Attention Aprilaire humidifier owners! First of all, congratulations on making it through a grueling winter. It was cold, snowy and nasty outside, with record-breaking low temperatures and record breaking snowfalls. But thanks to your insight, Aprilaire protected your family and your home from the potential devastation of dry air.
Time to call it a season
With the end of the humidifier season comes a couple of simple tasks to perform. First, be sure you are confident you will no longer require humidification, then follow these easy end-of-season tasks. If you have a bypass-style humidifier, you need to close the bypass damper. Simply turn the handle from the "winter" to the "summer" position. If you have a fan-powered Aprilaire humidifier, no adjustments are required.
Next, if you have an automatic control that is operating in the manual mode, or if you have the Aprilaire manual control, you need to turn the control knob to the "Off" position. This will ensure your humidifier will not turn on during the summer months (when you already have more than enough humidity). If you have an automatic control that is operating in the "Automatic" mode, there is no adjustment required. The outdoor temperature sensor will prevent your humidifier from coming on whenever the outdoor temperature is 60 degrees or higher.
Also, don't forget to call your Aprilaire dealer this fall to perform the annual humidifier maintenance. Your dealer will change your water panel, inspect the water delivery system, and replace any components that are fouled or worn. This indoor air quality (IAQ) expert is trained to keep your Aprilaire humidifier operating at peak performance.
Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air!
It's March 11, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. The outside temperature is a seasonal 43 degrees, with an expected high of 53 degrees. Not bad. What is bad is that the relative humidity (RH) is a whopping 93%. Wow! That's what's going on outside. How does that translate into what's going on in your home? Chances are your indoor RH is rapidly rising, leaving you very uncomfortable and putting your home at risk from the dangers of mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses and more. What can you do to eliminate these risks and concerns? Install a whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire.
Aprilaire is your whole-house solution
An Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to efficiently remove moisture from every room of your home. Also, unlike portable units that only remove moisture from the room they are sitting in, Aprilaire dehumidifiers have no messy tanks to empty and clean. Aprilaire truly is the best dehumidification solution.
Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your Aprilaire whole-house dehumidifier. End the suffering; call today.
Aprilaire - protecting you and your family for over 50 years!
Take special note on the article titled “The Truth About Indoor Air Quality”. It talks about the risks associated with poor indoor air quality and the best way to improve your homes air. The expert in the article highly recommends a whole home air cleaner to remove the fine particulate from your homes air
It is time to change the pad on my model 400 which I purchased in November 2009. I followed the instructions on the replacement pad box and from the owner’s manual on your web site. Both instruct in step 4 to tip the Water Panel evaporation assembly forward and lift it out of the humidifier. I tried to do this but the assembly appears to be attached at the top on both sides to the housing and I can not see or figure out how you remove it to get the assembly to tip forward.
Would you please instruct me on how to do so?
Aprilaires' response:
The internal components of the model 400 will require that they be removed from the humidifier in order to replace the water panel successfully. To remove the internal case from the base of the humidifier, you will need to pull it out from the top where the distribution tray is located. When pulling the internal case from the top you will need to tilt it towards you to remove the components. Once the internal parts are removed the water panel can be replaced at that time by removing the tray on top. After removing the distribution tray from the "U" shaped frame, pull out the used water panel and place the new water panel in the "U" shaped holder. We have also included the owners manual that references the proper process for replacing the water panel for the model 400 humidifier.
The electronic water valve is that supposed to regulate the water flow or is it an on/off? It started releasing water at full rate when activated and it splashes water back on the cover and on the floor vs the drain. It's never been restricted from the saddle value and this was not touched. thanks
Aprilaires' response:
My Aprilaire 550 is running every time the furnace comes on and we are not getting an improvement on the low humidity. Our house is about 1200 square feet. Any suggestions? We have installed an energy efficient furnace recently.
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 550 Humidifier. The energy efficient furnace may be running less than the previous model. By limiting the run time of the 550, it's performance over an hour will drop. Is your humidifier fed by hot water or cold water? The 550 will perform better with water temperature as close to 140°F as possible. This will also give you the added benefit of being able to run the humidifier with just your furnace fan. You may need to speak to your contractor to ensure it's properly wired to run with the heat and with the fan, but if it is, you can turn your thermostat's fan switch to the On position, the water provides the heat, and you can get humidity 24 hrs/day or until your desired set point is reached.
The water flow to my model 760 continues even when the unit stops (when the HVAC heater and fan stop). Does this mean the solenoid is faulty?
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 760 Humidifier. The water valve should close at the same time the humidifier's fan stops. They both receive their power from the same point inside. If the fan stops and the valve stays open, try unplugging the 760. If the valve continues to allow water through, the valve is stuck open. Without any source of power its internal plunger should spring closed. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
I recently installed the humidifer and it worked fine for a few days. Now it is leaking water out the bottom and not through the drain hole. Could the filter be defective?
