DIY air humidifier repair

A humidifier is a good thing, even if many people think differently. Since installing this device, you will significantly reduce the incidence of your household. The main thing is to correctly establish the indicators of relative humidity, doctors recommend a value of 45-60%. Sometimes it happens that the humidifier worked for a long time, maintaining a pleasant atmosphere in the house, but over time, a problem began to appear, or even the device stopped. Let's find out what malfunctions are typical for this device, how to repair the humidifier with your own hands.

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Types of humidifiers and the principle of their work

Depending on the method of steam generation, humidifiers are divided into:

• Traditional (cold steam or classic) - the air is sucked in from the room and the force generated by the fan is driven through the humidified filter. Air passing through the filter is saturated with water molecules, in addition, it is cleaned of impurities.
• Steam - in such a device, hot evaporation occurs. The liquid is heated by a piezoelectric element, after which the heated mist is sprayed into the room using a cooler.
• Ultrasonic - large particles of moisture are broken into smaller ones by ultrasound. This is done using the vibrations that the membrane creates. The fog also gets into the room blown out by the cooler.

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Design Features

Before undertaking the repair of an air humidifier with your own hands, you need to clearly understand what parts it consists of.

Steam Model Device

The case of steam models may have a different shape, but the basic elements are the same. In the upper part there is a tank of water (it can also be on the side). Underneath is a plastic compartment with electronics:

1. Cooler sucking air through the lower grill.
2. Round flat piezoelectric element (heater).
3. Control block.
4. Generator.

Ultrasonic Model Device

The humidifier housing contains the following:

1. The electronic part.
2. Amplifier.
3. Power board.
4. Ceramic-based emitter (visually similar to a conventional speaker, but works in the ultrasonic range).
5. Fan.

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Common problems at work

Humidifiers are a fairly simple and reliable technique. Often they fail when:

• An illiterate attempt to maintain or clean them.
• Moisture in the enclosure.
• Power surges.

Important! Moisture in the enclosure is a fairly common occurrence. This can occur both from the gradual penetration of moisture particles, and from improper handling of the device.

Some models have a hole for the exit of steam on top of the tank, and a filler hole under it. Getting to it is not always convenient - in some cases you will have to remove the capacity. Therefore, someone mistakenly decides to fill the water through a steam separator. As a result, water can enter the housing, for example, through an opening from which a stream of air from a fan is blown.

Important! Doing it yourself can repair an air humidifier only if you have basic knowledge of electrics, as well as soldering skills. In addition, you will need a tester and a multimeter.

Let's look at the main types of malfunctions of humidifiers, as well as ways to eliminate them.

No steam

The reason that the device has stopped emitting steam may be the following:

• Oxidation of board contacts.
• Generator damage.
• Fan failure.
• Membrane damage (in ultrasound models).

Important! Often the device turns on, and steam can even go for a while, but will stop after one or two minutes.

No water wasted

The bubbling of water indicates the normal operation of the membrane in ultrasonic devices. If it is absent, or the noise is very low, most likely you will have to replace the emitter. Damage can occur for various reasons.

In particular, if the problem is with the level sensor, the humidifier could work for some time dry (the level sensor could fail by itself, or it was deliberately closed, and then forgot to turn off the device in time).

Moldy smell

This is a fairly common problem with many climate devices. To eliminate it, it is enough to clean and disinfect the device. For the humidifier to work “like a clock”, change the water every day, and clean it every week. In addition, try to disinfect at least once a month.

Important! If an unpleasant putrid odor comes out of your air humidifier, then be aware that your device is not ultrasonic, since ultrasound disinfects, killing mold and fungus.

The appearance of plaque

If salt deposits appeared on the walls and parts of the device, you should not brush it off. Scale adversely affects any technique, reduces performance, and also reduces the life of the product. Therefore, always make sure that no layers of malicious plaque form on your device.

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How to disassemble the device?

To fix a humidifier, first you need to look inside it and understand what the problem is. For this:

1. Switch off the device.
2. Remove the tank (it is better to prepare a cup in advance where you can place the liquid container).
3. Wipe off any remaining moisture in the drip tray with a dry cloth.
4. Turn the rest of the case over - there you will see 3-5 bolts.
5. Unscrew them and carefully remove the bottom cover.

