Cotton swabs
- White multi-purpose vinegar
- Clean water
- A small dish
Follow these steps to clean your HoMedics humidifier.
1. Turn Humidifier Off and Unplug
Turn off your humidifier and unplug the power cord. This is a safety precaution to make sure that you do not accidentally trip any sensors. This is also to ensure that water will not accidentally go into any part of the humidifier where it is not supposed to.
2. Detach Water Reservoir
Carefully detach the water reservoir (or reservoirs if you have a 2-reservoir model) and remove the caps to open it. Drain the water while having one or two fingers partially covering the opening. Doing so allows you to catch the demineralization cartridge and prevent it from dropping to the bottom of the sink and possibly breaking.
Set aside the cartridge. Do the same thing for the other reservoir if you have a 2-reservoir model.
3. Drain Water from The Humidifier Base
Get rid of the water inside the reservoir by draining it into the sink. Just make sure you don’t let the cartridge fall out, then set it aside. Do the same thing to the other reservoir. Drain all the water inside the humidifier’s base.
Make sure you don’t drain it towards the power cord, and it’s towards the side that’s disclosed inside the base.
4. Soak Reservoir In Vinegar/Water Solution
Then remove the reservoirs from the main machine, then add a cup of White Vinegar to each reservoir. Once you’ve done that, add a cup of water to each reservoir. Get the reservoir and fill it with a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water. Fill both reservoirs with one cup of vinegar and one cup of water if you have two. It is best to use white vinegar with at least 6% acidity.
Using vinegar on your reservoir helps clean and soften any mineral deposits that might have accumulated inside. And the best part is that white vinegar is an effective disinfectant that can kill bacteria, mold, and fungus inside the reservoir.
Let the solution soak inside the reservoir.
5. Expose and clean the Transducer
The Transducer is the next on the list, start by unveiling it and removing the cover.
Get the base of the humidifier and face the back towards you. Locate the small cover near the bottom of the base. It has an arrow pointing to the back of the machine or towards you.
Grab this cover by its handle and pull it towards you, then upwards to remove it. Removing the cover exposes the transducer. Set aside the cover.
Then create a solution using a small cup of 50% water 50% Vinegar. And dip the Q-tip (or the head of the toothbrush) into the cup, and lightly rub the transducer.
Clean the black ring inside the transducer with the cotton swab to remove the mineral deposits. Do the same thing for the area surrounding the black ring.
The black ring is clean once it looks smooth and shiny with no white residues anywhere.
7. Clean Hinged Floats
Next, clean the hinged floats with the cotton swab dipped in the white vinegar solution. Clean it of mineral deposits so that the floats can move up and down freely. You’ll find them on either side of the transducer, and they are too important to clean.
Use the same process you did on the transducer by dipping the Q-tip into the water-vinegar solution and clean the hinge floats. Position the power cord away from the sink to avoid it from getting wet.
There is an arrow that points to the direction the water should be drained or poured out. Tilt the base towards the direction of the arrow to drain the water. Set it aside afterward.
8. Clean and Rinse Humidifier Base
Now, move on to the bottom of the base to the side of the hinge floats, and clean it for around a minute each. Make sure there are no mineral deposits left on either side of the base.
Pour a tablespoon of the white vinegar solution at the bottom of the humidifier base and use a cotton swab to clean off mineral deposits. It will feel rough or sandy where there are mineral deposits left. It will feel smooth once you’ve removed all the mineral deposits.
Rinse the humidifier base with clean water, making sure that you tilt it in the indicated direction each time to dump the water after rinsing. Use a paper towel to dry the outside areas of the humidifier base that are wet, especially the areas near the power cable and the power cable itself.
Next, get the solution out of the base by washing it with water. Drain the water into the side the machine asks you to drain towards. The final step inside the humidifier is putting the transducer’s cover back, now it’s clean and tidy on the inside. Reattach the transducer cover and set aside the humidifier base.
9. Add Solution, Reattach, and Fill Reservoir
Move back to the reservoir, get rid of the solution that was left in there. Take the reservoir and shake the solution inside to wash the inside surface. Dump the solution into the sink and rinse it thoroughly with clean water. Do the same thing to the other reservoir if you have two.
Refill your reservoirs with water with 3-4 cups of water. Rinse and repeat the rinsing severally then drain the water back into the sink again. Get a paper towel and dry both reservoirs.
Refill the reservoirs with water as usual. Put the demineralization cartridges back again into both reservoirs and reinstall both reservoirs. Push and hold the “Reset” Button on the humidifier for 3 seconds.
10. Check Demineralization Cartridges
Check your demineralization cartridges. You need to replace them if they look too dark or moldy.
Try HoMedics 4-pack replacement cartridges if you need to replace your demineralization cartridges. Put the demineralization cartridges into the reservoir and reattach the reservoir to the humidifier base. Reattach the reservoir caps.
11. Plug-In and Reset
Check the power cable before you plug it back in, making sure that it is not wet. Plug it in and power on the humidifier.
