Claude Simon
From:	RepairCliniccom [emailmanagement@repairclinic.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, October 06, 2004 7:59 AM
To:	claudesimon@planttel.net
Subject:	How humidifiers work
October 2004 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:
a) How humidifiers work
b) What’s new at RepairClinic.com? 
   - New warehouse and walk-in parts counter now open!
c) Check out what's ON SALE NOW
d) Appliance fun fact
 
ALSO:
e) Appliance maintenance calendar
f) Tell a Friend about RepairClinic.com and WIN a prize
g) Earn money as a RepairClinic.com affiliate
h) Subscription information
 
a) How humidifiers work

All humidifiers have essentially the same components and operate on the same principle.

Components:

Water: 
Water comes from a small valve attached to the household water supply. It travels through a small tube to the inside of the humidifier.

Medium:
Humidifiers use a pad, screen, mesh or filter called a medium. If the medium is a pad, it's mounted to a cylinder, and a small motor rotates it through a small reservoir of water. If it's a mesh or screen medium, water flows through a trough at the top of the screen to distribute water evenly across the medium.

Fan:
A fan, usually the furnace blower fan, blows across the damp medium, causing evaporation.

Valve or float:
A valve or float allows water to flow either into a reservoir or across the medium and then into a drain, when called for by the humidistat.

Humidistat:
A humidistat determines how much moisture to add to the air and turns the humidifier on and off in conjunction with the furnace blower. It is usually mounted on the return air duct of the furnace but may be mounted near the household thermostat.

Principle:
 
1. When the humidifier is running (usually when the furnace is running and the humidistat is calling for more humidity), here's what happens:

2. Water flows either into a reservoir (in which a pad mounted to a cylinder turns) or through a screen or mesh, then straight into a drain. 

3. A fan blows air across the damp medium, which evaporates some water into the air. The warmer the air, the more water evaporates. That’s why your humidifier is probably mounted close to your furnace. 

4. Water stops flowing, and the humidifier shuts off when either the humidistat or the furnace shuts off.

How to care for your humidifier:

You need to check and clean your humidifier frequently. Do not simply turn it on and leave it all year. Reservoir-type humidifiers have standing water in them, allowing mold and bacteria to grow. If your humidifier has standing water, or any type of water reservoir, it's necessary to treat the water with an anti-bacterial solution. You can disassemble permanently mounted units to clean and sanitize them using standard household products. For wick and/or filter type portable units, you can order humidifier cleaner and bacterial solution here: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=77&Ref=6883&N=908015&Acc=1. The flow-through type of humidifier does not have standing water and is not as susceptible to mold growth. Thoroughly clean a flow-through humidifier once per season.

Humidifier problems and concerns:

Check out our humidifier repair help section for more information about humidifiers, including a detailed illustration of a common humidifier, maintenance tips and FAQs: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=52&Ref=6884.   

Parts and accessories:

We have an extensive inventory of humidifier parts. Enter your humidifier model number into the Part Detective to see all functional parts for your particular unit. You can also find the most common items, such as belts, wicks and filters, by visiting our accessory section. Many humidifier accessories are ON SALE NOW through October 17 so act now to save.
PartDetective: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=69&Ref=2591  
Universal humidifier parts and accessories: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=34&Ref=2592&AccCatID=8   

b) What’s new at RepairClinic.com? 
   - New warehouse and walk-in parts counter now open!

RepairClinic.com’s new 60,000 square-foot parts distribution center, including a walk-in parts counter, is now open in Canton, Mich. The parts counter conveniently serves Washtenaw, Livingston, Western Wayne and Southwestern Oakland counties.

The building is located at 48600 Michigan Avenue, Canton, Mich. It is on the north side of Michigan Avenue, one quarter mile west of Beck Road. The parts counter is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

c) Check out what’s ON SALE NOW

To help get your humidifier ready for winter, all products from our humidifier accessories section are ON SALE NOW through Oct. 17. http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=165&Ref=5542. 

d) Appliance Fun Fact

Proper humidity levels can save you money by cutting your heating bill. A 10% increase in relative humidity makes the air feel one degree warmer. For information about proper humidity levels, check out this article from the Cold Climate Housing Information Center at the University of Minnesota: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=97&Ref=6885.

e) Appliance maintenance calendar

Check out our appliance maintenance calendar to see what needs to be done and when: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=180&Ref=3000.   

f) Tell a Friend about RepairClinic.com and WIN a prize

Tell a friend before October 18 about RepairClinic.com and win a quality Klein five-in-one screwdriver: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=33&Ref=2644&EmailHTMLPage=1.
Click here for rules: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=96&Ref=2596.   

g) Earn money as a RepairClinic.com affiliate

Interested in becoming a RepairClinic.com affiliate? http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=10&Ref=5913&form=8.   

h) Subscription Information:

To unsubscribe, please visit: http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1253&P=87&Ref=3638.