My humidifier uses wick filters and I'm replacing the filter every 2-3 weeks. I've tried various water treatment solutions, but they're expensive too. Can anyone please recommend solutions which don't involve spending a lot or which use common household ingredients and not a number of questionable chemicals? Our water is reasonably hard and fluoridated. Thanks kindly.
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I would like to know the answer to this too. I bought a brand new humidifier and after 2 weeks, the filter is hard and will not put out any mist. We have hard well water also. I have bought so many filters that I am not willing to do it anymore
Soften your water a little...use liquid calgon in it. It's a water softener.
Well the first thing you should do is buy distilled water at your local discount food store I use tap water and I only have to change the filter twice a season I only use it in the winter time when things are dry but what I did is I went and looked at all the different kinds of filters I bought a bulk filter replacement and all I have to do is cut it to size and it's like one 10 for the price of buying a the proper ones does the exact same thing
Take your clogged filter out and soak it in vinegar for a day or so. Rinse & re-use.
Try putting the filter/wick in a large pot of water/white vinegar 2:1 or even 1:1 and boiling it for 20-30 minutes. That should dissolve the minerals in the wick and allow you to reuse it.
I have the same problem with hard water. Dont throw out your filter. Every week or so check it for hardness or crustiness. If it has become hard or crusty remove the filter and soak in a vinegar solution for 30-45 minutes.
Don't know cause I haven't dealt with this but couldn't you put a water filter on your sink faucet and use that water in your humidifier?
First, see if you cant' make a filter out of the same thing the furnace uses. I used to make my own vacuum cleaner filters that way, but I'm not sure it it would work with moisture.
Most of the time I've found that cleaning the filters in a mild beach or vinegar water will clean them. I've elongated the life of my filters three-fold by doing this.
NEVER COMBINE BLEACH AND VINEGAR! Toxic fumes can develop. It is hazardous to your health to inhale chlorine bleach.
I use bleach and water to soak the filters about once every ten days. Make sure you use gloves, and don't squeeze the filters, just rinse them afterwards. It will have a slight bleach smell for a day, but it will give the filter about six months of lifespan.
Home Depot makes tablets to treat the water in humidifiers and it's less than $2.
ONLY use distilled or R/O filtered water which TDS tests to zero. And you'd be bette off if you would switch to an ultrasonic-type humidifier then you could clean weekly with bleach or vinegar. With ultrasonic type they require no filters.
Helpful note: If you're handing out technical advice then actually be technical and not vague. What in the hell is "R/O"? If this is critical info that is supposed to instruct readers, your explanation shouldn't leave reader's scratching their heads and it may be best to not answer in the future.
RO still has TDS but fairly low. Distilled is the only water with 0 TDS
If you don't know what RO is you shouldn't be messing with equipment that deals with water and a potential to be harmful.
I just wish we could all get along like we did in middle school.
I wish I could bake a cake out of Rainbows and Smiles and we could all eat it and be Happy
Oh boy...you're a smart one!!
It is the water scale that hardens the wick (filter) and inhibits water absorption and evaporation. Wick type evaporative humidifiers need two additives to the water: one to inhibit water scale buildup on the filter (wick), and a another to stop mold and bacteria buildup (Bacteriostat). Amazingly, both are rarely sold where they sell humidifiers. All carry Bacteriostat products in either liquid of pellet form. It's the water scale buildup liquid that is hard to find.
I too live with hard well water (which I wouldn't trade for anything) and I've been looking for an additive that I could toss in each time I refill my ultrasonic humidifier. thank you for the info. You can also use just a mixture of white vinegar, salt and water but you have to let it stand ... in my case about every 2 weeks. ITs not a big deal and its cheap but depending on the scale in your water (which is usually just limestone) it will need to sit at least 8 hours. I try to do it when I'm going to be out of my living area anyway and that way its not so inconvenient. Then you just use a toothbrush to help release any still stuck scale, rinse and refill and you're away. I think humidifiers with fiber filters should be outlawed. They're a menace to your health. I suspect there is some behind the scenes manipulation of the market availability of the products you are recommending and that the pressure is from the manufacturers and distributers of the typical humidifier products. An ultrasonic is a one time purchase .. . the others keep you coming back as a customer every time you turn around because of the filters.
I tried using an Ultrasonic humidifier and bought a top of the line Swiss model. I ended up with some kind of dusty looking particles all over my furniture (and I am very clean and keep my house pretty much dust-free). After a week, my husband and I couldn't stand cleaning that off everything everywhere daily in my living room, so it now sits in my attic, unused of course. Don't mind using my trusty filter-type humidifier anymore.
I also have hard well water. May I ask why you would not trade for anything?
I have the Honeywell HCM-350 evaporative humidifier. (It is overpriced on Amazon; wait until fall and look at Walmart, Target, and on). Wirecutter.com rates it #1 and I agree after owning several humidifiers, including the ultrasonic types. What some call a "filter" is a wick. I use midwest tap water. About every two weeks I soak the wick in a solution of vinegar and water (roughly 25% vinegar). This removes most mineral buildup. While the wick is soaking, I use a backup wick. To prevent bacterial growth, do two things: 1) clean your humidifier thoroughly every month or more often; 2) use a bacteriostatic treatment in the water. You are not likely to find an effective humidifier that is also maintenance free. Good humidification in the cold months is worth the effort! Your sinuses will thank you.
I live in the Twin Cities and the water is hard as a rock. I have a whole house water softener and that helps a lot. The shower doors were actually etched from it when we moved in.
I use tap water with vinegar. Three gallons of water and usually a half cup of vinegar at each full refill. I check the wick at least once a week and if it is crusty I fill the deepsink about halfway up the wick as it lays flat and add at least a full cup of vinegar. After an hour or so I flip the wick over to insure full coverage. Eventually the wick will crust up more quickly. I generally change wicks once a winter but sometimes twice times.
You can use powdered citric acid instead of vinegar. Works better, no smell, and cheaper.
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