Press and hold the red reset button on the HoMedics humidifier faceplate. The red light on the reset button and the clean indicator light will go away after about 3 seconds of holding the reset button.
Notes:
Here are some important tips you’ll need to keep into consideration after knowing how to clean HoMedics Humidifier:
- Make sure you don’t leave any vinegar inside the humidifier after cleaning.
- It’ll get easier in the 2nd and 3rd times, so don’t worry about the effort or the time you’ll spend on it.
- Change the cartridges 2 times every 3 times you clean homedics humidifier.
- Always make sure to empty the tank and the reservoirs when you’re not using the humidifier.
How to Clean a Humidifier with Mold
The simplest way to clean mold out of a humidifier is to use 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
- Pour a mixture of four parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide in the tank of your humidifier.
- Give it a good shake and let it sit for at least half an hour.
- Pour it out and rinse the tank with water.
If you want a more natural solution to cleaning your moldy humidifier you can use distilled white vinegar. The process is similar to that of cleaning a humidifier with hydrogen peroxide, but has some slight variations.
- Pour a mixture of one part water to one part distilled white vinegar into the tank.
- Give it a good shake and let it sit for at least an hour
- Pour it out and rinse the tank with water.
Check this too: What is the Brown Stuff in My Humidifier?
How to clean the HoMedics filter
The HoMedics Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with a built-in filter that needs to be cleaned. This filter collects the impurities from the water and prevents them from getting into your lungs when you breathe in the air.
It is important to clean you filter regularly to prevent mold buildup. You should clean this filter every month or so, depending on how often you use it.
Follow these steps to do so;
- Unplug your humidifier.
- Fill the water tank with warm water and add a small amount of mild detergent (Dawn Dish Soap works great).
- Swirl around the water in the tank to mix up the solution.
- Put on gloves and remove the humidifier cover by lifting it straight up. The cover will swing back and forth so be careful not to spill any water from inside.
- Wipe out any excess moisture from inside the tank with a towel or paper towels. Do not dump out all of the water!
- Rinse off all of the parts by placing them in a large bowl filled with lukewarm water mixed with a little bit of dish soap.
- Let soak for about 15 minutes then remove from bowl and rinse thoroughly under running water until all soap residue is gone.
- Take a bottle of vinegar, pour it into a bowl and place it on top of the filter.
- Leave it overnight or for at least 24 hours so that the vinegar can soak into the filter.
- Then rinse it with clean water until all traces of vinegar are removed from it.
HoMedics Humidifier Filter Maintenance Tips
Use these tips to maintain you humidifier filter;
Replace the filter
Some humidifier parts may need to be replaced on a regular basis. Central humidifiers and evaporators may have filters to replace or clean.
Review the instruction manual to find out how often to replace a filter or other parts. Consider purchasing a few additional filters to have on hand for easy replacement.
Use fresh distilled water for each use
Distilled water is largely free of minerals and other materials that may leave deposits in the humidifier and release particles into the air. Before purchasing water, make sure to read the label because not all bottled waters are distilled.
Keep the area around the humidifier dry
Avoid mold and other build-up in the humidifier by keeping the area surrounding the machine as dry as possible. Check upholstered furniture, rugs or carpet, and window treatments for moisture. Turn down, stop, or remove the humidifier from the area if the area is damp.
Clean it before and after storing
Make sure to deeply clean and thoroughly dry the humidifier before storing the machine for any length of time. Dispose of filters and other replaceable products. Store the humidifier in a dry area. Clean and dry the device again when getting it out of storage.
Best practices for maintaining your humidifier
Cleaning your humidifier every time you use it is the best way to maintain the machine. Here are a few other tips to keep in mind:
- Do not allow the humidity to get above 50 percent in any room. Too much humidity can foster mold and bacteria growth. Use a hygrometer to measure humidity levels.
- Empty, dry, and refill your humidifier each time you use it.
- Use distilled water in your humidifier to reduce the spread of minerals in the air.
- Stop using a humidifier immediately if you develop any breathing issues.
How to Prevent Mold in your HoMedics Humidifier
The best way to prevent mold in your humidifier is through regular, weekly cleanings. Nearly all humidifier manufacturer’s recommend thorough cleanings each week or, at a minimum, once a month.
Cleaning your humidifier is quick and easy. Keep your humidifier clean by:
- Emptying the unit of any water.
- Rinsing the unit with hot water and white vinegar.
- Scrubbing the interior of the unit with a soft-bristled brush to remove any scales or mold build-up.
- Rinsing the unit with hot water.
- Allowing the unit and all components to air-dry completely before reassembling.
What to Put in the Humidifier to Prevent Mold
There are a number of additions you can make to your humidifier’s water chamber to help protect against mold and scaly build-up. Remember, by design, a humidifier is wet and warm, an ideal habitat for mold growth.
