cleaning your Humidifyer

[johnblagg]

The local water has so much calcium in it that my humidifyer gets build up to the point it stops working about once a month so regular cleaning with straight vinager is needed .....well I discovered the tube that goes up through the water tank does the same and is very hard to clean ,hmmmm what to do?

Well the solution is so simple its stupid ...I simply place a band aid across the hole the mist emerges from to block it off and keep the mist inside and let it run ...the vinager mist does the cleaning and running the unit with vinager in it cleanes every part very well and much faster than it does just letting it soak not running as it does....

[Bud]

keen ! what is the ratio of vinegar to water?

[fotofashion]

Yes, vinegar is a good, cheap, ecofriendly solution to many calcium build-up problems. When I lived with hard water, my main problem was build-up around the water faucets. I just soaked a rag in vinegar, wrapped it around the faucet base and let it sit for however long it took, usually a couple of days depending on the amount of calcium. I merely rewet it with a bit of water if it dried out before accomplishing the job. The sponge medium on the humidifier attached to the furnace also got a soaking in vinegar when necessary.
There is really no "formula" for the ratio of vinegar/water. Just whatever works for you. It might depend on the amount of build-up, especially the first time. If you keep on top of it it will be easier each time.
Beverly A.

[johnblagg]

full strenght vinager no dilution

[Bud]

WOW...I will need 2 gallons of pure undiluted vinegar??!!

assuming maybe : one parts vinegar to two parts water as the formula to clean coffee makers?

I have a 2 gallon humidifier; NY tap water doesnt have that much build up...but I would like to do the vinegar water to self clean it.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Bud

WOW...I will need 2 gallons of pure undiluted vinegar??!!

assuming maybe : one parts vinegar to two parts water as the formula to clean coffee makers?

I have a 2 gallon humidifier; NY tap water doesnt have that much build up...but I would like to do the vinegar water to self clean it.

LOL no you dont have to fill it up compleatly just a inch or so in the tank and let it run ...when it has ran a while dump out what is in the humidifyer resivor not what is in the tank to get rid of what dissolved and put the tank back on it and run a while more ...rinse and repete ....mine I can take the tank off and just fill the res of the humidifyer with enough to raise the float switch and then turn it on

---------- Post added at 07:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

and you dont need to clean the actual tank on mine I let it run about 20 or 30 mins this way and dump and do it a second time

[fotofashion]

Cider vinegar is cheap. Don't obsess over it.
Beverly A.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by fotofashion

Cider vinegar is cheap. Don't obsess over it.
Beverly A.

LOL very, very true ...$1 a gal around here

[orchidsarefun]

I have a different problem. I have 2 cheapo Walgreen warm mist humidifiers and the tank regularly fills with grey gunk. I have to wash them out about 2x per month ( though probably could do with it 1x per week ). And there is no end to the gunk..I have had the 1 for about 3 winters and the gunk keeps-a-coming

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I have a different problem. I have 2 cheapo Walgreen warm mist humidifiers and the tank regularly fills with grey gunk. I have to wash them out about 2x per month ( though probably could do with it 1x per week ). And there is no end to the gunk..I have had the 1 for about 3 winters and the gunk keeps-a-coming

Fiil em with vinager and let em soak might be bacteria and vinager is used to disenfect too ... or use some pure bleach poured in a swish around a while and let it work 30 mins or so and rinse ...clean it out good.