It seems that my home humidifier is not working. Here's what I know:

humidistat clicks on
Fan runs
There is a metal line that I believe is the water flow line that is disconnected and I have no idea how or where to connect it. When I turned the little bar handle, water does drop out of it.

I have an aprilaire 760.

Not sure what else to do.

On 12/16/2015 9:35 PM, wrote:
It seems that my home humidifier is not working. Here's what I know:

humidistat clicks on
Fan runs
There is a metal line that I believe is the water flow line that is disconnected and I have no idea how or where to connect it. When I turned the little bar handle, water does drop out of it.

I have an aprilaire 760.

Not sure what else to do.

ftp://ftp.aprilaire.com/Fulfillment/Humidifiers/Complete1780.pdf

On 12/16/2015 11:35 PM, wrote:
It seems that my home humidifier is not working. Here's what I know:

humidistat clicks on
Fan runs
There is a metal line that I believe is the water flow line that is disconnected and I have no idea how or where to connect it. When I turned the little bar handle, water does drop out of it.

I have an aprilaire 760.

Not sure what else to do.


Open the yellow pages phone book, and look
for "heating contractors".

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:35:25 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

It seems that my home humidifier is not working. Here's what I know:

humidistat clicks on
Fan runs
There is a metal line that I believe is the water flow line that is
disconnected and I have no idea how or where to connect it. When I t
urned the little bar handle, water does drop out of it.

I have an aprilaire 760.

Not sure what else to do.

So the line is connected to one of your water pipes.
Apparently someone disconnected it from your humidifier. I can only
guess this was before you owned or leased this home.
Likely there was a reason to disconnect it. Probably it was overflowing
and making a mess.

If you cant see where it connects to the humidifier, (which should be
very obvious), you obviously dont know what to do, and I suggest calling
a furnace repair company. Connecting a water line to a humidifier is not
rocket science. And even if you do get it connected I bet it's not going
to work. If it did work, it would not have been disconnected. So, expect
water to run all over the floor.

There is usually a float valve in them, and they commonly seize up and
do not stop the flow of water, then they overflow....

On Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 3:43:19 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:35:25 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

It seems that my home humidifier is not working. Here's what I know:

humidistat clicks on
Fan runs
There is a metal line that I believe is the water flow line that is
disconnected and I have no idea how or where to connect it. When I t
urned the little bar handle, water does drop out of it.

I have an aprilaire 760.

Not sure what else to do.

So the line is connected to one of your water pipes.
Apparently someone disconnected it from your humidifier. I can only
guess this was before you owned or leased this home.
Likely there was a reason to disconnect it. Probably it was overflowing
and making a mess.

If you cant see where it connects to the humidifier, (which should be
very obvious), you obviously dont know what to do, and I suggest calling
a furnace repair company. Connecting a water line to a humidifier is not
rocket science. And even if you do get it connected I bet it's not going
to work. If it did work, it would not have been disconnected. So, expect
water to run all over the floor.


Or worse it can run into the furnace, the electronics, before it gets
to the floor. If he hears the clicking, that's probably the solenoid
for the water valve. It's located at the bottom of the 760 housing.
There isn't much to go wrong, leak, etc with that model. Water line
is connected to that solenoid valve, from the output side there is a
rubber hose that goes up the side, to the top, where it connects to
a fitting that puts the water on top of a little tray gizmo that spreads
it out and it flows onto the media pad. The solenoid valve has a
tiny mesh strainer to filter any crap and a plastic orifice that sets
the flow. If the orifice was missing, I guess it could send in way
too much water and flood things.



There is usually a float valve in them, and they commonly seize up and
do not stop the flow of water, then they overflow....

I had a humidifier malfunction many years ago, it flooded the furnace and basement. one big mess.

I disconnected it and forgot about it.

it was one of those rotating pad units, that required my putting the rotating wheel with a foam pad in a bucket.

pad was clgged with a brown crud. a gallon og vinegar would foam up it was a mess.

and even after rinsing the air in the house got a vinegar odor.

be glad that humidifer was disconnected. call a pro if necessary

On 12/17/2015 8:16 AM, bob haller wrote:
I had a humidifier malfunction many years ago, it flooded the furnace and basement. one big mess.

I disconnected it and forgot about it.

it was one of those rotating pad units, that required my putting the rotating wheel with a foam pad in a bucket.

pad was clgged with a brown crud. a gallon og vinegar would foam up it was a mess.

and even after rinsing the air in the house got a vinegar odor.

be glad that humidifer was disconnected. call a pro if necessary


I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.



Te excess water that flows out carries some of the excess minerals with it....that is the key to pad longevity.

Without the excess wather flow, minerals can check in but they can't check out.


Mark

On Thu, 17 Dec 2015 09:06:17 -0500, Frank "frank wrote:

I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Unless they have designed something new, which I dont know about, NONE
of the built in (to furnace) humidifiers last very long. And if your
water is high in minerals, it's even worse. Not only are they a pain to
keep working and clean, but they can damage the furnace by causing rust
to the heat exchanger, and/or damage the electronics within the furnace.

I quit using them years ago. I just use a portable humidifier which
needs to be filled with a pail, and also needs maintenance and cleaning,
but cant cause flooding or damage your furnace. And if they go bad, you
just replace the whole unit and dont have to find something that fits
into the plenum.

On Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 5:28:55 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Thu, 17 Dec 2015 09:06:17 -0500, Frank "frank wrote:

I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Unless they have designed something new, which I dont know about, NONE
of the built in (to furnace) humidifiers last very long. And if your
water is high in minerals, it's even worse. Not only are they a pain to
keep working and clean, but they can damage the furnace by causing rust
to the heat exchanger, and/or damage the electronics within the furnace.


I've had an Aprilaire for 10+ years with no problems. There isn't
anything in there that is inherently a high failure issue. It's
essentially a media element that water trickles over. The pads are a
maintenance item and need to be replaced when enough minerals have
accumulated, about every 2 years on mine. Mine is a powered one, with
a small fan motor, other bypass models have no motor. So, there really
isn't anything there to fail. Honeywell uses a similar design and
the same media element. IDK what design other companies use today.
Many decades ago there were types that used a rotating drum that went
through a container of water, kept filled by a float, etc. The
Aprilaire design is much better than that.


I quit using them years ago. I just use a portable humidifier which
needs to be filled with a pail, and also needs maintenance and cleaning,
but cant cause flooding or damage your furnace. And if they go bad, you
just replace the whole unit and dont have to find something that fits
into the plenum.

On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

On Friday, December 18, 2015 at 8:22:09 AM UTC-5, Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

You can also throttle it back if you want to, by partially closing the
valve. AA tells you not to, but I've tried it and haven't seen any difference. It's also not just the water, but the fact that it's heated
water going down the drain. Still, I agree it doesn't amount to much.
I'd rather have a reliable, trouble-free design that uses some water,
than one that has to be cleaned more often, can grow mold, etc.

On 12/18/2015 8:22 AM, Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

With my van, I can drive as much as I want,
cause I don't pay for mileage.

Just like with your electric well pump, you
don't pay for water.

Both, well, needs another look.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On 12/18/2015 8:47 AM, trader_4 wrote:
You can also throttle it back if you want to, by partially closing the
valve. AA tells you not to, but I've tried it and haven't seen any difference. It's also not just the water, but the fact that it's heated
water going down the drain. Still, I agree it doesn't amount to much.
I'd rather have a reliable, trouble-free design that uses some water,
than one that has to be cleaned more often, can grow mold, etc.


One heating company, we had to wash hands after
servicing the "minerals check in but not check
out" type of furnace humidifier. I'd like to have
cleaned em all out with bleach, but we didn't
stock bleach on the trucks.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
. vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

Years ago Sears used to sell furnace humidifier like that. Hobart brand.
It stayed always clean. Now with Aprilaire 600 I used to dunk the pad in
CLR but I got lazy. I just throw old pad out and put in a new one.

On 12/18/2015 6:12 PM, Tony Hwang wrote:
Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a
mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
. vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

Years ago Sears used to sell furnace humidifier like that. Hobart brand.
It stayed always clean. Now with Aprilaire 600 I used to dunk the pad in
CLR but I got lazy. I just throw old pad out and put in a new one.

Amazon puts pad at $10 but I don't think I pay that much at Home Depot
and will buy for two years.

I see Amazon sells a kit for replacing the holder and rest.

I just vacuum and brush mine off.

On 12/18/2015 8:47 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Friday, December 18, 2015 at 8:22:09 AM UTC-5, Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

You can also throttle it back if you want to, by partially closing the
valve. AA tells you not to, but I've tried it and haven't seen any difference. It's also not just the water, but the fact that it's heated
water going down the drain. Still, I agree it doesn't amount to much.
I'd rather have a reliable, trouble-free design that uses some water,
than one that has to be cleaned more often, can grow mold, etc.


I tap a cold water line and to answer Stormin, I doubt if it puts a
strain on the pump or electric bill.

On Friday, December 18, 2015 at 7:41:05 PM UTC-5, Frank wrote:
On 12/18/2015 8:47 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Friday, December 18, 2015 at 8:22:09 AM UTC-5, Frank wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:45 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 12/17/2015 9:06 AM, Frank wrote:
I had put one of these dehumidifiers in my first house and it was a mess
and a mess to clean. There was no water over flow and after a month or
so, I'd have to remove the pad to clean out the calcium deposit with
vinegar.

Now my Aprilaire 560 has no moving parts but drips water over a honey
comb, ceramic coated aluminum pad to evaporate in the furnace air. Pad
is rinsed by excess water and would probably last a few years but I
change it every year. Water drains into my French drain which can
handle it and in the Summer condensate from AC goes into same drain.
Never a problem.

Thread just got me to check it and it is working fine. It's as old as
the house, ~40 years.

Sounds like a totally successful dehumidifier.

Except, that it isn't. Oops.

===============================
When I did HVAC installs, my boss used to really
love the flow through humidifiers. Wasted a little
water, but much lower maintenance.


I don't think it uses much water. It only goes on when the furnace is
on and it is only a trickle. My French drain has no sump pump and is
only wet for a few feet beyond the exit. Besides, with a well, I don't
pay for water.

You can also throttle it back if you want to, by partially closing the
valve. AA tells you not to, but I've tried it and haven't seen any difference. It's also not just the water, but the fact that it's heated
water going down the drain. Still, I agree it doesn't amount to much.
I'd rather have a reliable, trouble-free design that uses some water,
than one that has to be cleaned more often, can grow mold, etc.


I tap a cold water line and to answer Stormin, I doubt if it puts a
strain on the pump or electric bill.

Whether you tap a hot water line or a cold water line doesn't matter.
The water going down the drain still winds up heated and at about the
same temperature whether heated by the water heater or by the furnace.