Homedics humidifiers have built-in LED light indicators that turn on when there is a problem in the unit. A common concern is determining why a Homedics humidifier is displaying a red light, and whether it can still be used.

The Power Indicator light on a Homedics humidifier illuminates red when the tank is out of water. Whereas, the Clean button light flashes red whenever the system requires cleaning. An incorrectly seated reservoir, water inside the unit or a poorly placed float can also cause the red light to illuminate.

In this article, we talk about why your Homedics humidifiers can have a red light on. We will also discuss the quick and easy way to diagnose and fix the problem, as well as how to reset the red lights. But first, let’s elaborate on the various types of Homedics humidifiers and their features to help you better understand how they work and how to fix them.

Table of Contents

Types of Homedics Humidifiers

Homedics have several types of humidifiers:

Warm Mist Humidifiers: Warm mist humidifiers contain a heating element that converts tank water into steam.

Cool Mist Humidifiers: Cool mist humidifiers have a fan that humidifies the air by converting tank water into a cool mist.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers: Ultrasonic humidifiers are different from traditional units because they employ ultrasonic frequency to generate mist from water.

More specifically this article relates to the following models of Homedics humidifiers:

Reasons why a Homedics humidifier has a red light

All models of Homedics humidifiers can display a solid or flashing red light due to following reasons:

1. Tank Running Low On Water

The water level in the tank is the first thing you should check for if the Power Indicator light on the Homedics humidifier is red.

All Homedics humidifiers are water-based and store water in the tank to generate mist. Each model has a different tank capacity and varying runtime (the operating time with each refill).

Since water is needed for humidification, the humidifier cannot humidify the air if the tank is low on or out of water. However, because the unit is still plugged in, it will continue to consume electricity and in some cases can eventually overheat the nebulizer.

Homedics humidifiers have a built-in feature that automatically powers down the unit when the tank is empty (or low on water) to conserve energy and prevent any damage to the unit. However, before shutting off, the humidifier indicates that the system needs to be refilled by illuminating the Power Indicator red.

Fix

Refilling the tank will solve the problem. Just follow these steps:

Power off the unit and disconnect it from the electric power source.
Grasp the tank handle and lift it from the humidifier base.
Turn the tank upside down.
Twist the tank cap counterclockwise and take it out.
Fill the tank with clean, room temperature (slightly cool) water (preferably distilled water).
Secure the tank cap in place.
Install the tank back in position on the base.
Ensure that the tank is well-seated before turning the appliance on.

There are a few things that are important to note when filling the tank:

The humidifier does not run well when the tank is overfilled. When the tank is filled beyond the maximum limit, the unit either won’t turn on or will start leaking water through the base. You may also notice water spitting out of the humidifier in this scenario. In some models filling the water to the maximum line is still too much and seem to run better when filled to just below the line.

Hard water has minerals that can lead to the formation of white deposits. This deposit can clog the system or accumulate on the floor the unit is placed on. It is always better to use distilled water in the tank.

Once the tank is full, the Power Indicator light will illuminate green, indicating that you have enough water to produce mist.

If the red light stays on after refilling, the humidifier needs to be reset by pressing the Power button down for 3 to 5 seconds before turning the unit on again.

If the light remain red be sure to check the water reservoir is correctly reseated – this is a common problem, and in some instances there is some debris or dust preventing the reservoir or tank from reseating properly.

2. Unit Requires Cleaning

Homedics humidifiers have a Clean button light that flashes red whenever the unit needs to be cleaned.

Since humidifiers are placed in the open air, dust often accumulates on the unit. The debris and contaminants contained in the air also make their way inside the system when the fan draws in the air. This debris collects inside the humidifier and, if not cleaned regularly, builds up and interferes with the normal working of the system.

Using mineralized/hard water in the tank is another reason why blockages are formed within the system. Ideally, you should always distilled water or use the demineralization cartridge that comes with Homedics humidifiers when operating them.

