Aprilaire 600 User Manual

READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual

For Models 400, 550, 600 & 700

Includes Safety & Operating Instructions

and Warranty Information

Automatic Humidifiers

Genuine Aprilaire Replacement Water
Panel

®

evaporators are available from your
installing contractor or from most other
heating and air conditioning contractors in
your area. 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 peak
performance.

Thank you for your recent Aprilaire®Humidifier purchase. We appreciate your
business. You have invested in the highest quality equipment available.
Aprilaire manufacturers whole-house indoor air quality products and is a
recognized leader in the heating and air conditioning industry.

Your unit will require periodic maintenance to assure continued fine
performance. See page 8 to obtain service parts and/or replacement Water
Panel

®

evaporators.

This booklet will familiarize you with the benefits you will receive from the
equipment you just purchased and help you understand the routine
maintenance required. Be sure to register your Humidifier warranty online at:

www.aprilaire.com/warranty.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Principle of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Operating Instructions – Model 400, 600 & 700

• Automatic Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

• Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Operating Instructions – Model 550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Effect of Water Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Annual Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Annual Summer Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Periodic Preventative Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Model 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Model 600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Model 700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Model 550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION

- 1 -

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 – providing 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
provide the answers you need.

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
optimum relative humidity for maximum allowable comfort all winter long.

The important considerations in the evaluation of a humidifier are precise
control, sufficient capacity, trouble-free performance and minimum
maintenance. The operating principle of your Aprilaire humidifier provides
all of these advantages. Here, briefly, is the method:

The Aprilaire Humidifier is installed to operate in conjunction with the
furnace blower. When the Aprilaire Humidifier Control calls for humidity
and the blower 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
natural 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTSI. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

- 2 -

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, and 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
which 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 even water flow to each of the
openings and 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, simply apply a small
amount of liquid dishwashing soap over the entire inside surface of the
water distribution tray. This will allow the water to flow evenly to the
water panel, provided the unit is level in order to achieve maximum
capacity.

The current distribution tray incorporates a synthetic fabric liner that
replaces the granular coating and is designed to deliver water uniformly
over the entire top surface of the Water Panel evaporator. 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 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.

- 3 -

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 5)

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

by 1 increment.

Lack of humidity Increase the setting on the control dial

by 1 increment.

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

furnace is operating in heat mode.

If unit still doesn’t operate, contact your

heating contractor.

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

operate, contact your heating

contractor.

Test mode System operation is checked by setting

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 prior setting

after checking humidifier operation.

Reset Water Panel change Turn the control knob to the

“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 prior setting

after resetting the timer.

indicator

TABLE OF CONTENTSII. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS – 400, 600 & 700