Essick 447 400HB OAK BURL 4 SPD, 696 400HB LT OAK VARIABLE SPD, 697 500HB CHERRY VARIABLE SPD Owner's Care & Use Manual

OWNER’S
CARE
&
USE
MANUAL

EVAPORATIVE

HUMIDIFIER

French and Spanish

Instructions included.
Se incluyen instrucciones

En Español y Francés.
Directives en Français et en

espagnol compris

1B72297 2/2012 Printed in China

READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

MODELS:

447 400HB OAK BURL 4 SPD

696 400HB LT OAK VARIABLE SPD
697 500HB CHERRY VARIABLE SPD

• Automatic Humidistat

• Automatic Shutoff

• Quiet Setting for Nighttime use

• Easy to clean, removable power pack

SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

RECYCLE APPROPRIATE MATERIALS

To order parts and accessories call

1-800-547-3888

2

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
General Safety Instructions

READ BEFORE USING YOUR HUMIDIFIER

DANGER: means if the safety information is not followed someone will be
seriously injured or killed.

WARNING: means if the safety information is not followed someone could be
seriously injured or killed.

CAUTION: means if the safety information is not followed someone may be injured.

1. To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard, this humidifier has a polarized
plug (one blade is wider than the other.) Plug humidifier directly into a 120V,
A.C. electrical outlet. Do not use extension cords. If the plug does not fully fit
into the outlet, reverse plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified
electrician to install the proper outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.

2. Keep the electric cord out of traffic areas. To reduce the risk of fire hazard,
never put the electric cord under rugs, near heat registers, radiators, stoves
or heaters.

3. Always unplug the unit before moving, cleaning or removing the fan
assembly section from the humidifier, or whenever it is not in service.

4. Keep the humidifier clean.

5. Do not put foreign objects inside the humidifier.

6. Do not allow unit to be used as a toy. Close attention is necessary when
used by or near children.

7. Never use your humidifier while any part is missing or damaged in any
manner.

8. To reduce the risk of electrical hazard or damage to humidifier, do not tilt, jolt
or tip humidifier while unit is running.

9. To reduce the risk of damage to humidifier, unplug when not in use.

10. To reduce the risk of accidental electrical shock, do not touch the cord or
controls with wet hands.

11. To reduce the risk of fire, do not use near an open flame such as a candle or
other flame source.

12. Note the warning shown below.

WARNING: To reduce risk of fire, electric shock, or injury always unplug
before servicing or cleaning.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard, do not pour or spill
water into control or motor area. If controls get wet, let them dry completely
and have unit checked by authorized service personnel before plugging in.

3

INTRODUCTION

Your Essick Air evaporative humidifier adds invisible moisture to your home by
moving dry inlet air through a saturated wick. As air moves through the wick,
the water evaporates into the air, leaving behind any white dust, minerals, or
dissolved and suspended solids. Because the water is evaporated, there is no
messy mist or spray, just clean and invisible moist air.

As the evaporative wick traps accumulated minerals from the water, its ability to
absorb and evaporate water decreases. We recommend changing the wick at
the beginning of every season. In hard water areas, more frequent replacement
may be necessary to maintain your humidifier’s efficiency.

Use only Essick Air brand replacement wicks and chemicals. To order parts,
wicks and chemicals call 1-800-547-3888. The 400 and 600 Series humidifiers
use Essick Air wick # 1041 and accommodate air filter #1051. Only the Essick Air
evaporative wick guarantees the certified output of your humidifier. Use of wicks
other than Essick Air brand may void your warranty as well as the certification of
output and may reduce the efficiency of your humidifier.

CAUTION: Do NOT position the unit directly in front of a hot air duct or
radiator. Do NOT place on soft carpet.

HOW YOUR HUMIDIFIER WORKS

ASSEMBLY

UNPACKING AND SETTING UP THE UNIT

1. Remove the two inserts from the top of the humidifier.

2. Lift off the water bottle covers. Remove the water bottles, lift off the
chassis/power pack and then remove the humidifier cabinet from the carton.

3. Remove the evaporative wick and all of the remaining packaging materials
from the cabinet. Check to see that you have all of the following items
removed from the boxes, accessory kit, and cabinet before discarding the
packaging:

♦ Filler Hose

♦ Evaporative Wick

♦ Caster kit

♦ Top lid (696 & 697) (Two end covers (447)

♦ Bacterial treatment sample

♦ Optional Air Care® filter (included on 697 and

447 models; sold separately on 696 model)

♦ Two Water Bottles

CASTERS

4. Turn the emptied cabinet upside down. Insert each caster stem into a caster
hole on each corner of the humidifier bottom. The casters should fit snugly
and be inserted until the stem shoulder reaches the cabinet surface.