Due to higher chances of contamination, this problem occurs even more frequently if your unit is not a humidifier and air purifier combo. Running an air purifier in the same room as the humidifier can help reduce this frequency of this problem by removing airborne contaminants before they can negatively impact the humidifier,

Fix

Cleaning the unit thoroughly and resetting the Clean button light afterward will solve the issue. Press and hold the Clean Filter indicator (or Power button, depending on your model) for 3 to 5 seconds until the light goes off.

Don’t forget to unplug your humidifier before cleaning it!

3. Floating Pedal is Not in Place

Homedics humidifiers have a white floating pedal or float, that keeps the water levels in check. If the float is not secured in its place, the red light stays on, and the humidifier does not turn on.

This usually happens when the pedal is not placed the right way after cleaning the bottom part of the humidifier.

Fix

After cleaning the humidifier, replace the float in the tank and the light should turn off. In some instances, the humidifier will need to be reset, which can be done by holding the indicator light button down for 3 to 5 seconds (model dependent).

4. Water in the Machine

Water is typically used to clean the water tank or wipe the unit, and sometimes it can get into the actual unit. Homedics humidifiers cannot operate when water seeps into the machine.

The humidifier will indicate this problem by illuminating the red light (solid).

Fix

Allow the unit to dry completely before reassembling and plugging in.

Water can damage the internal makeup of the system and can also lead to mold growth inside the unit. It is imperative to take great care when cleaning the humidifier and to dry any areas you see water pooling or dripping inside the humidifier.

If your Homedics humidifier is not working as it should, Plentiful Air has a complete troubleshooting guide to getting your humidifier back up and running available here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Clean a Homedics Humidifier?

To clean a Homedics humidifier, turn it off and unplug it from the power source. Rinse both the tank and the ultrasonic membrane with clean, room temperature water and soak in a 1:1 vinegar/water solution. For the external surface, use a dry cloth to wipe off dust.

Before cleaning the unit, ensure that it is turned off and unplugged from the power source.

Here’s how to clean a Homedics humidifier:

Tank

Remove the tank from the base by lifting it from the central unit.
Unscrew the tank cap or twist it counterclockwise to take it off.
Drain the water already present inside the tank.
Rinse the tank with clean water.
Let it completely dry before installing it back in place.

We recommend emptying the tank and rinsing it with clean water daily.

For weekly care, you may use a vinegar solution (prepared with white vinegar and water in a 50/50 ratio) and let it sit in the tank for 20 minutes before draining out. This will help descale any build-ups formed due to minerals suspended or dissolved in water.

After draining the vinegar solution, give it another rinse with water. You can also wipe the tank with a clean, dry cloth to get rid of any hardened clogs.

Ultrasonic Membrane

In the ultrasonic humidifiers (Personal Ultrasonic Humidifier, TotalComfort Ultrasonic Medium-Room Humidifier, etc.), it is the membrane plate that vibrates to produce a high frequency that eventually disperses water from the tank in the form of millions of tiny particles. Rinsing the plate with clean, room temperature water is sufficient for daily care.

For weekly care of ultrasonic membrane, follow the below-listed steps:

Remove the transducer plate cover.
Soak the membrane for five minutes in a white vinegar solution (water and vinegar in a 50/50 ratio)
Brush it gently with a soft bristle brush.
Rinse the membrane.
Replace the plate cover once everything is dry.

It is essential to mention that you should never touch the ultrasonic membrane directly with bare hands as natural skin oils can damage the membrane.

Exterior

The external body of the humidifier usually accumulates dust which easily comes off by wiping the surface with a dry, clean cloth.

How to Reset the Clean Light on a Homedics Humidifier?

To reset the red flashing Clean light on the Homedics humidifier, locate the power button and press it for three to five seconds until the light goes off. Plug in the humidifier, turn it on and set all the controls.

The Clean light on Homedics humidifiers flashes red whenever the unit needs cleaning. Once you are done cleaning the system, you need to reset the Clean light to turn it off. Here’s how to do it:

Turn the unit off (in case you have switched it on after cleaning the system).
Locate the Power (on/off) button and press for 3 to 5 seconds.
The red light will turn off.
Plugin the unit and turn it on, and you’re good to go.

Note that the unit will still operate, even if the red Clean button light is on.

Red Light On Homedics Humidifier – How To Fix And Reset It