Cleaning time for humidifiers

Avoid the winter rush by taking care of the task now.

mcclatchy newspapers

Hallelujah: It’s nearly time to turn off the furnace.

And with that rite of passage comes a second one, stowing away the humidifier.

As most experts recommend performing maintenance on humidifiers once a year, it makes sense to use the annual shutdown of the furnace as a prompt for completing that maintenance.

It’s more than calendar common sense; it’s also savvy.

“So many people wait until winter begins, when they desperately need their humidifier, to do any maintenance,” says Chris Hall, president of repairclinic.com, an online appliance-repair service.

“If you find out that you need a new part or it needs repair, you may be disappointed to find out that some parts are not available, because that’s when everyone is looking for them.”

In the spirit of being proactive, we offer guidelines for keeping your humidifier up and running.

STOW OR NO?

Certain people will find it beneficial to keep their humidifiers out year-round.

At the top of that list are people with sinus or respiratory problems, allergies or humidity-sensitive furnishings or materials.

KEEP IT CLEAN

Though there are several types of humidifiers on the market, the largest and most popular type is known as a wicking humidifier.

A wick is the pad inside the humidifier that absorbs incoming water, filters out the minerals and outputs the water in the form of humidity.

Because those minerals can build up as a crusty, scaly white deposit, it’s necessary to clean the humidifier on a regular basis.

“The inside of the humidifier can be wiped down with dish detergent and water or distilled vinegar,” says Mark Ulrey, director of sales at humidifier manufacturer Essick Air Products.

Hall also uses vinegar to gently wipe off the wick.

REPLACE WICK ANNUALLY

Whether you’re putting the humidifier away or keeping it out all year, make the onset of spring your time to buy a new wick.

Wicks cost about $2 to $20, depending on the humidifier brand and type, and can be found at appliance dealers, hardware stores or online.

KEEP AN EYE ON IT

Older humidifiers or models that have been neglected for some time may require more frequent attention.

How will you know?

“If every time you walk through the house you get an electric shock, there’s a good chance your humidifier is not set properly, is not working properly or needs to be cleaned,” Hall says.

Other symptoms include condensation on windows, worse-than-usual allergies or sinus problems, and warping, gapping or buckling in walls or floors.

OUT WITH THE OLD

With proper maintenance, humidifiers can have a good life.

“We have seen humidifiers last 10 to 15 years,” Ulrey says.

Eventually, though, you will have to get a new one.

Prices run from $30 to $200.