Aprilaire 700, 550 User Manual

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

Disconnect power and shut off water supply before servicing.

CAUTION

property damage. Turn the Aprilaire Humidifier Control to “OFF” or
lowest setting before servicing.

© Research Products Corporation 2003

120 volts may cause injury from electrical shock.

Sudden operation may cause personal injury or

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 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 returning a
Warranty Information Card to us, or you can register 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 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 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. 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, 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.

The granular coating in the bottom of the distribution tray is designed 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. 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. 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.

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 homes’ construction,
refer to the “Operation Guide” (Table 1).

TABLE 1 – Operation Guide

Condition Solution

Condensation on windows Reduce the setting on the control dial

Lack of humidity Increase the setting on the control dial

Humidifier does not operate Turn dial to “Test/Reset.” Make certain

Humidifier won’t shut off Turn dial to “Off.” If unit continues to

Test mode System operation is checked by setting

Reset water panel change Turn the control knob to the

indicator

by 1 increment.

by 1 increment.

furnace is operating in heat mode.
If unit still doesn’t operate, consult
a heating contractor.

operate, consult a heating contractor.

the knob to “Test/Reset.” Make certain
furnace blower is operating and furnace
is calling for heat. Humidifier will
operate for one minute. Be sure to turn
the control knob back to the normal
setting after checking humidifier
operation.

“Test/Reset” position until the “Change
Water Panel” light blinks to reset the
water panel change indicator timer.
(Blower must be operating and furnace
calling for heat.) Be sure to turn the
control knob back to the normal setting
after resetting the timer.

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