Aprilaire 445, 440, 224, 112, 760 User Manual

READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

®

HUMIDIFIERS

The Best Cure For Dryness®

OWNER’S MANUAL

FOR MODELS 768, 760, 568, 560, 558, 550, 448, 445, 360, 350, 110, 112, 220, 224, & 440

Includes Safety, Operating and Maintenance

Instructions and Warranty

TABLE OF CONTENTS
	PAGE
Introduction ................................................	Inside Front Cover
Principle of Operation ............................................................	1
Operating Instructions
•Automatic Humidifier Control............................................	3
•Manual Humidistat ............................................................	5
Effect of Water Characteristics ..............................................	6
Annual Maintenance ..............................................................	7
Annual Summer Shutdown ....................................................	7
Periodic Preventative Maintenance .......................................	8
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Models 558 & 550 ..............................................................	9
Models 568 & 560 ..............................................................	9
Models 768 & 760 ............................................................	10
Model 440 ........................................................................	11
Models 448 & 445 ............................................................	11
Reservoir Pump Sections .............................................	12
Models 350 & 360 ............................................................	13
Models 110 & 112 ............................................................	14
Models 220 & 224 ............................................................	15
Limited Warranty..................................................................	16
Replacement Record ............................................	Back Cover

WARNING! 120 volts may cause injury from electrical shock. Disconnect power and shut off water supply before servicing.

CAUTION! Sudden operation may cause personal injury or property damage. Turn humidistat or Automatic 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 fresh air exchangers 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 7 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 warranty with us for our records and your protection. You may do so by returning the Warranty Information Card to us, or you can register online at: www.aprilaire.com/warranty.

Replacement Water Panel evaporators are available from your installing contractor or from most other local 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.

© Research Products Corporation 2000

Your ® Humidifier

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 all during 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 (except the Models 350 and 360) is installed to operate in conjunction with the furnace blower motor. When the humidistat or Automatic Humidifier Control calls for humidity and the blower motor is operating, water flows to the distribution pan located at the top of the unit. The water is uniformly distributed across the width of the pan 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 Models 350 and 360 use service hot water (140°F maximum) for its heat source, as heat is needed for evaporation. While the water going to the unit is hot, the flushing water to the drain will be cold. The heat is extracted during the evaporation process.

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

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not trapped by the replaceable Water Panel evaporator are flushed down the drain. The drain also eliminates the problems caused by stagnant water. This is the most effective and least expensive method to dispose of trouble-causing minerals.

There are some homes where drain facilities are not accessible or available. For these situations, or where high water hardness is not a problem, specially designed Aprilaire Humidifiers, Models 448 and 445, are available, incorporating a water recirculating system.

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. Troublefree 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, and the Scale Control Insert also 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 annually.

The granular coating in the bottom of the distribution tray is designed to provide equal distribution of the water to each of the openings assuring an even flow of water 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. The scale itself provides an excellent track for the water to follow. This is actually what we try to simulate with the synthetic coating in the bottom of the tray. If the coating is removed, it is not necessary to purchase a new distribution tray or upper housing. You can accomplish the same uniform performance by applying a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent over the entire lower 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.

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

Automatic Humidifier Control: (Manual humidistat-see pg 5)

Your Automatic Humidifier Control is installed in the cold air return. During the first heating season, your Automatic 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 individual home construction, refer to the “Operation Guide” (Table 1).

(Table 1) Operation Guide

Condition	Solution
Condensation on windows	Reduce the setting on the control dial
	by 1 increment.
Lack of humidity	Increase the setting on the control dial
	by 1 increment.
Humidifier does not operate	Turn dial to “Test.” Make certain furnace
	blower is operating and furnace is calling
	for heat. If unit still doesn’t operate, consult
	a heating contractor.
Humidifier won’t shut off	Turn dial to “Off.”If unit continues to
	operate, consult a heating contractor.
Test mode	System operation is checked by setting the
	knob to“Test.”Make certain furnace blower
	is operating and furnace is calling for heat.
	Humidifier will operate for one minute.

The relative humidity in your home will now be accurately controlled to meet your needs and should not need further adjustment during future heating seasons. Make note of the dial setting in the event you temporarily move the knob when performing annual maintenance of the Aprilaire Humidifier.

(Figure A)

					7
			A	L	6
		M
O	R		5
					e
N					T
					t
					s
		4

3		Off
	2	1
	Humidity Level

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Your Aprilaire Automatic Humidifier, is a high precision system that will accurately maintain the relative humidity in your home. For every 1º change in outdoor temperature, the control will automatically adjust the indoor relative humidity (RH) by 1⁄2 %. If you would like to determine the RH in your home, follow these steps:

1.Determine the outdoor temperature.

2.Activate the furnace blower by setting your thermostat fan switch to the “On” position, or setting your thermostat to a higher temperature.

3.Turn the control dial setting to the “Off” position. Then, slowly turn the dial clockwise until you hear the solenoid valve “click on.” Next, slowly turn the dial counter clockwise until you hear the solenoid valve “click off.” At this point, make note of the dial setting.

4.Locate your dial setting on Table 2. Follow the dial setting to the right until it intersects with the current outdoor temperature. This is the relative humidity in your home under existing conditions.

5.Return the thermostat and the control to their original settings.

(Table 2) % Relative Humidity Guide

			Outdoor Temperature (ºF)
		-10	0	10	20	30	40
	1	10	10	10	15	20	25
	2	10	10	15	20	25	30
Setting	3	10	15	20	25	30	35
	4	15	20	25	30	35	40
Dial	5	20	25	30	35	40	45
	6	25	30	35	40	45	45
	7	30	35	40	45	45	45

As an example, if the outdoor temperature is 20º F, and, following step 3, the humidifier turns off at “5” on the dial range, then the RH in your home is 35%.

The Automatic Humidifier will accurately control the humidity in your home to a maximum of 45% RH and a minimum of 10% RH. The values of outdoor temperature and dial settings may fall in between or outside of the listed values in Table 2. In these cases, you can only approximate your home’s actual indoor RH.

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