Humidifier not Producing Mist (How to Fix)

Do not panic! It can be frustrating when your humidifier is supposed to produce mist but isn’t. If you are here, it means you’re going to get your humidifier fixed sooner than you think.

Before we start, it is worth knowing that not all humidifiers produce visible mist. So, when you do not see mist coming out of your humidifier, it doesn’t mean it’s not working.

Troubleshooting a humidifier not producing is faster and more effective if you know the type of humidifier you’re dealing with.

In this article, you’ll find the humidifiers that produce visible mist and those that don’t, and some troubleshooting tips to help you fix the issue with your humidifier.

Let’s begin!

Types of Humidifiers

• Cool mist Humidifier – This type of humidifier is suitable for a warmer period. They produce cool mist without raising the temperature of the room, but they do not produce any visible mist. So, double-check to see if you’re using a cool mist humidifier or not.
• Warm Mist Humidifier – They are also effective in getting rid of cold but work differently than Cool Mist Humidifiers. They heat the water, turning it into vapor before releasing visible mist into the air.
• Evaporative Humidifier: They produce no visible mist by using a fan to circulate and turn water into vapor before circulating it in the air. Since the mist isn’t visible, if you don’t know you have an evaporative mist, you’d think your humidifier is not making mist.
• Ultrasonic Humidifier – This humidifier produces visible most and work by using a metallic or ceramic component to break down water into tiny droplets which is then dispersed into the air.
• Vaporizer Humidifier – Vaporizers produce visible mist. They can create both cool or warm mist, giving you the chance to select any function that is suitable for the weather and season you’re in.

Humidifier Stopped Making Mist

The first step in troubleshooting a humidifier not producing mist or stopping making mist is to identify the type of Humidifier in your possession.

This may help to solve the problem even before you start. This is so because not all humidifier produce visible mist.

Ultrasonic, warm mist, and vaporizer humidifiers produce visible mist while Cool Mist and evaporative humidifiers produce no visible mist, which means you can’t see the mist but feel it.

Most times, you’d just hear an oozing sound and you can place your hand at the opening of the spray outlet to confirm that your device is making mist though not visible.

If you can’t tell the type of humidifier you have, you can refer to your user manual to check, as it is clearly stated in the user manual that comes with your humidifier after purchase.

Here are some reasons and solutions why your Humidifier stopped making mist:

Lack of Power

If there’s no power, your device cannot make mist. So, check and ensure that the humidifier is plugged into a power source and receiving power supply.

If the power cord is not plugged into the circuit, plug it back in. If it is not yet working, check the circuit and ensure there is no power trip. If there is, turn it back on or have a professional take a look.

When you’re not sure if your power outlet is faulty, plug other electrical appliances into the outlet to see if it works. If it does, then your humidifier may be faulty.

Inspect the power to see if it is burnt or spoilt beyond repair and replace it. This should solve the problem and your humidifier should start making mist.

Water Problem

All kinds of humidifiers use water to create mist that would keep your room moist. When there’s no water, the humidifier won’t be able to make mist.

You can start by looking at the water to see if there’s water left in the reservoir or not. If there’s no water, fill the tank back up with water and see if the humidifier starts to make mist.

Also, when there is too much water, your humidifier may not produce mist. Turn off the humidifier and reduce the amount of water in the reservoir. Turn it back on and see if your device starts to produce mist.

Leakage

If your humidifier leaks water, which is the major component required for your device to make mist, then your humidifier won’t make mist due to lack of water.

This can cause your humidifier not to keep water and also not to make mist, which is the main issue you’re trying to solve.

Turn off the device and clean up every leak. Do not allow any puddled water close to the power cord, as it could cause electrical shocks and cause  damage to the humidifier itself.

Check the solenoid valve that controls and regulates water in the humidifier. If it is damaged or clogged with debris, clean or replace it and this should solve the problem.

Another reason for humidifier leaks is because of debris or mineral deposits blocking it and not allowing your device to make a mist. Read on to find out how to get rid of debris and mineral deposits.

Mineral deposits and blockages

Usage of hard water can cause blockage of the solenoid valve, which causes your humidifier to stop making mist.

The Solenoid valve manages the flow of water from the reservoir to the primary unit, where the water is converted or heated into mist before being dispersed into the air.

The Valve is also responsible for regulating the water from the reservoir. When the water gets to a certain level, it closes up because too much or less water can stop the humidifier from making mist.

If debris or mineral deposits from hard water cling to the verve without routine clean-up and maintenance, it could damage the valve and may cause your device to stop making mist.

To fix this problem, follow these steps:

Step 1: unplug the device from its power source

Step 2: Dissemble the parts and remove the valve. Take note of how you disassembled the parts, so you can easily assemble it.

Step 3: Use air pressure to remove dirt and deposits left by hard water

Step 4: wash the reservoir and rinse with water

Step 5: allow the parts to dry up and assemble the parts.

This should help solve the problem and your humidifier should start making mist.

Blockage of the Spray Outlet

If dirts and debris is blocking the humidifier Spray Outlet, your device will be making most but because the spray outlet is blocked, the mist would not come out.

The spray outlet is where the mist comes out from when air is being circulated into your room. If anything is blocking the opening, remove it and this should fix the problem.

Conclusion

These are some of the issues and solutions to your humidifiers not producing mist. If any of the solutions couldn’t help in fixing the issue, consult your user manual and let us know in the comments how you fixed the problem.

Lastly, you can check the filter of your humidifier to see if it is faulty.  Examine it and replace it if need be. As a last resort before replacement, have a professional technician take a look.

Always clean your humidifier weekly and change the water daily to avoid the build-up of mineral deposits. A lot of problems like not making mist can be avoided if you use only distilled water in your humidifier and do regular cleanup and maintenance.