5. Turn the cabinet right side up.

Dry air is drawn into the
humidifier though the
back and moisturized
as it passes through the
evaporative wick. It is
then fanned out into the

room.

LEGEND:

1. Water bottle

2. Chassis/power pack
(motor/fan assembly)

3. Evaporative wick

4. Water reservoir

5. Dry air intake

6. Moist air output

4

EVAPORATIVE WICK

6. Insert the 1041 wick into the unit. The
wick has a mounting rib on the top edge
which hooks over a rib at the inside back
of the cabinet. This allows the wick to
hang in the water channel (see cutaway
illustration for details). Hang wick into
cabinet as shown.

OPTIONAL AIR CLEANING FILTER
(included on 447 and 697 models; sold
separately on 696)

7. If available, install the 1051 AirCare®
filter on the back of the unit. The filter
has tangs that engage into four keyhole slots that mount the AirCare® filter
onto the outside of the back of the cabinet.

FILLING INFORMATION

Your humidifier is equipped with two water bottles. On the 696 and 697 models
each bottle holds 2.6 gallons. The 447 model bottles hold 2.75 gallons each. A fill
hose that fits most faucets is provided with your humidifier.

Observe the following notes and cautions before proceeding to fill the unit.
NOTE: For optimum running time, fill each water bottle, tighten the cap, and

place inside unit. Do not fill the reservoir cabinet, as overfilling will result in
possible overflowing causing water damage. Use only the bottles provided. One
bottle will drain until the reservoir is filled. Remove the partially emptied bottle and
refill it to prolong runtime. Place back in humidifier cabinet.

CAUTION: When filling, be careful not to pressurize the bottle by overfilling it.
Bottle damage can result from this, causing improper draining.

NOTE: On initial fill up, it will take approximately 20 minutes for the reservoir to fill
because the dry wick will be absorbing water. Subsequent fillings will take
approximately 12 minutes, since the wick is already saturated.

1. Place the chassis / power pack in the unit: The 447 chassis rests on top of
the cabinet; the 696 and 697 chassis rests on a ledge recessed inside the
cabinet edge.

2. Fill the bottles with cool, fresh (preferably unsoftened) water. If you only
have softened water available in your home, you can use it, but mineral
buildup will occur more quickly.

3. After the filling process is complete, insert the water bottles into the
humidifier, placing them with the valve cap end down, so that the groove in
the water bottle faces the inside.

4. After filling is complete, replace /close the covers.

5

CONTROLS AND OPERATION

NOTE: Place the unit at least FOUR inches away from any walls or curtains.

Unrestricted airflow into the unit will result in the best efficiency and performance.

1. Plug cord into wall receptacle. Your humidifier is now ready for use. The
humidifier should not be near any heat registers.

2. Push in on the lower knob to turn the unit on.

Fan Speed:

3. Rotate the fan speed knob
clockwise to increase the fan
speed. The speed settings will
be shown on the LED display.

NOTE: Depending on which
model, you may have a choice of
4 speed (1-4) or variable speed
(1-9) allowing you to use the low
setting for the quietest operation
or a high setting for maximum
output.

NOTE: When excessive
condensation exists, a lower speed

setting is recommended.

Humidity Level:
NOTE: Each model has an

automatic humidistat with settings from 25-65%. The humidistat will turn the
humidifier on when the humidity in your home is below the humidistat setting and
will turn the humidifier off when the humidity reaches the humidistat setting.
When set at 65%, the humidifier will operate continuously.

4. For initial operation, set the humidity knob at a midpoint setting (45-50% is
recommended) and adjust up or down from there to achieve the desired
humidity level. The digital display will show the desired setting momentarily,
and then revert to displaying the actual humidity.

Control Panel Displays:

Several functions of the humidifier can be monitored through the LED display on
the control panel.

Refill Indication:

1. One bottle is designed to empty first. The letter F on the display indicates when
the unit is entirely out of water. The motor will cut off at this point.

Filter Indication:

2. The filter’s condition is critical to the humidifier’s effectiveness. A check

filter function (CF) will display every 720 hours of operation to remind
the user to check the condition of the filter. Water condition
significantly affects the life of a wick, so replacement of wick may be
required more often if hard water conditions exist.

3. Replace the filter as necessary per instructions on page 4.

4. To reset the CF function, or when replacing the filter, unplug the unit for

1-2 minutes and then reconnect it to power.

