More than 20 million humidifiers are sold in the United States every year. Among the more popular brands, Homedics humidifiers relieve dry air effectively by adding moisture to it. However, during use, a Homedics humidifier may stop working and require maintenance.
A Homedics humidifier will not work when there is insufficient water in the tank. A defective humidistat, incorrect settings, water contamination, or a dirty transducer or heating element can also prevent a Homedics humidifier from working. A Homedics humidifier is considered not working if it is leaking or if it is not turning on, misting, or staying on.
This article will take you through all the reasons why the Homedics humidifier is not working and provide a step-by-step guide on how to solve each problem.
Why Is My Homedics Humidifier Not Working
There are various reasons why a Homedics humidifier might not be working, including
- Not turning on
- Leaking
- Not misting
- Not staying on (keeps turning off)
Before troubleshooting, it’s important to note that the three main reasons for a Homedics humidifier not turning on are:
- It’s not properly turned on.
- It does not have power (faulty outlet or plug).
- It is not plugged in.
So, make sure you check that the Homedics humidifier is plugged in to a functioning outlet, and turned on. Then jump to your relevant section.
If your Homedics humidifier has a RED LIGHT that stays on or is flashing – go to this post instead.
In this guide we shall look at the following Homedics humidifier models:
- Homedics Ultrasonic Warm and Cool Mist Humidifiers
- Homedics Cool Mist Humidifiers
- Homedics Personal Portable Humidifiers
- Homedics Deluxe Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Why a Homedics humidifier is leaking
1. Uneven surface.
A Homedics humidifier can leak because it is placed on an uneven surface.
When a humidifier is placed on a blanket, mattress, rug, carpet, or furnished floor, it can begin to leak, roll over, or be damaged as a result of water or moisture exposure.
Solutions
- Homedics humidifiers should be placed on a sturdy, flat surface, away from heat sources and sunshine, with sufficient air flow around all edges.
- You can place it on a waterproof mat or pad. It should never be used on a rug, carpet, or polished floor that is susceptible to water or moisture damage.
- Keep the Homedics humidifier at least 30cm away from the wall.
- Avoid soft places like rugs and mattresses.
2. The reservoir tank is not placed on the base correctly.
Most Homedics humidifiers have water tanks that need to be refilled with water, and sealed with a tank cap before being placed on the base for use.
If the water tank is not correctly positioned on the base, and the tank cap was not fastened tightly, it can leak water.
Solutions
- When turning over and placing the tank back on the humidifier’s base, make sure that it is firmly seated.
- After refilling the water tank, replace the tank cap by turning clockwise until tight.
Why a Homedics humidifier is not misting
1. Transducer or heating elements are dirty
A Homedics humidifier may not be misting because its transducer or heating elements are dirty or clogged.
Transducers are included in some Homedics humidifier models, such as the
- TotalComfort® Deluxe Warm & Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier (UHE-WMTF185)
- TotalComfort® Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (UHE-CMTF40)
While, warm mist Homedics humidifiers have heating elements that can also become clogged with mineral deposits, causing a misting problem.
Using hard water in the humidifier rather than distilled, remineralized or purified water causes a mineral build-up in the transducer and/or heating elements.
A lack of cleaning after an extended period allows the mineral deposits to accumulate causing a misting problem.
Solutions
- Use distilled or demineralized water in your Homedics humidifier.
- Clean your humidifier regularly.
- Rinse your Homedics humidifier with plenty of clean water and dry it after each use.
- If you notice any scale or mineral build-up, use white vinegar, lemon, or bleach to descale it.
2. Low water level
One common reason for a Homedics humidifier not working is a low water level.
Homedics humidifiers have water tanks and when the water level becomes too low, the humidifier will start malfunctioning.
Fortunately, most Homedics humidifiers have smart functionalities so that when the tanks are empty, the unit simply automatically shuts off, advising the user to refill them.
Solutions
- Fill the Homedics humidifier with water to just below the max line.
- Only use distilled water as that is the water recommended by the manufacturer.
- Ensure the water level in your Homedics humidifier is correct i.e not too low or past the max line.
3. The humidistat setting is lower than the current room humidity
Homedics humidifiers offer humidistat settings that can be adjusted to help manage interior humidity. When the humidistat setting is lower than the current room humidity, the humidifier will not mist.
Solutions
- To adjust the settings, press the humidistat button. Using the + or – buttons, you can adjust the humidity.
- The + and – buttons increase or decrease the humidity level by 5%, and will be displayed on the screen.
- Select the desired percentage level, above that of the current humidity.
4. Wick filters need to be changed
Some models of Homedics humidifiers have wick filters. For instance, the Homedics UHE-CM15 portable ultrasonic humidifier.
The wick filters become clogged after a period of use, and when this happens, water does not move through freely, resulting in insufficient mist.
If your Homedics humidifier includes a wick and has a misting problem, inspect the wick filter to see if it needs to be replaced.
