Many homeowners with central humidifiers enter the cooling season and forget to shut off their humidifier for the summer. A central air conditioner will not cool or dehumidify properly if the humidifier is running. Please remember to turn your humidifier off at the end of each heating season. At the same time, you should use this opportunity to clean your humidifier and remove or replace the water panel. Here is a general guide to disabling your humidifier for the summer:

Step 1.

Turn the humidistat to the off position or the lowest percent of relative humidity. The humidistat is usually installed on the return air plenum above or near the humidifier, but sometimes it is installed on the wall near your thermostat.

Step 2.

Close the bypass duct damper or turn it to the “Summer” position. It can be found at the humidifier or in the round duct connected to it. *Note – Not all humidifiers have duct dampers.

Step 3.

Turn off the water-supply to the humidifier. If you are unsure how, just follow the quarter inch water line from the humidifier. (It is either copper or plastic). Turn the valve clockwise until it stops. *Note – If the valve is a saddle valve, the type that clamps on to a copper water pipe, it might not provide 100% shut-off.

Step 4.

Clean the humidifier, remove or replace the water panel, and leave dry until winter. *Note – If you have a float type humidifier with a saddle valve (such as the GeneralAire Model 81) that doesn’t provide 100% shut-off, you can either manually lift the float by placing an object underneath it to keep the base dry, or you need to have your saddle valve inspected or replaced. Then clean or replace pad, drum, pan, and float.

If you aren’t feeling up to the task, Centrum can service your humidifier at the beginning and end of each season to give you worry-free peace of mind comfort. Give the office a call at 610-583-9800 to schedule your humidifier service today!