Why are my humidifiers dying

[BlueCrabGuy]

Hi Growers,

I've gone through about four humidifiers now, and it seems like they last around six months before they stop working. I haven't been cleaning or descaling them, so I suspect it might be a user error issue. Has anyone else experienced their humidifiers dying this quickly? What kind of maintenance do you recommend to extend their lifespan? I'm using filtered well water and currently have AC Infinity humidifiers, though I've also used one I picked up from Home Depot.

Thanks!

 

[SkidsGrassStation]

Just wondering what your experience has been like with ACI replacing those humidifiers? We’re they warranties. Were they all the same model and how many? And if they were the same model more than once How did ACI handle this?

I find it hard to believe that even with some pretty constant and heavy use that you should get more than 6 months at a time.

 

[LittleReed71]

That's the key is keeping them clean they get build up especially if using tap water I use vinegar and drop of dawn dish liquid works really well happy growing my friend

 

[BearWater]

Hi Growers,

I've gone through about four humidifiers now, and it seems like they last around six months before they stop working. I haven't been cleaning or descaling them, so I suspect it might be a user error issue. Has anyone else experienced their humidifiers dying this quickly? What kind of maintenance do you recommend to extend their lifespan? I'm using filtered well water and currently have AC Infinity humidifiers, though I've also used one I picked up from Home Depot.

Thanks!

I have used one I got off of amazon going on about 10 months now with zero issues. It’s a bit bigger of a unit from what I would need but thats what was recommended. Let me know if you want the deets

What size area are you growing in? Tent? House? : )

 

[DanielWesterfield]

I have 3 humidifiers that I've used for 4-5 years now.
I use my well water witch has hight calcium.
Once a week I go through and clean off the calcium build up and other residues.
If I go 2 or 3 weeks without clean them they will not work(blink red error).

So I'm guessing as soon as you get build up on the heating element and stop working, your tossing it in the garage and buying a new one?

Maintenance is key guys,
On everything!

After every grow I literally clean everything and I never have issues.

Good luck mate!

 

[SkidsGrassStation]

I have used one I got off of amazon going on about 10 months now with zero issues. It’s a bit bigger of a unit from what I would need but thats what was recommended. Let me know if you want the deets

What size area are you growing in? Tent? House? : )

I’m in a 2x2x4 tent and idk how but I lucked out with my environment and have been able to just run a tiny desktop diffuser as if it were a cold mist humidifier. It raises my RH by about 3% and with my duct fan keeps the tent at a solid 61-63 %RH keeping VPD in my ideal range of 0.8 to 1.0

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

Just wondering what your experience has been like with ACI replacing those humidifiers? We’re they warranties. Were they all the same model and how many? And if they were the same model more than once How did ACI handle this?

I find it hard to believe that even with some pretty constant and heavy use that you should get more than 6 months at a time.

I haven’t followed up with AC Infinity yet, as I suspect the issue is my own fault due to lack of maintenance. At $60 on Amazon, it doesn't seem worth the hassle to deal with it. However, I noticed today that when buying on Amazon, you can purchase insurance from Asurion for an additional $8, covering 2 years. Given my experience, I’m fairly sure my humidifier won’t last that long. I’m just not sure how much of a hassle it would be to make a claim. But considering the situation, it might be worth it since I expect it to fail before then.

 

[BearWater]

Dude! My dumbass read “humidifier” as DEHUMIDIFIER! my bad! I thought we were talkin Dehu and not just “hu” hahahah! Sorry man!

on topic to your post. I’ll bet the water is the issue and cleaning the unit more frequently could help prolong usages : ) im running Spiderfarmer 6L and havent had any issues with it. Im very hard on it lol! Good luck : )

 

[bobthethcguy]

Hi Growers,

I've gone through about four humidifiers now, and it seems like they last around six months before they stop working. I haven't been cleaning or descaling them, so I suspect it might be a user error issue. Has anyone else experienced their humidifiers dying this quickly? What kind of maintenance do you recommend to extend their lifespan? I'm using filtered well water and currently have AC Infinity humidifiers, though I've also used one I picked up from Home Depot.

Thanks!

I too have the ACI Humidifier, and I read on reddit that you should not use the hose included, that even if you follow the instructions and run the hose vertically that the mist still condensates inside and dumps water in the middle of the unit right were there is a sticker that says do not dump water here.......are you using the hose? I was but haven't had an official run yet as mine are in seedling, but the reddit post suggested removing the hose, putting on that directional nozzle and placing it inside the grow tent with the nozzle facing the wall.

Bear in mind I am not a pro, not even an amateur at this point, I just bought all the stuff and am waiting for my two seedlings to get big enough to use the tent finally.

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

Dude! My dumbass read “humidifier” as DEHUMIDIFIER! my bad! I thought we were talkin Dehu and not just “hu” hahahah! Sorry man!

on topic to your post. I’ll bet the water is the issue and cleaning the unit more frequently could help prolong usages : ) im running Spiderfarmer 6L and havent had any issues with it. Im very hard on it lol! Good luck : )

Hehehe, that is funny. Yea, the devil is in the details. Thanks for your response!

