Air Humidifier Repair: How To Disassemble It Yourself? Features Of Diagnostics. Cleaning Rules. How To Fix Breakdowns?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

An air humidifier is an important household appliance designed to increase the percentage of moisture in the room air. Its use is relevant in case of excessive dryness of the air, as well as the presence of a functioning air conditioner in the apartment. Such units have a long service life, but in some cases breakdowns are possible . How to be in a similar situation, we will consider below.

Diagnostics

After long-term operation and maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in the room, the air humidifier may malfunction, breakdown or stop working.

There are situations when the owner of the unit will need to contact a service center, but often problems can be fixed by hand.

In order to prevent a breakdown of the device, it is necessary to diagnose failures in a timely manner, namely: carry out simple tests with the disassembled humidifier.

1. Having connected the plug to the electrical network, you need to check the functioning of the cooler, fan.
2. After two minutes of operation, the device is disconnected from the network. Next, you should feel the temperature of the unit by touch: if the radiator is cold, then the problem may be hidden in the generator.
3. If the membrane does not make any sounds, then the emitter may be broken, then it should be replaced.
4. Each of the contacts is called on the board.

If all of the above points are excluded, you can think about the clogging of the cartridge, so you need to clean the filters in a timely manner.

Major breakdowns

If the humidifier has ceased to function normally, you should look for the cause of the breakdown. Among the faults of this device, the most popular are the following:

• an unpleasant odor is emitted during operation of the humidifier;
• the unit makes noise and makes loud sounds;
• no steam is generated when the humidifier is on;
• the device does not turn on and does not function at all.

Breakdown of climatic equipment can occur under the influence of various factors.

Here is a list of common reasons for the formation of faults:

• long term of use of the humidifier;
• worn out parts;
• moisture got on the board of the device;
• liquid leaks;
• contaminated water is used;
• collection of scale or plaque;
• voltage drop in the electrical network;
• damaged power grid;
• clogged parts;
• improper operation;
• mechanical damage to the humidifier due to impacts and falls;
• failure of the ultrasonic membrane;
• disturbed operation of the fan, heating element.

How to repair with your own hands?

It is worth disassembling and repairing an ultrasonic humidifier only if it is disconnected from the electrical network. The first step is to disassemble the device to determine the cause of the problem. After de-energizing, you need to remove the tank, having prepared the container in advance to accommodate the container with the liquid . Liquid remaining inside the unit must be removed with a dry cloth.

After flipping the remaining intact body, 3-5 bolts can be seen. The latter are unscrewed, after which the cover is removed with particular care.

Humidifiers with built-in hygrometers should be disassembled carefully, since this element is attached to them on the bottom of the device. The cleaning process for HVAC equipment may differ depending on the product model.

The internal parts of the steam appliance can be damaged by limescale, which can be removed in the same way as in kettles . For example, use citric acid. The key stage in carrying out sanitary measures is considered to be the change of filters. For this, the container is washed with running water, wiped from the inside with a cloth of soft texture or a soft brush.

When cleaning humidifiers, it is strictly not recommended to use chemicals of a chemical nature, for example, dishwashing liquids, toilet bowls or other aggressive chemicals. If you ignore this rule, you can damage not only the parts of the device, but also harm the health of others . The whole reason is that when the humidifier is started, the chemicals that have settled on the walls will spread throughout the room and enter the respiratory system of people.

Disinfection of climatic equipment is not only its cleaning, but also the elimination of microorganisms and bacteria that have accumulated in the container. For disinfection, you can use the following tools:

• acetic acid;
• chlorine bleach;
• hydrogen peroxide.

Bleach must be diluted in water according to the instructions. Vinegar for disinfection should have a concentration of 10-20%. Hydrogen peroxide can be used neat. Any of the above substances must be poured into the device and kept for about 2 hours. Do not forget about the need to thoroughly rinse the unit after disinfection, as its use can cause health problems.

After the procedure, wipe the humidifier with a soft cloth . Visually examining the board of the climatic equipment, one can conclude that there are problems. A "healthy" board has a uniform color, but if it has stains and smudges, then it is worth starting repairs.

According to the rules, each of the contacts must be ringed, be soldered and not have swollen parts. An unburned resistor has a normal, not dark color.

Next, it is worth checking the absence of breakdowns in the board tracks. In case of short circuits, the fuses can be damaged, so re-soldering is necessary. Oxidation of the contacts can be a consequence of the penetration of liquid vapors into the interior. To fix the problem, the board must be carefully removed from the socket by unscrewing a few bolts. After that, the surface must be cleaned with a soft textured brush moistened with alcohol.

Replacing an old membrane that has failed is not a difficult process . The first step is to unscrew the mounting bolts, then remove the ceramic ring and partly the board. A small circular membrane can be attached to the board with a few wires. The latter must be carefully unsoldered. The joints must be degreased.

The next step is to solder the wires of the new element . After the part is located in its original place, the unit must be assembled in the reverse order. To replace transistors, it is worth using only factory elements, since a mismatch of parts can cause the device to be unable to generate steam.

Repairing a humidifier is a simple procedure, but it requires care and accuracy.

Recommendations

The humidifier should be functional during spring and winter, but due to continuous operation, the unit may break. In order not to shorten the period of operation of the unit, it must be cleaned regularly. Daily care involves washing the device with hot water and soap.

If cleaning is neglected, mold can form in HVAC equipment . For this reason, it is worth servicing the device more thoroughly once every 3 days. To do this, drain the water, and pour the vinegar diluted with water into the container. Next, the substance is removed, and the reservoir is rinsed and wiped dry.

Experts recommend changing filters in humidifiers weekly. Using an unsuitable filter can impair the operation of the unit, as well as the state of human health. In addition, you should not neglect safety measures when using a humidifier:

• pouring water should be carried out only into the holes intended for this;
• you can not use the humidifier as an inhaler, this can cause burns;
• when checking the functionality, it is forbidden to touch the internal parts of the device without first disconnecting from the electrical network;
• equipment of this type should not be covered with napkins or rags, as this may cause damage to it.

Repairing a humidifier does not require special skills and knowledge. It can be difficult to find the cause of the breakdown and its elimination.

However, the owners of this type of equipment should remember that with careful and competent use, the equipment can serve its owner for a long time. Besides, the device needs constant replacement of filters, prevention, only in this case, you will not have to fix the breakdown … Do not ignore the observance of safety measures that are indicated in the instructions for the product. Then the indoor air will be suitable for a healthy lifestyle of people.