Aprilaire 400 2006, 500 2006, 600 2006, 700 2006 User Manual

READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Owner’s Manual

For Models 400, 500, 600 & 700

Includes Safety & Operating Instructions

and Warranty Information

Humidifiers

Thank you for your recent Aprilaire®Humidifier purchase. We appreciate your
business and are pleased to add your name to our growing list of customers.
You have invested in the highest quality equipment available. Aprilaire
manufactures whole-house indoor air quality products and is a recognized
leader in the heating and air conditioning industry.

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

®

evaporators.

Now, please take a few minutes and read 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 warranty online at:

www.aprilaire.com/warranty.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Operating Instructions – Models 400, 600 & 700

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

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

Operating Instructions – Model 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

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

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

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

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

MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

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

Model 500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

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

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

Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CAUTION

Sudden operation may cause personal
injury or property damage. Turn the
Aprilaire Humidifier Control to “OFF”
or lowest setting before servicing.

WARNING

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

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.

- 1 -

With your purchase of this humidification system, you have invested in a
humidifier that operates on the evaporative principle – nature’s own way of
adding moisture – providing optimum 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 answer
these questions.

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 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 humidifier. 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 humidifier. 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 humidifier. When the humidifier 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 open or closed.

The minerals and solid residue not trapped by the replaceable Water Panel
evaporator are flushed down the drain in the Models 500, 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 CONTENTS

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

- 2 -

Trouble-free performance and minimum maintenance are assured by the
design features of the Aprilaire Humidifier. All humidifier 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 (which encases the Water Panel)
efficiently traps mineral deposits which are often the cause of damage to
working parts in ordinary humidifiers. When properly maintained, no “white
dust” will be distributed through the living quarters. The Water Panel

evaporator is the heart of the humidifier and must be in good
condition to assure high capacity trouble-free performance. It
should be changed at least annually with the exception of the
Model 400 which should be changed twice per 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 humidifier is mounted 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, provided the
humidifier 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 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, offer the features, design,
and performance incorporated into your new 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 “TABLE 1 – Operation Guide”.

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 “TABLE 1 – Operation Guide”.

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 humidifier still doesn’t operate,
contact your heating contractor.

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

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 CONTENTS

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS – MODELS 400, 600 & 700