Automatic Humidifiers
Owner’s Manual
For Models 400, 550, 600 & 700
Includes Safety & Operating Instructions
and Warranty Information
READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Principle of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Operating Instructions – Model 400, 600 & 700
• Automatic Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
• Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Operating Instructions – Model 550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Effect of Water Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Annual Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Annual Summer Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Periodic Preventative Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Model 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Model 600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Model 700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Model 550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Replacement Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
WARNING |
120 volts may cause injury from electrical shock. |
Disconnect power and shut off water supply before servicing. |
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CAUTION |
Sudden operation may cause personal injury or |
property damage. Turn the Aprilaire Humidifier Control to “OFF” or lowest setting before servicing.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for your recent Aprilaire® Humidifier purchase. We sincerely appreciate your business and are pleased to add your name to our growing list of customers. With this purchase, you have invested in the highest quality equipment currently available. Research Products Corporation is the largest manufacturer of whole house humidifiers, air cleaners, and energy recovery ventilators and is a recognized leader in the heating and air conditioning industry today.
Please be assured that in addition to product quality, we are also committed to unit performance as well as customer satisfaction. Your unit will require periodic maintenance to assure you of continued fine performance. Please proceed as shown on page 9 to obtain service parts and/or replacement Water Panel® evaporators.
Now, please take a few minutes and read the appropriate section of this booklet. This will familiarize you with the benefits you will receive from the equipment you just purchased and help you understand the routine maintenance that will be required. Be sure to register your Humidifier with us for our records and your protection. You may do so by registering online at: www.aprilaire.com/warranty.
Genuine Replacement Water Panel® evaporators are available from your installing contractor or from most other heating and air conditioning contractors in your area. However, if you still have difficulty in obtaining a replacement Water Panel evaporator, use the dealer locator in our web site (www.aprilaire.com) or look in the Yellow Pages under Humidifying Apparatus or Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors. Purchase only genuine Aprilaire Water Panels to maintain performance.
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I. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
With your purchase of a humidification system, you have invested in a humidifier that operates on the evaporative principle – nature’s own way of adding moisture – and will provide the proper relative humidity throughout the heating season. It is very possible that you have questions concerning your new humidifier – questions on what it can do for you, and what you should do to receive maximum benefits from it. This booklet is intended to help you do exactly that.
Nature, in producing an invigorating comfortable April day, combines just the right temperature and the right amount of moisture. Aprilaire Humidifiers employ the same principle, with refinements, to give you the proper relative humidity for maximum allowable comfort all winter long.
The important considerations in the evaluation of a humidifier are Positive Control, Sufficient Capacity, Trouble-free Performance and Minimum Maintenance. The operating principle of your Aprilaire provides all of these advantages. Here, briefly, is the method:
The Aprilaire Humidifier is installed to operate in conjunction with the furnace blower motor. When the Aprilaire Humidifier Control calls for humidity and the blower motor is operating, water flows to the distribution tray located at the top of the unit. The water is uniformly distributed across the width of the tray and through a scientifically designed system of outlets. It flows by gravity over the Water Panel® evaporator, the heart of the unit. Dry, hot air is moved through the moisture-laden Water Panel evaporator where the evaporation takes place. The now humidified air carrying moisture in vapor form (nature’s own way) is circulated throughout the home.
The correct water flow is determined by an orifice equipped with each drain type unit. When the unit is operating, there will be a small, steady stream of water to drain, which flushes away most of the trouble-causing minerals. Do not use the saddle valve to regulate the water flow. It is designed to be completely opened or closed. The minerals and solid residue not trapped by the replaceable Water Panel evaporator are flushed down the drain in the Models 550, 600 and 700. This is the most effective and least expensive method to dispose of trouble-causing minerals. The drain also eliminates the problems caused by stagnant water.
There are some homes where drain facilities are not accessible or available. For these situations, or where high water hardness is not a problem, the newest Aprilaire, Model 400, is designed to satisfy these applications.