Solutions
- Replace the wick filter – these are easily available from Amazon.com
How to replace a wick filter
- Switch off the humidifier and remove it from the power source.
- Remove your new replacement wick filter from its packaging and soak it for 2 minutes.
- Turn the mist spout to the right until the icons align in the “unlock position,” then remove it.
- Remove the mist spout by lifting it up and setting it aside.
- Turn the wick holder to the left and remove the top cover to unlock the spring-loaded wick.
- Remove and discard the old wick from the wick holder.
- In the wick holder, place the new, moistened wick.
- Replace the wick holder on the device and turn it to the right to lock it in place.
Why a Homedics humidifier keeps turning off
1. Faulty humidistat
Homedics humidifiers have humidistats that are programmable. The humidistat is essential for maintaining proper humidity levels. If the humidistat fails, the humidifier will begin to malfunction by turning off and on repeatedly.
A defective humidistat can misdiagnose the relative humidity of the room. This can cause the humidifier to turn off, recording the room’s humidity as achieved, despite the fact it hasn’t altered the humidity of the room.
Solutions
Check to see if the humidistat on your Homedics humidifier is working. To do so, connect a multimeter to the system and experiment with different voltages.
- You’ll need to reset your humidistat if the ohm-meter reads appropriately.
- Your humidistat, on the other hand, is not operating if the ohm-meter reads 0 all of the time.
To reset the humidistat settings:
Press and hold the humidistat button for 2 to 5 seconds, then press and hold the + Button until “CO” (continuous on) is one level above 60%. You can now adjust the settings as desired.
If the humidistat is faulty, the humidifier will likely need replacing as the humidistats are not sold separately. New humidifiers can be purchased directly from Amazon.com
2. Water contamination
It’s possible that your Homedics humidifier isn’t operating because of a water contamination issue in the electrical components. This can happen when you refill it, move it around, or clean it.
When the electrical components come into contact with water, the humidifier may start shutting down more frequently, preventing it from humidifying a room properly.
Be careful when placing the water tanks back on the base to avoid spilling water because this is typically when water accidentally enters the electrical components.
Solutions
- To avoid water getting into other compartments, don’t move the humidifier around after it’s full and if you must, carry it with both hands carefully to avoid water spillage.
- While cleaning, ensure the water does not get into the electrical compartment.
- Always place your Homedics humidifier on a leveled surface.
- After cleaning, allow your Homedics humidifier to completely dry before using it again.
- If you accidentally flood the area where your humidifier is located with water, unplug the humidifier, remove any water, clean it, and allow it to dry fully before using it again.
3. Faulty or incorrectly placed float.
Most Homedics humidifiers contain a float system that controls the humidifier’s automated on/off operation. Although, some, such as the UHE-CM15, do not.
The floats are programmed so that until there is enough water in the tank, the float system remains at the activation threshold.
The float then drops below the activation threshold when the tank runs out of water, and the humidifier switches off. However, some issues like mineral build-up can cause the float to become trapped below the activation threshold, making the humidifier turn off even though the tank has enough water.
Solutions
- Wash away any dirt around the float.
- Lift the float at the activation level.
- If after doing that it still doesn’t work, replace the float switch or invest in a new humidifier.
4. Settings
A Homedics humidifier can malfunction due to the settings.
When you adjust the settings during winter and forget, the same settings will apply during summer which might not be favorable for you due to house temperature and humidity changes.
When you set your humidifier to not exceed a given percentage, take for example 50%, it will always turn off when the relative room humidity reaches that percentage unless you modify it. Because humidity is relative, it changes with the temperature, in this sense warm air can ‘hold’ more moisture than cool air.
Solutions
- To see if you have any setting preferences, go to settings.
- By using the + or – buttons, you can remove or adjust the settings based on the current relative humidity.
- Confirm the humidity setting is for a relative humidity percentage greater than the current humidity of the room.
How to use a Homedics humidifier
To use a homedics humidifier, begin by plugging the unit into a 120 volt AC electrical outlet and press the POWER button/turn the power knob. Locate the mist button to adjust the mist settings and temperature, program the humidistat, set the timer, and enable the night light as you desire.
Consult your user manual on how to use your specific Homedics humidifier model.
How to fill a homedics humidifier
To fill a Homedics humidifier, switch the power off, remove the tank from the humidifier base, turn it upside down, and remove the tank cap by turning it counterclockwise. Then fill the water tank with clean water, replace the tank cap tightly and place the tank back on the humidifier base until firmly seated.
How to turn on a Homedics humidifier
To turn on a Homedics humidifier, connect it to a 120-volt AC outlet and click the power button or turn the POWER knob clockwise.
For Homedics Models UHE-CM18, UHE-WM350, UHE-CM15, and UHE-WM130, press the power button to turn them on.
For Model UHE-CM45, turn the power knob to turn it on.