Adding one of the following additives to your humidifier will help protect against mold growth between cleanings:
Tea tree oil
A natural disinfectant, a few drops of tea tree oil in the humidifier water will not only prevent mold growth, but also serve as a breathing aid for people with respiratory illness or asthma. Tea tree is an essential oil distilled from the Melaleuca plant, which possesses antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.
Humidifier tablets
You can purchase these tablets online or in a local store. They are designed to prevent mold growth and lime build-up inside the humidifier. Simply drop one tablet along with the appropriate amount of water inside the reservoir.
Hydrogen peroxide
One of the least expensive options for preventing mold in the humidifier, hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria and mold. Just a few drops into the water reservoir will get the job done.
White vinegar
Add one cup of white vinegar to the water in your humidifier to prevent mold growth. It’s a naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial substance that is safe for the air and for your humidifier.
HoMedics humidifier not blowing mist
Below are some reasons why your HoMedics humidifier is not misting;
1. The transducer or heating elements are dirty
A HoMedics humidifier may not be misting because its transducer or heating elements are dirty or clogged.
Transducers are included in some HoMedics humidifier models, such as the;
- TotalComfort® Deluxe Warm & Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier (UHE-WMTF185)
- TotalComfort® Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (UHE-CMTF40)
While, warm mist HoMedics humidifiers have heating elements that can also become clogged with mineral deposits, causing a misting problem.
Using hard water in the humidifier rather than distilled, remineralized or purified water causes a mineral build-up in the transducer and/or heating elements.
A lack of cleaning after an extended period allows the mineral deposits to accumulate causing a misting problem.
Solutions
- Use distilled or demineralized water in your HoMedics humidifier.
- Clean your humidifier regularly.
- Rinse your HoMedics humidifier with plenty of clean water and dry it after each use.
- If you notice any scale or mineral build-up, use white vinegar, lemon, or bleach to descale it.
2. Low water level
One common reason for a HoMedics humidifier not working is a low water level.
HoMedics humidifiers have water tanks and when the water level becomes too low, the humidifier will start malfunctioning.
Fortunately, most HoMedics humidifiers have smart functionalities so that when the tanks are empty, the unit simply automatically shuts off, advising the user to refill them.
Solutions
- Fill the HoMedics humidifier with water to just below the max line.
- Only use distilled water as that is the water recommended by the manufacturer.
- Ensure the water level in your HoMedics humidifier is correct i.e not too low or past the max line.
3. The humidistat setting is lower than the current room humidity
HoMedics humidifiers offer humidistat settings that can be adjusted to help manage interior humidity. When the humidistat setting is lower than the current room humidity, the humidifier will not mist.
Solutions
- To adjust the settings, press the humidistat button. Using the + or – buttons, you can adjust the humidity.
- The + and – buttons increase or decrease the humidity level by 5%, and will be displayed on the screen.
- Select the desired percentage level, above that of the current humidity.
4. Wick filters need to be changed
Some models of HoMedics humidifiers have wick filters. For instance, the HoMedics UHE-CM15 portable ultrasonic humidifier. The wick filters become clogged after a period of use, and when this happens, water does not move through freely, resulting in insufficient mist.
If your HoMedics humidifier includes a wick and has a misting problem, inspect the wick filter to see if it needs to be replaced.
Solutions
- Replace the wick filter – these are easily available from Amazon.com or HoMedics.com
How to replace a wick filter
- Switch off the humidifier and remove it from the power source.
- Remove your new replacement wick filter from its packaging and soak it for 2 minutes.
- Turn the mist spout to the right until the icons align in the “unlock position,” then remove it.
- Remove the mist spout by lifting it up and setting it aside.
- Turn the wick holder to the left and remove the top cover to unlock the spring-loaded wick.
- Remove and discard the old wick from the wick holder.
- In the wick holder, place the new, moistened wick.
- Replace the wick holder on the device and turn it to the right to lock it in place.
Why is my HoMedics humidifier leaking?
1. The Humidifier is placed on an uneven surface
A HoMedics humidifier can leak because it is placed on an uneven surface.
When a humidifier is placed on a blanket, mattress, rug, carpet, or furnished floor, it can begin to leak, roll over, or be damaged as a result of water or moisture exposure.
Solutions
Consult the user manual handbook on where to place your specific model of HoMedics humidifier. In general, HoMedics humidifiers should be placed on a sturdy, flat surface, away from heat sources and sunshine, with sufficient air flow around all edges.
You can place it on a waterproof mat or pad. It should never be used on a rug, carpet, or polished floor that is susceptible to water or moisture damage.
Keep the HoMedics humidifier at least 30cm away from the wall.
Avoid soft places like rugs and mattresses.
2. The reservoir tank is not placed on the base correctly
Most HoMedics humidifiers have water tanks that need to be refilled with water, and sealed with a tank cap before being placed on the base for use.
If the water tank is not correctly positioned on the base, and the tank cap was not fastened tightly, it can leak water.
Solutions
When turning over and placing the tank back on the humidifier’s base, make sure that it is firmly seated.
After refilling the water tank, replace the tank cap by turning clockwise until tight.