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Capacity is high because an average-size home (10,000 cu. ft.) requires the addition of approximately 9 gallons of water per day to maintain 35% relative humidity when the outside temperature is 20°. The smallest Aprilaire Humidifier under most operating conditions, has this humidifying capacity. Trouble-free performance and minimum maintenance are assured by the design features of the Aprilaire Humidifier. All unit housing parts that come in contact with water are non-metal and will never rust or corrode. Neither heat nor water will affect them under normal operating conditions.
The Water Panel® evaporator, designed especially for uniform, high evaporation, along with the Scale Control Insert efficiently traps mineral deposits which are often the cause of damage to working parts in ordinary humidifiers. No “white dust” can be distributed throughout the living quarters. The Water Panel evaporator is the heart of the unit and must be in good condition to assure high capacity trouble-free performance. It should be changed once a year with the exception of the Model 400 where it should be changed twice a heating season.
Older design water distribution trays have a granular coating in the bottom of the distribution tray to provide equal distribution of water to each of the openings assuring an even flow over the Water Panel evaporator. Do not clean the mineral scale off the bottom of the water distribution tray at the end of the humidification season. If the granular coating is removed, it is not necessary to purchase a new distribution tray. You can accomplish the same uniform performance by applying a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent over the entire inside surface of the water distribution tray. This will allow the water to flow evenly through each of the openings, provided, of course, the unit is level in order to achieve maximum capacity.
The current distribution tray which incorporates a synthetic fabric liner that replaces the granular coating, is designed to deliver water uniformly over the entire top surface of the Water Panel evaporator, provided it is mounted level. It is normal for some mineral deposits to form in the distribution tray as it dries out between humidification cycles. These deposits can actually help distribute water in the tray, but if they form enough to block the openings, they should be removed as described in the “Periodic Preventative Maintenance” section of this manual.
There are many humidifiers on the market. They all add moisture… with varying degrees of efficiency. None, however, can provide the features, design, and performance incorporated into your Aprilaire Humidifier.
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II. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS – 400, 600 & 700
There are 2 possible modes of operation of your Aprilaire Humidifier Control – Automatic and Manual. An explanation of both modes follows:
Automatic Mode: (Manual Mode-see pg 6)
Your Aprilaire Humidifier Control is installed in the cold air return duct. During the first heating season, your Humidifier Control needs to be set initially to match your home’s condition. Please follow these steps when adjusting your control (refer to Figure A).
1.Turn the dial setting knob to “5,” which is within the normal range. During the next 24-48 hours it may be necessary to adjust the dial for more or less humidity, depending on your personal comfort and home’s requirements. Refer to the “Operation Guide” (Table 1).
2.During the coldest portion of the first heating season, minor adjustments may be necessary. This is dependent upon your home’s construction. Refer to the “Operation Guide” (Table 1).
TABLE 1 – Operation Guide
Condition |
Solution |
Condensation on windows |
Reduce the setting on the control dial |
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by 1 increment. |
Lack of humidity |
Increase the setting on the control dial |
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by 1 increment. |
Humidifier does not operate |
Turn dial to “Test/Reset.” Make certain |
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furnace is operating in heat mode. |
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If unit still doesn’t operate, contact your |
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heating contractor. |
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Humidifier won’t shut off |
Turn dial to “Off.” If unit continues to |
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operate, contact your heating |
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contractor. |
Test mode |
System operation is checked by setting |
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the knob to “Test/Reset.” Make certain |
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furnace blower is operating and furnace |
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is calling for heat. Humidifier will |
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operate for one minute. Be sure to turn |
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the control knob back to the prior setting |
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after checking humidifier operation. |
Reset Water Panel change |
Turn the control knob to the |
indicator |
“Test/Reset” position until the “Change |
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Water Panel” light blinks to reset the |
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water panel change indicator timer. |
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(Blower must be operating and furnace |
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calling for heat.) Be sure to turn the |
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control knob back to the prior setting |
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after resetting the timer. |
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