A whole-house humidifier can reduce dryness even during the coldest of winters by adding moisture to heated air. However, if the humidifier is not properly maintained, a humidifier leak can occur, which can cause a lot of damage to surrounding areas.
The three most common problems that cause humidifier leaks are:
- A clogged drain line. The drain line in a humidifier is responsible for removing saturated excess water. If the drain line is clogged, kinked or damaged, the water will have nowhere to exit except to leak out of the sides or bottom of the unit. To solve this problem, the drain line will need to be unclogged and then flushed with hot water. A drain line that has holes or is otherwise damaged will need to be replaced.
- A malfunctioning solenoid valve. The function of the solenoid valve is to direct fresh water toward the water panel, where the water is exposed to heated dry air and then vaporized into your indoor air. Humidifier leaks can occur when the water is flowing to the wrong places or if the valve never closes and the water is continually flowing. First, ensure that the arrow on the solenoid valve is pointing toward the right direction. If that doesn’t solve the problem, the valve needs to be cleared of all blockage that is preventing it from closing properly. To do this, the solenoid valve needs to be removed from the unit and cleaned with a can of compressed air.
- A clogged water panel evaporator. This can cause excessive buildup on the scale control insert which may then block the drain line, leading to humidifier leaks. The water panel evaporator will need to be removed, and then the scale control insert should be cleaned thoroughly. Flush the scale control insert to remove all buildup. Finally, install a new water panel evaporator.
The best prevention for humidifier leaks is proper and regular maintenance. For more advice about humidifier maintenance and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about humidifier leaks and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area