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I have a new Kenmore 14 gallon console humidifier for the house which I hope will keep my guitars safe, however the left side tank doesn't drain and fill the resevoir. There is nothing to it other than a valve on the bottom which works perfectly fine when I test it with my finger. Does anybody have any idea what the problem is? I know this isn't really guitar related so Lance/Brock feel free to move this post if need be, however I'm hoping somebody out there is familiar with this model and can help before my guitars get too dried out.

HELP!

John      

John...I'm not familiar with the Kenmore model but I have a Holmes double tank model. The tanks drain at their own schedule and don't seem to have a symmetry to emptying. Often, the first tank empties about 75% before the second one starts to empty. Have you allowed this to happen or are you saying that the left tank NEVER activates. If that's the case then I'd call Kenmore.

Also, is the push valve aligned properly with the valve activator on the unit?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

John, I just bought a 14 gal Kenmore for the house a couple months ago. Mine does the same thing as yours. It always empties the right tank first. It does keep working though, using the water in the left tank and blinking the light to tell you you are low on water. It may just be designed to work like that.

Hesh, the 14 gal unit does have an LED that shows humidity level and the ability to set it one percent at a time to your desired level.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hesh, It probably does not need a new filter. The wicks can gradually become so dry that they will no longer lift water by capillary action. Just soak the wicks (run them under water) once a week. That is what I do with my Holmes and then the wicks work fine for a couple of weeks or so. Holmes' directions refer to this as washing out sediment, but I think it is just a matter of re-establishing a capillary pathway.

Holy smokes...something's not right here! $16 every 10 days x 36 changes = $576 a year in filters! Send them to me and I'll re-condition them for half the price

Seriously, Bill is right...they can be cleared by running hot water through with a little bleach to disinfect. If there is significant buildup, vinegar and water will dissolve the calcium buildup in a flash. When the wicking material starts to show signs of deterioration, pitch them and install new ones. I've gotten 2 years out of my Holmes filters cleaning once a month.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I'll have to check the alignment of the pin closer. Currently, the right tank will empty completely, than the humidifier shuts down and blinks "F" which means I need to fill it, however it doesn't keep the humidity up in the meantime. I go to bed and the humidity is at 50% with two full tanks, and when I wake up, the humidity has dropped to about 33% with an empty right tank and a completely full left tank that won't drain. The only difference between the left and right tank is that the pin is taller on the right side so it drains that tank first. When I switch the tanks, they both drain fine from the right side, but it appears the pin doesn't drain the left side, even though it appears to be lined up correctly. All it is is a little plastic finger about 1/2 inch long. There's nothing mechanical about it. How does the float work? Is it possible the float doesn't go low enough to allow the left side to engage since the finger is shorter? Hmm, I guess it's time to go get dirty with it.

Thanks!

John

John, if I remember correctly the instructions said something about a float locking lever on the back of the machine. Maybe that is part way engaged or something? Worth a look anyway.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hesh, I haven't replaced the filters yet on mine. I've only been running it since a little after Christmas. The instructions say to replace it once every season, so bout 4 times a year, unless my math is as bad as my memory.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hesh, more on the filters. The ones that came with my Holmes machine lasted the first winter without cleaning, and always worked. Just to follow directions, I replaced the filters the next fall. I am not sure if the filters were Holmes brand, or a substitute that I picked up at Lowes, but they did not look exactly like the originals. The new ones dried up promptly, as noted in earlier postings.

Thanks for all the input fellas, it got me thinking and I finally figured it out. I would have to chalk this up to a design flaw. When both the front left and right tanks are full, the weight of the water (almost 5 gallons, 40 lbs) sits at the front of the humidifier, and when the humidifier is on thick carpet, it pulls the front lower than the back, thus the water never gets low enough to allow the left reservoir to drain before the float causes the unit to shut down. The unit did come with some plastic pieces to put under the casters, but it's not enough to prevent lean. My solution was to prop my copy of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez under the front caster and the problem is fixed.

Thanks for all the help fellas!

John