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting Aprilaire. Humidifiers can leak for several common reasons,
1) Is the unit level?
2) Inspect the feed tube for cracks.
3) Is the water panel in upside down?
4) Is the scale control insert cracked?
5) Does the drain line plugged or restricted?
6) Erosion of the water panel do to reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water.
7) Heat registers in the house that are closed?
Closing heat registers can cause high pressure in your ducts which can blow water off of the water panel. If the static pressure in the duct is more than .4" of W.C. water will be sprayed off of the water panel.
I hope this helps. If you still can't stop the unit from leaking you will need to contact your local HVAC contractor or you can call our technical support department for more trouble shooting assistance. You can reach us at 1-800-334-6011 Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM central time.
Did you suffer from the ill-effects of dry air this winter because you don't have a whole- house humidifier? Did you have dry, itchy skin or get jolted by static shocks? Did the woodwork in your home shrink and crack? One more question; do you have a tax return coming this year?
Spend your tax return wisely
If you're tired of suffering every winter and you have a tax return coming your way, suffer no longer. Aprilaire is the industry leader in residential indoor air quality (IAQ). Not only do we have products that ensure proper levels of relative humidity (RH) throughout your entire home, we offer the best in whole-house air cleaners, thermostats, ventilation, and zoning. Aprilaire is also viewed as the best IAQ value in the industry. So much so that after you've paid for your Aprilaire humidifier, you'll probably have enough tax return dollars left over to buy that techno-gadget you've had your eye on.
Call your local Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house humidifier today. Getting your Aprilaire whole-house humidifier installed now will give you peace of mind going into next year’s heating season.
Aprilaire - protecting you and your family, and providing peace of mind, for over 50 years!
How much water (gal/min or ltr/min) should unit use while working "On"? Water connected to valve and looks like I can ajust it.
Aprilaires' response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 700 Humidifier. As this unit runs, it uses 6 gal/hr, or about .1 gal/min (.378 litres/min). No adjustment to the valve is needed. There is an orifice inside the plastic feed tube that creates the proper flow rate. Neither the solenoid valve nor the saddle valve should restrict the water to a level below your normal house pressure.
I have a condominium of approx. 2000 sq. ft. Is there a unit I can attach to auto water feed and which can be mounted on a wall?
What are the requirements, i.e. weight, drainage facility, etc.
Aprilaires' response:
Aprilaire offers two humidifiers (Models 350 and 360) that can run independently from any HVAC system.
These systems require a 120 VAC outlet, a drain line for the excess water and they need to be connected to the hot water line. Review the literature and installation instructions.
My humidifier is not sending water to the panel. Water is flowing to the valve but it seems to be shutting off the flow.
Aprilaires' response:
There are three components that govern the valve. The humidistat sends the activation signal to the valve when the furnace is running. The second part is the transformer or power source that the humidistat uses. The third would be the solenoid valve itself. If it has a signal to open and voltage and it doesn't, the issue is the valve. You may need to call your installer to have them check over the system. They can verify which part, if any, needs to be replaced.
Water is not getting into the distribution tray. It is in the water line. Can you tell me possible reasons for it and how to fix the problem?
Aprilaires' response:
There are a few reasons that water would not be getting into the distribution tray. Here is a small list:
1. Perhaps the solenoid valve is not opening. That could be due to no voltage getting to the solenoid, or just a solenoid gone bad.
2. If there is no voltage getting to the solenoid, you would need to determine the cause of that.
3. The inline strainer may be clogged. This is in the solenoid. If you remove the copper feed from the main water source, then use a Philips screwdriver and put that into the opening where the copper line just came out of and use a scrapping motion to pull out the strainer. You may clean it and put it back. It is about an inch long and shaped like a pen cap.
4. The orifice may be blocked. The orifice is located in the feed tube that comes out of the solenoid and puts the water into the humidifier. If you remove that feed tube from the solenoid, and tried to look into the tube you would not be able to because the orifice is right there at the end of the tube. Make sure that there is a small hole in the center, and that is not blocked. If it is blocked, use a small pin or needle to clear the hole. Do not stretch the hole any bigger.
Is it possible to upgrade the efficiency of the pre-filter from the current MERV-8?
Aprilaires' Response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to our Model 1750 Dehumidifier. We do not offer a high-efficiency filter for this model other than the supplied MERV 8. However, if this unit were attached to your HVAC system and its intake positioned downstream of your HVAC filter, that could potentially have a higher efficiency than MERV 8. In that situation, the internal filter would not be needed as all air it uses would be pulled through your HVAC filter. For example, our Aprilaire whole-home air cleaners begin at MERV 10 and go higher from there. The two could work together to give the 1750 cleaner air than the dehumidifier could create on its own.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.