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

I too have the ACI Humidifier, and I read on reddit that you should not use the hose included, that even if you follow the instructions and run the hose vertically that the mist still condensates inside and dumps water in the middle of the unit right were there is a sticker that says do not dump water here.......are you using the hose? I was but haven't had an official run yet as mine are in seedling, but the reddit post suggested removing the hose, putting on that directional nozzle and placing it inside the grow tent with the nozzle facing the wall.

Bear in mind I am not a pro, not even an amateur at this point, I just bought all the stuff and am waiting for my two seedlings to get big enough to use the tent finally.

I don't use the hose for that very reason. I am not sure why they include the hose since it is unusable. Good luck with your dehumidifier and your grow!

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

I have used one I got off of amazon going on about 10 months now with zero issues. It’s a bit bigger of a unit from what I would need but thats what was recommended. Let me know if you want the deets

What size area are you growing in? Tent? House? : )

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

Thanks BearWater. I am growing in a 5x5. Had 4 plants in there but they got to big so I moved 2 to a 4x4. Now I have two tents going, each with its own humidifier.

 

[BearWater]

Thanks BearWater. I am growing in a 5x5. Had 4 plants in there but they got to big so I moved 2 to a 4x4. Now I have two tents going, each with its own humidifier.

You’re very welcome! Heck yeah man, you’re doing a good job if you cant fit 4 plants in a 5x5 hahaha! ( i know its relative but nice job!)

 

[I_GROW_SKUNK]

Yeah most humidifiers on the market suck ass. You really need to spend the money and get a nice unit. How long did the ACI one last? You certainly have clean and replace filters. It's a bitch but necessary. I do all my weekly cleanup on Sunday. Making it a scheduled thing helps you stick to the routine of proper maintainence.

 

[I_GROW_SKUNK]

Thanks BearWater. I am growing in a 5x5. Had 4 plants in there but they got to big so I moved 2 to a 4x4. Now I have two tents going, each with its own humidifier.

Also, you use the hose to direct humidity to a more specific area or so that you can place outside the tent and vent it in, so it doesn't take up the precious area in your tent.

 

[Captspaulding]

So man, if you keep on plugging into the same places and they keep on dying, you most likely have a grounding issue somewhere where there’s voltage spikes and whatever chipset is in that thing is just getting toasted. Do you ever just grab your connection points on all of your electronics going into your rig to check whether or not they’re warm from time to time? I do it on the regular basis. It’s just you know run-of-the-mill inspection while I’m leafing plants or you know just taking care of business in there. Also, what circuit in your house is all of your equipment on is it part of a circuit on your breaker that’s got a heavy load on it already with some home appliances or just basic spots in your house I have a lot of things plugged in like your living room? These are all things you gotta take into consideration, but at the same time, you know minerals can be an issue, but that’s generally something that you can catch how old are these things by the time they’re dying ?

 

[I_GROW_SKUNK]

So man, if you keep on plugging into the same places and they keep on dying, you most likely have a grounding issue somewhere where there’s voltage spikes and whatever chipset is in that thing is just getting toasted. Do you ever just grab your connection points on all of your electronics going into your rig to check whether or not they’re warm from time to time? I do it on the regular basis. It’s just you know run-of-the-mill inspection while I’m leafing plants or you know just taking care of business in there. Also, what circuit in your house is all of your equipment on is it part of a circuit on your breaker that’s got a heavy load on it already with some home appliances or just basic spots in your house I have a lot of things plugged in like your living room? These are all things you gotta take into consideration, but at the same time, you know minerals can be an issue, but that’s generally something that you can catch how old are these things by the time they’re dying ?

That is a good point to state. Check everything electrical from time to time. Even if you're not having any issues.

 

[Captspaulding]

That is a good point to state. Check everything electrical from time to time. Even if you're not having any issues.

100%
Proavtive as opposed to reactive in the regard, priceless.
So rad when you don’t have to drop the spliff in the tray
Make like Usain Bolt.
And legit man like if everything is cool on your circuits that you have all your rig hooked up on, and if your connection points get even just a little bit warm, you know I’m not talking about drivers and stuff like that because they get hot regardless, but it’s just the connection points on all the wiring like they should always be cool to the touch if they’re not you need to be getting a voltage meter and sticking it in that Receptacle and checking some stuff out It’s also really really good to make sure that when you run your wiring if you have a lot of gear that you’re doing it the cohesive way that you can actually kind of go through your wiring layout like it’s a checklist and check it all. It literally takes like a minute.
And the benefits are literally endless

 

[BlueCrabGuy]

So man, if you keep on plugging into the same places and they keep on dying, you most likely have a grounding issue somewhere where there’s voltage spikes and whatever chipset is in that thing is just getting toasted. Do you ever just grab your connection points on all of your electronics going into your rig to check whether or not they’re warm from time to time? I do it on the regular basis. It’s just you know run-of-the-mill inspection while I’m leafing plants or you know just taking care of business in there. Also, what circuit in your house is all of your equipment on is it part of a circuit on your breaker that’s got a heavy load on it already with some home appliances or just basic spots in your house I have a lot of things plugged in like your living room? These are all things you gotta take into consideration, but at the same time, you know minerals can be an issue, but that’s generally something that you can catch how old are these things by the time they’re dying ?

Thanks for your response. The humidifiers have died in multiple rooms. I am sure it is because I am using non-purified water and don't clean/descale my units. But how much would it cost to feed the humidifier with store bought water :(