6

OPTIONAL AIRCARE® FILTER

The optional AirCare® filter is a excellent means of cleaning the air while using
your humidifier. The first stage of the air filter is a high-efficiency, electrostatically
charged filter media which traps dust, pollen, and airborne pollutants. The second
stage is an activated carbon media which absorbs odors from cooking, pets, or
tobacco smoke.
We recommend replacing the AirCare® filter at least once a year and more often if
necessary. When the white filter media is coated with a layer of dust and dirt, it is
time to replace the AirCare® filter. The certified water output of your humidifier will
be reduced when using the AirCare® filter. AirCare® filters are optional and are
not required for normal operation of the humidifier. AirCare® is registered
trademark of Essick Air Products.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Cleaning your humidifier regularly helps eliminate odors and bacterial and fungal
growth. Ordinary household bleach is a good disinfectant and can be used to wipe
out the humidifier base and bottle/reservoir after cleaning. We recommend
cleaning your humidifier at least once every two weeks to maintain optimum
environmental conditions for your home.

We also recommend using Essick Air Bacteriostat Treatment each time you refill
your humidifier to reduce bacterial growth. Add bacteriostat according to the
instructions on the bottle. Please call 1-800-547-3888 to order Bacteriostat
Treatment reference part number 1970.

1. Turn off unit completely and unplug from outlet.

2. Lift out the water bottles and the power pack.

3. Carry bottles and base to cleaning basin. Lift wick from the base allowing the
water to drain. Rinse wick under fresh water only. Do not use soap, detergent,
or any other cleaners on the wick. Leave in sink to drain.

REMOVING SCALE

4. Empty the water from the reservoir and water bottles. Fill reservoir and each
water bottle ½ full with water and add 8 oz. (1 cup) of white vinegar to each.
Let stand 20 minutes. Then empty solution.

5. Dampen a soft cloth with white vinegar and wipe out reservoir to remove scale.
Rinse the water bottle and reservoir thoroughly with fresh water to remove
scale and cleaning solution before disinfecting.

7

DISINFECTING UNIT

6. Fill each water bottle and reservoir half full of water and add 1 teaspoon of
bleach to each. Wipe cabinet and bottle surfaces with this solution. Let
solution stay for 20 minutes, then rinse with water until bleach smell is gone.
Dry with clean cloth. The outside of the unit and water bottle may be wiped
down with a soft cloth dampened with fresh water.

7. Refill unit and re-assemble per ASSEMBLY instructions.

SUMMER STORAGE

1. Clean unit as outlined in Care & Maintenance section.

2. Discard used wick and any water in the reservoir or bottles and allow to dry
thoroughly before storage. Do not store with water inside reservoir or bottles.

3. Do not store unit in an attic or other high-temperature area, as this may
damage unit.

4. Install new filter at beginning of season.

Call 1-800-547-3888 to order parts.

8

LEA Y GUARDE ESTAS INSTRUCCIONES

ESSICK AIR PRODUCTS

HUMIDIFIER WARRANTY POLICY

EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2010

SALES RECEIPT REQUIRED AS PROOF OF PURCHASE

FOR ALL WARRANTY CLAIMS.

This product is warranted against defects in workmanship and materials as listed below:
One year from the date of sale on factory installed components.
Two years from the date of sale on motor.
Thirty (30) days on replacement components.

This warranty does not apply to filters or wicks which are customer replaceable parts.

This warranty applies only to the original purchaser of the product when it is purchased from a
reputable retailer/dealer.

This warranty does not apply to damage from accident, misuse, alterations, unauthorized repairs,
unauthorized use, mishandling, unreasonable use, abuse, including failure to perform reasonable
maintenance, normal wear and tear, nor where the connected voltage is more than 5% above the
nameplate voltage, nor to the equipment or products being improperly installed or wired or
maintained in violation of this Owner’s Manual.

Alterations include the substitution of name brand components including, but not limited to wicks
and bacteria treatment.

THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED FOR COMMERCIAL USE. THIS IS THE SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY GIVEN BY MANUFACTURER WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS

AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IS IN LIEU OF AND EXCLUDES ALL

OTHER WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARISING BY OPERATION
OF LAW OR OTHERWISE. INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

No employee, agent, dealer or other person is authorized to give any warranties or conditions on
behalf of the manufacturer. The customer shall be responsible for all costs incurred in the removal
or reinstallation and shipping of the product for repairs.

Within the limitations of this warranty, purchaser with inoperative units should contact
customer service @ 800-547-3888 for paperwork and instructions on the return of the unit for
repair.
Note: This warranty will be null & void if purchaser attempts to repair or replace any parts
which are mechanical or electrical.

A copy of the sales receipt is required before authorization to return a unit for repair is approved.

The manufacturer will repair or replace the product, at its discretion, with return freight paid by the
manufacturer. It is agreed that such repair or replacement is the exclusive remedy available from
the manufacturer and that TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE
MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING
INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE OR LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES.

The warranty gives the customer specific legal rights, and the customer may also have other rights
which vary from province to province, or state to state.