Homedics Humidifier Not Working [Solved]

HoMedics humidifiers have gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. And a lot of the credit goes to its excellent performance. I was looking for a decent humidifier for my space and chose this brand.

I feel the build quality is pretty solid; fortunately, I have not faced any significant issues regarding the build. However, like any electronic device, the HoMedics humidifier can sometimes malfunction. And when that happens, it is natural to look for solutions to the ‘HoMedics humidifier not working.’

The range of issues that can arise is quite varied. For example, if your HoMedics humidifier not working, it can be due to power issues, faulty settings, contaminated water, mineral buildup which clogs the machine, and so on.

And if you are facing the same issue and your HoMedics humidifier isn’t working correctly, this guide will help you understand why and how to fix it. Keep reading till the end!

Pros of using a humidifier.

The primary objective of a humidifier is to reduce the moisture content in the air. But the benefits of cool or warm mist humidifiers aren’t restricted. Plus, if you purchase portable humidifiers, you can use them in any room according to your needs. Here are some pros of adding a humidifier to your space if you haven’t already.

• My throat becomes parched and scratchy, and I feel my vocal cords straining when I am exposed to highly polluted air for prolonged periods. But a humidifier can combat this problem effectively and prevents the throat from feeling irritated or sore.

• Humidifiers also work great for people with snoring problems, as dry air can worsen the condition. Once the humidifier adds the required moisture to the air, the airways will feel adequately lubricated.

• Dry sinuses are one extremely common problem, and I have seen them in many people I know. I always recommend a humidifier in this scenario as it helps calm down your sinuses and eliminate the excess mucus.

• Winters and dry weather conditions can suck out the moisture from your skin and scalp, making it dry and flaky. This can be reduced with the appropriate content of moisture in the air.

• For all plant lovers, the moisture from a humidifier can help the plants become more vibrant, and we’ll even increase the longevity of your hardwood floors and furniture.

How To Fix HoMedics humidifier that is not working  

The humidifier is not functioning as expected.

Suppose you used your humidifier a few minutes earlier, and it’s not turning on now. It is a common problem in many humidifiers.

This might seem silly to check, but forgetting to connect the device to the power source is a common mistake. But it is not enough to check whether the device is plugged in. The outlet should be functional for the device to work well. I recommend using a voltage tester to get a confirmation on this.

Another thing I’ll suggest is unplugging the humidifier beforehand and reconnecting it to the power source only after it is fully dry.

If the HoMedics humidifier not working even now, keep reading down this checklist for more solutions and to find out the origin of why it is happening.

Humidifier leaks and drips.

A humidifier leaking water is one problem that I never want to come across. But it is very common at the same time. But why does it happen? There are multiple potential reasons behind it. I have noticed a pool of water near the humidifier whenever I place the device on an uneven surface.

I recommend not placing the humidifier on any fluffy rug or carpet. Another common reason I have come across in case of humidifier leaks is when you do not place the water tank after refilling it with water. There have also been times when I messed up and forgot to fasten the cap of the tank.

The directional valve can also play a role in the leakage from your humidifier. You will notice leakage if the water flow is set in the wrong direction.

Now we have discussed the causes for which you may notice leaks near your humidifier. But what about the solutions? You will get a lot of information from the manual itself. Whenever you place a humidifier in any location of the house, I recommend using a waterproof mat beneath it. As mentioned above, placing the humidifier on uneven surfaces like a carpet or a rug is never a good idea. The device can quickly lose its balance and spill.

Whenever you are refilling water in the tank, make sure you always fasten the cap tightly. I can speak from personal experience that this will solve half the problem.

If the valve is open and the water is leaking due to death, turn off the power and shut it immediately. Sometimes the valve can also get stuck due to the accumulation of waste and debris. But it is not a significant problem; you can solve it by cleaning the valve and flushing it with water.

The humidifier isn’t producing mist.

If you notice that the HoMedics humidifier not working and not producing any mist after you turn it on, there are a few areas you will have to check to know the exact reason behind it. Here are some of the common ones-

• The transducer or the heating element of your HoMedics may be dirty. It can happen due to mineral buildup in the heating elements, and the primary reason behind it is hard water usage. Irrespective of my hectic schedule, I always make time to clean the humidifier at regular intervals to maintain it in its optimal condition.

• I have also noticed that it is essential to have a sufficient level of water in the tank of your HoMedics humidifier. Otherwise, it can start malfunctioning. Typically, this problem is not very common nowadays since most brands include intelligent functions via which the system shuts down automatically in case of an empty water tank.

• You can adjust the humidistat settings of an HoMedics humidifier to let you manage the humidity of your indoor space according to your requirement and preference. If the humidistat setting is lower than the room’s current humidity level, your humidifier will stop misting.

• Some of the HoMedics humidifiers come with wick filters, and I do not prefer them because they can get clogged after using for an extended period. And when this happens, the water cannot flow freely, resulting in inadequate misting.