Important! In models with a built-in hygrometer, this element is often mounted on the inside of the bottom cover, near the ventilation grill. Therefore, when removing it, sharp jerks must be avoided so as not to damage the contacts and wires of the hygrometer.

Diagnostics

Possible causes of breakdowns should be ruled out as simple tests are carried out with a previously disassembled device:

1. Plug in the plug and check if the cooler (or fan) is working.
2. After 2 minutes of operation (and turning off their power supply), check the temperature of the radiator of the transistor by touch - if the radiator is cold, then this indicates that the problem is in the generator.
3. The absence of signs of life or sounds from the membrane indicates that the emitter is out of order. It will have to be replaced.
4. Call all the contacts on the board.

Important! Sometimes, having excluded all the malfunctions listed by us, owners may find that the cause of the breakdown lies in the broken cartridge. Therefore, do not forget to change the filters on time.

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Cleaning

Models and designs can be different, which means cleaning processes too:

• Scale may appear on the interior of steam humidifiers. The same methods that help eliminate it in teapots can be used for climatic devices. For example, you can add water with the addition of citric acid.
• Replacing the filters is a key step in sanitation for the humidifier.
• In addition, periodically, the container should be washed with running water and wiped from the inside with a soft brush or cloth.

Important! During cleaning, do not use dishwashing detergents, toilet bowls, or other aggressive household chemicals.Both parts of the device and people who can then inhale the air emitted by the device can suffer.

Disinfection is not just cleaning, but the elimination of microorganisms that have accumulated in containers. The following can be used for disinfection:

• Acetic acid.
• Chlorine bleach.
• Hydrogen peroxide.

Important! The bleach is diluted with water according to the recipe indicated on the package. The concentration of acetic acid is adjusted to a percentage of 10-20%. But hydrogen peroxide is used in its pure form. The mixture is poured into a humidifier and aged for several hours. After the procedure, the device is thoroughly washed.

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Repair of electrical parts

Even a visual inspection of the instrument board can tell a lot about it:

• “Healthy” - it has a uniform color, without spots and smudges. All contacts must be soldered, dialed, there must also be no separate swollen elements. Resistors should not be burnt (burnt have a dark color).
• It is necessary to check if there is a breakdown in the board tracks.
• A short circuit in the appliance network fuses the fuses that should be re-soldered.
• If water vapor enters the device, the contacts become oxidized. If this happens, carefully remove the board from its slot (as a rule, this is a matter of a few bolts). Clean its surface with a small soft brush with alcohol.

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Ultrasonic membrane

Having bought a new membrane, it is not difficult to install it instead of the old one that has failed:

1. Turn off fixing bolts.
2. Remove the ceramic ring along with part of the board.
3. Attach a small round membrane to the board with two wires that are carefully soldered out.
4. Degrease joints.
5. After that, solder the wires of the new element (remember the color of the wire where it was).
6. Once the parts are in place, reassemble everything in the reverse order.

Important! To replace the transistors, use exactly those that were installed on the humidifier from the factory. The mismatch of their parameters can lead to the fact that the steam ceases to form.

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Security

In the end, we will give a few more recommendations that will help protect the equipment from breakdowns and extend its life:

• Pour liquid only into the hole provided by the manufacturer.
• Do not bend over the steam nozzle for inhalation, as is done over a container with a decoction of herbs.
• Work with vinegar is preferably carried out in the fresh air.
• Do not place the appliance near other working electrical devices.
• When checking the structural elements for serviceability, do not touch the internal parts with your hands until you disconnect the humidifier from the power supply.
• Dispose of broken parts as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not cover the humidifier with anything on top; place it so that air does not block the bottom of the device where oxygen is drawn.
• Do not touch the case with wet hands.

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Stock footage

Doing the repair of an air humidifier with your own hands is a completely feasible task. It is more difficult to find the real cause of the breakdown. Without special devices, this does not always work. But, as a rule, competent operation, timely cleaning and replacement of filters will help prevent many of the occurrence of many breakdowns.