The Inspector's Journal Forums
Username:
Password:
Save Password


Join TIJ Forums
Lost Password?
Subscribe to TIJ's Newsletter

All Forums > Technical Forums > HVAC Forum >

Humidifier Element

Previous Topic: Carrier A/C capacity - Topic - Next Topic: Is this some sort of new fangled S-trap? New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Posted By  
View Profile
Lexington, KY
Posts: 2536
Joined: Nov, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Thread Start First Page
[#1] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 12:19:32 PM
Reply with Quote
Today is the first truly cold day this winter, so I decided to fire up my humidifier, a Honeywell TruSteam. Almost predictably, the error lights illuminated and the thing refused to operate.

There was scale in all the water ports, and the heating element was nearly completely coated with gunk. The instructions say to use a scouring pad to clean the element, but that's nearly impossible due to the small grooves, especially since the element can't be removed.

My solution? Fill a plastic tub with vinegar and let the thing soak. Does anyone have a better idea, though? The humidifier is only two years old, and the filter was replaced last season, so it's not as if there's years and years of neglect to contend with.

Click to View

32.12 KB

View Profile
Gaston, Oregon
Posts: 8083
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#2] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 12:43:54 PM
Reply with Quote
I don't have a solution for you, but I predict that the vinegar won't work.

What about a small wire brush?

Jim Katen, Oregon
www.amipdx.com
View Profile
Rochester, New York
Posts: 4114
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#3] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 12:54:52 PM
Reply with Quote
Try Lima Away or CLR. Or, make some pasta.
Chad Fabry
StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY
www.structuresmart.com
View Profile
Lexington, KY
Posts: 2536
Joined: Nov, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#4] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 2:08:58 PM
Reply with Quote
Well, but the vinegar actually did the trick, and the humidifier is working like it's supposed to.

Interestingly, this is only the second occasion I'm aware of in which Jim Katen was wrong. The other occasion was when he told me I had a bright future ahead of me and would no doubt be a tremendous success.

Click to View

43.25 KB

View Profile
Ashland, VA
Posts: 2938
Joined: Jan, 2006
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#5] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 2:13:00 PM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Bain

Well, but the vinegar actually did the trick, and the humidifier is working like it's supposed to.

Interestingly, this is only the second occasion I'm aware of in which Jim Katen was wrong. The other occasion was when he told me I had a bright future ahead of me and would no doubt be a tremendous success.

Click to View

43.25?KB


That's impressive - clean as a whistle. I wouldn't have expected it to do that well myself.

"This above all: to thine own self be true." - William Shakespeare
View Profile
Chicago, IL
Posts: 9505
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#6] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 2:20:49 PM
Reply with Quote

Vinegar works great for that....I thought everyone used it.


Kurt in Chicago

"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012


View Profile
Gaston, Oregon
Posts: 8083
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#7] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 6:31:04 PM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Bain

Well, but the vinegar actually did the trick, and the humidifier is working like it's supposed to.

Interestingly, this is only the second occasion I'm aware of in which Jim Katen was wrong. The other occasion was when he told me I had a bright future ahead of me and would no doubt be a tremendous success.

Click to View

43.25?KB


Well, I guess I've got to stop buying the cheap-ass on-sale vinegar from the remainder bin.

Jim Katen, Oregon
www.amipdx.com
View Profile
Chicago, IL
Posts: 9505
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#8] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 6:41:45 PM
Reply with Quote
Any vinegar should work. I use cheap white stuff.
Kurt in Chicago

"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012


View Profile
Kenmore, WA
Posts: 15390
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#9] Posted: 01/02/2012 - 9:17:07 PM
Reply with Quote
Yeah,

Vinegar is acidic as hell. I use it all the time to descale the coffee machine.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

View Profile
Rochester, New York
Posts: 4114
Joined: Dec, 2003
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#10] Posted: 01/03/2012 - 03:39:54 AM
Reply with Quote
Off the shelf white distilled vinegar contains 5% acetic acid. We buy around 400 gallons ( the smallest quantity available) every other year of specially brewed to order 17% acetic acid white vinegar to use for weed control in our organic blueberry operation. It also dispatches the rubber bits in a back pack sprayer rather readily, and if you get it on your skin, it's best to at least wipe it off.

Our rows are 600 feet long. One sprays down one side and then back up the other. By the time you get back to the top of the row, the stuff on the other side is visibly browned and wilting.

The vinegar plant is close enough for me to pick up the product. There are cases of empty bottles that re-sellers send to the plant with their label already affixed. A plant employee inverts the cases into a machine. The upside down bottles pass over an air jet that helps to clean out any debris that didn't fall out. Then the bottles are tipped upright, filled, capped and at the other end of the line replaced to their box. Store brands and gourmet vinegars with fancy labels are all filled from the same tap with the same product- often for the same customer trying to exploit both ends of the market demographic.

Chad Fabry
StructureSmart Home Inspection Rochester, NY
www.structuresmart.com
View Profile
Collins, NY
Posts: 3142
Joined: Apr, 2008
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#11] Posted: 01/03/2012 - 07:19:00 AM
Reply with Quote
Vinegar is powerful stuff, if you give it time to work. When my wife started as a concrete tech the tool kit they gave her hadn't been cleaned in years. She soaked it in vinegar, and scrubbed it a couple times a day, for about two weeks. Now, her test pot is almost shiny.
Tom

http://clearcreekhomeinspection.com/

Life is tough enough as it is, it's tougher when your stupid. Don't do stupid things.
Dr Joe Lstiburek
View Profile
Victoria, British Columbia
Posts: 2396
Joined: Nov, 2009
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#12] Posted: 01/03/2012 - 10:12:20 AM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Jim Katen

Quote: Originally posted by Bain

Well, but the vinegar actually did the trick, and the humidifier is working like it's supposed to.

Interestingly, this is only the second occasion I'm aware of in which Jim Katen was wrong. The other occasion was when he told me I had a bright future ahead of me and would no doubt be a tremendous success.

Click to View

43.25?KB


Well, I guess I've got to stop buying the cheap-ass on-sale vinegar from the remainder bin.
Bain's Xtra Strenth Coil Cleaner. It should be hitting the shelves down your way in a month or two.
Kentucky Koil Kleaner. Look for the jug with the triple X. (3 K's crossed out)

www.allsafehome.ca
View Profile
Wyckoff, NJ
Posts: 433
Joined: Dec, 2010
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#13] Posted: 01/03/2012 - 12:54:45 PM
Reply with Quote
The water in my town is really hard. Cheap white vinegar works very well for the coffee maker and the stainless steel interior of the dishwasher. You need to let it sit a while, or work it a bit with a soft toothbrush. Good and cheap.
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them
Albert Einstein
Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 11
Joined: Mar, 2012
Currently offline offline
  
Humidifier Element
[#14] Posted: 03/14/2012 - 11:51:52 PM
Reply with Quote
Get reverse osmosis filter for the steam or get rid of it. We have a 5x5 box full of removed tru steams at the warehouse. Juice aint worth the squeeze
   
Previous Topic: Carrier A/C capacity - Topic - Next Topic: Is this some sort of new fangled S-trap? New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Jump To:
The Inspector's Journal Forums © 2002-2013 all topics or replies that are posted on The Inspector's Journal
are copyrighted material of the original author that posted the topic or reply.
Go To Top Of Page 
 
Pick an RSS Feed

The views expressed on this website are the views of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the sponsors.
© 2002-2013 Copyright DevWave Software Inc.
Find a Home Inspector

Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000