Coming to the solution, if the misting problem is due to the dirty transducer or heating elements, use distilled or demineralized water in your humidifier. Cleaning the humidifier regularly is essential; never use it when it is not completely dry.

I recommend using bleach and white vinegar to clean the humidifier, as it works like a charm for me. A friend also suggested that distilled water works best in humidifiers. And I have been following it thoroughly since then.

In case of wrong humidistat settings, there are ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons to increase or decrease the humidity level by 5%. Select the required percentage level and ensure it is above the current humidity level.

If your humidifier is leaking due to clogging up of the wick filter, you will have to go for a replacement wick filter. Wick filters are easily accessible, and you can purchase them on the HoMedics website or even from Amazon.

The humidifier emits white dust.

I have never faced this issue, and I have seen it happening with the humidifier at my parents’ house. Initially, it was not visible. But later on, when we placed the humidifier against a dark background, my mother noticed it. I did not immediately realize what caused it, but after digging around a little, I found out it was due to a mineral residue from the mist evaporating into the air.

After trying out a few solutions, I recommend distilled water because this problem elevates further when you use hard water. The brand recommends this too.

If you do not have access to distilled water, you can also go for filtered or bottled water instead. Another factor to know is that this white dust isn’t particularly harmful to your health, but it can end up clogging your humidifiers sooner than usual.

The humidifier is releasing a foul odor.

If your humidifier emits a foul smell after turning it on, there could be an underlying issue behind it. If the smell does not resemble a burning smell, you do not have to worry too much as the problem can be fixed easily. The growth of mold and bacteria is usually the typical reason behind bad smells.

As already mentioned above, a regular cleaning schedule for your humidifier is extremely important to keep any unwanted odor away. I always clean my HoMedics humidifier at least once a month without fail. And if you feel the humidifier is way too dirty, I would say replacing it is the best bet.

You will find various methods online regarding how to clean a humidifier. But I can share what works best for me. I use white vinegar to get rid of the bacteria growing on the surface, and I leave it like that for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Then I scrub the surface using a soft rag to eliminate the calcium deposits and any leftover contaminants.

I feel the humidifier gets squeaky clean after this. But an important warning here- reassemble the humidifier only after it’s fully dry.

The humidifier keeps turning off.

Sometimes, you might notice that your HoMedics humidifier not working and keeps turning off without warning. It can create significant problems if you use the device and it keeps stopping continuously. Here are some of the reasons why that might be happening-

The humidistat used in HoMedics humidifiers is typically programmable, and this particular component is extremely important to maintain a balanced humidity level. And when this component fails to work, the device may turn on and off repeatedly.

This can lead to significant inconvenience. Moreover, the humidistat will be unable to diagnose the accurate relative humidity of the room, and the machine will turn off at the wrong time, assuming that the humidity level in the room has already been achieved.

Your HoMedics humidifier not working issue might also happen due to water contamination in the electrical components. When cleaning the electrical components, take extra protection so they do not come in contact with water because this can seriously damage the components and your humidistat.

Most models I have come across from the HoMedic brand follow a float system, which controls the operation using which the device turns on and off. These programmable floats remain at the activation threshold until enough water is in the tank.

When no water remains, it drops below the threshold, and the device switches off. But sometimes, mineral buildup causes the float to get trapped below the activation threshold. When that happens, the device turns off even though there is enough water in the tank.

I can’t say how often I have messed up the humidifier’s settings, which has led to the humidifier turning on and off at the wrong time. When seasons change, I forget to modify the settings accordingly. And that is problematic because the settings we use in one season might not be favorable in another.

Regarding the solution, if your device keeps turning off due to a faulty humidistat, you must check if it is working by connecting a multimeter to the system. If it works, you can reset the humidistat and adjust the settings as required. And if it’s faulty, you will have to replace it.

Always be careful that you do not spill any water while placing the humidifier back in its position. Try to place it on a level surface, and take care even when cleaning that the components should not come in contact with water. 

Unfortunately, if you spill water near the humidifier, unplug it immediately, get rid of the excess water, clean it up, and let the device dry completely before using it again.

Keep an eye on the float of the system. I miss checking sometimes, but the float needs to be at the activation level. If you notice the humidifier is still turning on and off randomly, the next solution would be to replace the float switch or get a new humidifier. In case of wrong settings, you can always check and adjust it using the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ buttons.

Conclusion.

If you are facing any issue of a HoMedics humidifier not working, listed above are some of the most common problems and the solutions to fix them. Apart from these, there are a variety of other issues that a user faces. Whenever there is any issue with your HoMedics humidifier, I recommend checking the user manual first to see if it is covered there.

If you have cleaned your humidifier and it is not working immediately after, it does not always mean the device is broken. You can always dig around a little and find out the reason behind the issue, after which the solution will be simple to figure out.

Hopefully, this article has helped give you better clarity on this topic.