"Humidifier not working" or "It's too dry in here"
are very common complaints during the winter months. More times than not though, the problem is something the homeowner can take care of without calling for service.
In fact, many times the problem is something the homeowner did, like turning off the humidifier at the end of last heating season and forgetting to turn it back on again. Or forgetting to open a damper or open a water valve. Homeowners often forget that humidifiers need to be cleaned frequently. If the water panel or pad is clogged, the unit will not humidify properly.
Below is a list of possible causes and things to check. Items in blue usually require a service call. Items in red however can be addressed, even fixed by the homeowner.
Clogged water valve
Clogged orifice
Bad 24 volt solenoid valve
Bad 24 volt motor
Bad humidistat
Faulty or shorted wiring
Float not working properly
Humidistat not turned up high enough
Water valve not opened
Bypass damper not opened
115 volt unit not plugged in
Completely clogged water panel or pad
Wheel/humidifier pad installed in motor backwards
System taken apart from previous season
Water level too low
The bottom causes in red are common problems and can be addressed by the homeowner. Try to check for these conditions first before calling for service.
Hope this helps, remember - these are just rough guidelines and not all possible situations are covered.
Hannabery HVAC is registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General: PA#8215
