Humidifiers gently improve indoor air quality, boost comfort and promote better health by moisturizing indoor air when and where needed — not bad accomplishments for such an unassuming appliance. Though, your humidifier needs some help along the way to deliver the best results day after day. Use these tips to learn how you can remove and prevent mineral buildup in your humidifier to maximize its effectiveness.
Removing Mineral Buildup
Removing mineral buildup in your humidifier is a simple task that only requires a few supplies. You’ll need cleaning cloths, white vinegar, a measuring cup, dish-washing gloves and a soft brush and/or a non-abrasive scouring pad. So, turn off your humidifier, unplug it and get started removing those minerals and scales.
- Remove the tank, housing and filter (or wick).
- Place the filter in a bucket to allow it to drain.
- Empty and rinse out the base.
- Use cloths to clean and dry the base.
- Pour one cup of white vinegar in the base. Let it stand for one hour.
- Empty out the vinegar, and scrub the base with a soft brush and/or non-abrasive scouring pad.
- Pour a little vinegar on a cleaning cloth and wipe down the entire humidifier.
- Thoroughly rinse out the base with water, and wipe the entire humidifier with a wet cloth.
Preventing Mineral Buildup
The most effective ways to keep your humidifier clean and sanitized is to use distilled water and to clean the humidifier regularly. Municipal and well water supplies contain much higher amounts of minerals and other debris than distilled water. Also, distilled water and cleaning will minimize the white mineral dust expelled from your humidifier.
Moreover, if you don’t clean your humidifier regularly, the water may become stagnant and harbor mold and bacteria. If you are already behind on your humidifier cleaning, substitute a 50/50 bleach and water mixture for the vinegar to kill micro-organisms.
If you have any questions about how to remove or prevent mineral buildup in your humidifier, please contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning today. Our family-owned business has served homeowners in Lorain and surrounding areas for more than three decades!
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 mineral buildup and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area