Aprilaire 400 Humidifier User Manual


 
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Your humidifier will operate effectively using either hot, cold, hard or
mechanically softened water. Whether to use available tap water, even
though it may be quite hard, or chemically softened water, is a common
concern to homeowners when installing a humidifier.
Water used in homes contains varying amounts of minerals. The residue
remaining as a result of hard water evaporation is primarily calcium and
magnesium components and is usually quite hard, scaly, and dense.
Residue from softened water tends to be soft and fluffy and has a greater
volume than hard water scale. The service life of a Water Panel evaporator may
be extended by using hard water. In either case, the Water Panel evaporator
is usually changed once a year with the exception of the Model 400 which
should be changed twice a heating season. In the drain-equipped models,
most of these solids are effectively controlled by flushing them down the
drain.
Your new Aprilaire Humidifier is controlled by a manual humidistat
installed either in the living area or in the cold air return. It is important to
anticipate a drop in temperature and reduce the setting accordingly to
avoid excessive condensation. For example, with an outside temperature
of 20° the correct setting will be 35% relative humidity. If the
temperature is expected to fall to 0° that evening, then merely reduce the
setting to 25% several hours prior to the temperature change.
Be sure to keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use. They provide
an excellent escape route for heat, as well as humidity.
On occasion, indoor moisture producing activities such as clothes drying,
cooking, showers, etc., may raise the relative humidity level higher than it
should be, even though the Aprilaire Humidifier is not operating. Telltale
indications, again, are condensation or frost on cold surfaces such as
windows, doors, walls, etc. If such condensation persists for several
hours, your home should be ventilated to dissipate the potential damaging
excess moisture levels.
III. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS – 550
V. EFFECT OF WATER CHARACTERISTICS
IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL MODLES