I have the same issue. I installed 600A last week. For some reason, the humidifier does not increase the RH above 30% even on the highest setting (7). Our home is 40 years old and only 1500 sq ft. It was installed for automatic operation with the outside air sensor. Any comment to fix this problem
Aprilaires' Response:
One of the most common reason for lack of humidity is lack of humidifier run time do to lack of runtime of the furnace. Another reason is the homes ability to hold the moisture. No matter how well a house is built it breaths. As air escapes from the house so does the humidity. The older a home gets the leaker it gets. So the trick is adding the humidity faster than it is escaping. In most homes the humidifier gets enough run time, but older leaky homes or new homes that are so well insulated that the furnace hardly runs, you will need to extend the humidifiers run time.
If the Model 600 humidifier runs every time the furnace comes on, runs whole time the furnace is on, and gets forced to turn off when the furnace goes off, it is added as much humidity as the furnace is allowing it to. If the humidifier could run longer it would. So if the humidifier is wired to run with the furnace fan, connected to hot water (140 Max), and if you run your furnace fan continually, the humidifier can add up to 16 gallons of water to the air per day.
Some people don't want to run their fan continuously, so another option would be to use the Aprilaire 4851 Blower Activation Relay. This relay will turn on the furnace fan and let the humidifier run as many hours a day as it need to without the fan running continuously.
Do you remember last spring when all the snow was finally melted and it got warm enough
outside to go without a jacket? Do you also remember that it wasn't warm enough to turn on the air conditioning, but you still felt uncomfortable? This happens every spring due to the high levels of relative humidity (RH). The phrase "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" is all too true. High RH levels can make it feel like it's 5 to 10 degrees warmer than it actually is. One way to combat this is to turn on your air conditioner, as moisture removal is a natural byproduct of air conditioning. But in order to remove the excess moisture, you need to cool the air to a level that makes you too cold. 
Aprilaire to the rescue
A whole-house dehumidifier from Aprilaire works in conjunction with your home’s HVAC system to remove excess moisture from every room of your home. Unlike air conditioning that is designed primarily to cool your home, Aprilaire removes moisture when AC is not required, efficiently removing moisture and providing the comfort you deserve. Maintenance is a breeze with Aprilaire as well. Unlike portable dehumidifiers that require you to empty and clean a tank on a daily basis, Aprilaire dehumidifiers only require an annual filter cleaning. Hassle free convenience and comfort; that's what Aprilaire is all about.
Contact your Aprilaire dealer and schedule the installation of your whole-house dehumidifier today and avoid all the discomforts you felt last year. Your family will thank you for it.
Aprilaire - fresh ideas for indoor air.
I am having a similar problem. I just installed a 600A humidifier and the control is set at 7. The 600A humidistat says that the air is at 42% RH, but I have two other humidity meters in the living area that read 33%. Does the 600A humidistat need calibration?
Aprilaires' Response:
Thank you for contacting us with regards to your model 600A Humidifier. The humidistat for this unit does not require calibration. It does, however, only update its display when it detects activity in the furnace, typically the heating mode. If the display constantly shows 42%, regardless of humidity changes in the home, the control may not be wired correctly. If the control does change its display, but stays around 9% apart from the other gauge, then the issue is just a discrepancy between devices. Most gauges will be accurate within 5% to 10% of actual humidity. With the humidity reading at 42% on the humidistat and the control setting at 7, we would expect that the humidifier will be running with each heat cycle of your furnace as long as outdoor temperature is 20°F or higher. If this unit is operating in the manual mode, it should run under these same conditions regardless of outdoor temperature.
Do these units work independently from your current heating system.
I have a forced air unit located in a closet accessed from the outside.
This is in the mountains of Colorado where freezing is a problem. Cannot
connect humidification systems directly to the furnace for that reason.
Would this unit be hooked up to a water supply so it would work all the time or
does one need to add water when it is needed
Aprilaires' response:
Our models 350 and 360 are independent units. They do not connect to the HVAC System at all.
They do connect with a hot water line. Simply tap into a hot water line from your house so that they can get water as needed. They also need a drain line connected to them and an outlet for power.
They come with a manual control humidistat that gets mounted on a wall in your living space.
I have a Model 5000 filter. I'd like to get an upgrade kit, but I am not sure whether there is one that would fit. I am confused between the Model 2400 and 5000 and the media for each. Are these two different models with interchangeable parts?
Aprilaires' response:
There is no upgrade at this time for the model 5000 electronic air cleaner. Because of the electronics involved, we have not yet come up with an upgrade for this unit.
The size of the 5000 is the same as the size for the 2400. Although, the 2400 is not electronic. Also the filter used in the 2400, even though the same size, is not recommended for use in the 5000, just as the filter for the 5000 is not recommended for use in the 2400. The 501 filter for the 5000 has metalic stripping on the pleats of the filter. These are necessary for the correct operation of the 5000. If you put a 401 filter into the 5000, sure it would catch dust, but you would loose all the electronic capabilities that you purchased the 5000 for in the first place.
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