A humidistat is a device that can measure and control the humidity in your home. You can set it for the amount of humidity you want, and it will tell the humidifier when you need more water and when to cut off. The controller is usually located next to the thermostat. The humidistat usually has a sensing element built in that is sensitive to the amount of moisture in the air.
When it senses an increase or decrease in humidity levels, it will call for more moisture or tell the humidifier to shut down. You will want to know if it is working so that you can keep the air in your home at exactly the humidity level you desire. Read on to learn how to tell if your humidistat is working.
Check the Voltage and the Settings
Start by looking for the control panel for the humidistat. You will likely find it in the same place where your controls for the temperature of your heating system are found. You can use an ohm-meter to test the voltage. If the voltage is 0, then you need to replace this control panel.
You can then check the settings. You might have the humidistat set to a setting that isn’t ideal for humidifying your home. You should try to keep the humidistat set to about 40% of the outdoor temperature. If you set it too low, it will make your house very cold. If it is too high, it will not hold a comfortable humidity level.
Now, Check the Water Lines
When you have a whole house humidifier, it is usually connected to your water lines. If there is a leak or any of the connections fail, the humidifier will not work. Check to make sure that the closest cold water line is hooked up, and follow it until you find a connection. Check to see if any of the piping is compromised or has a leak. If you find any loose connections, you can tighten them. You may need to replace a portion of the pipe, but this will make your humidistat work again.
Next, Check the Transformer
The transformer is a unit that you will find behind the humidistat, and it reduces the voltage to the humidifier. It is connected to the closest receptacle. You can turn the power off at the breaker, and make sure the wiring is connected and the transformer is plugged in. If you find that the wiring is damaged or looks frayed, you will need to either replace the wiring or the entire transformer.
If you are using your humidistat with an air conditioner, you will want it set at around 58%. Mold and mildew will not form until it goes up to 68%, but it is ideal to keep it lower to make sure you avoid having mold or mildew. The humidistat is important because humidity can cause other problems with your furniture, home, and much more.
The humidistat can adjust the dampers, valves, and HVAC system switches so that temperature and humidity are regulated in your home. The reason it is important to check to make sure your humidistat is working is because when it stops working it can be off by 10% to 20%. This can allow mold and mildew to grow, and it can make your house very uncomfortable.
If you leave your home for an extended period, you should make sure you keep your thermostat at 75 degrees and your humidistat at 58%. If you turn it off and live in a hot and moist climate, you are creating an environment conducive to mold. Leave it on these settings to protect your home from mold, mildew, and other damage from too much moisture in the air.