Aprilaire 600 & 700 User manual

READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Includes Safety, Operating and Maintenance
Instructi ns and Warranty
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Introduction............................................................................1
Principle of Operation ............................................................2
Operating Instructions
•Automatic Mode................................................................4
•Manual Mode ....................................................................6
Effect of Water C aracteristics ..............................................8
Annual Maintenance ..............................................................9
Annual Summer S utdown ....................................................9
Periodic Preventative Maintenance .......................................9
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Models 400.......................................................................11
Model 600 ........................................................................12
Model 700 ........................................................................13
Limited Warranty..................................................................14
Replacement Record .....................................................18, 19
AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFIER
The Best Cure For Dryness®
®
FOR MODELS 400, 600, & 700
OWNER’S MANUAL

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WARNING! 120 v lts may cause injury fr m
electrical sh ck. Disc nnect p wer and shut ff
water supply bef re servicing.
CAUTION! Sudden perati n may cause
pers nal injury r pr perty damage. Turn
the Aprilaire Humidifier C ntr l t “OFF” r
l west setting bef re servicing
Genuine Replacement Water Panel evap rat rs are available fr m y ur
installing c ntract r r fr m m st ther l cal heating and air c nditi ning
c ntract rs in y ur area. H wever, if y u still have difficulty in btaining a
replacement Water Panel evap rat r, use the dealer l cat r in ur web site
(www.aprilaire.c m) r l k in the Yell w Pages under Humidifying Apparatus
r Heating & Air C nditi ning C ntract rs. Purchase nly genuine Aprilaire
Water Panels t maintain perf rmance.
© Research Products Corporation 2000
INTRODUCTION
T ank you for your recent Aprilaire®Humidifier
purc ase. We sincerely appreciate your business and
are pleased to add your name to our growing list of
customers. Wit t is purc ase, you ave invested in t e
ig est quality equipment currently available. Researc
Products Corporation is t e largest manufacturer of
w ole ouse umidifiers, air cleaners and fres air
exc angers and is a recognized leader in t e eating
and air conditioning industry today.
Please be assured t at in addition to product quality,
we are also committed to unit performance as well as
customer satisfaction. Your unit will require periodic
maintenance to assure you of continued fine performance.
Please proceed as s own on page 7 to obtain service
parts and/or replacement Water Panel®evaporators.
Now, please take a few minutes and read t e
appropriate section of t is booklet. T is will familiarize
you wit t e benefits you will receive from t e equip-
ment you just purc ased and elp you understand t e
routine maintenance t at will be required. Be sure to
register your warranty wit us for our records and your
protection. You may do so by returning t e Warranty
Information Card to us, or you can register online at:
www.aprilaire.com/warranty.

I. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
Wit your purc ase of a umidification system, you ave
invested in a umidifier t at operates on t e evaporative
principle – nature’s own way of adding moisture – and will
provide t e proper relative umidity all during t e eating
season. It is very possible t at you ave questions concerning your
new umidifier – questions on w at it can do for you, and w at you
s ould do to receive maximum benefits from it. T is booklet is
intended to elp you do exactly t at.
Nature, in producing an invigorating comfortable April day, com-
bines just t e rig t temperature and t e rig t amount of moisture.
Aprilaire Humidifiers employ t e same principle, wit refinements, to
give you t e proper relative umidity for maximum allowable com-
fort all winter long.
T e important considerations in t e evaluation of a umidifier are
Positive Control, Sufficient Capacity, Trouble-free Performance and
Minimum Maintenance. T e operating principle of your Aprilaire
provides all of t ese advantages. Here, briefly, is t e met od:
T e Aprilaire Humidifier is installed to operate in conjunction wit
t e furnace blower motor. W en t e Aprilaire Humidifier Control
calls for umidity and t e blower motor is operating, water flows to
t e distribution tray located at t e top of t e unit. T e water is uni-
formly distributed across t e widt of t e tray and t roug a scien-
tifically designed system of outlets. It flows by gravity over t e
Water Panel
®
evaporator, t e eart of t e unit. Dry, ot air is moved
t roug t e moisture-laden Water Panel evaporator w ere t e
evaporation takes place. T e now umidified air carrying moisture in
vapor form (nature’s own way) is circulated t roug out t e ome.
The c rrect water fl w is determined by an rifice equipped
with each drain type unit. When the unit is perating, there will
be a small, steady stream f water t drain, which flushes away
m st f the tr uble-causing minerals. Do not use t e saddle valve
to regulate t e water flow. It is designed to be completely opened or
closed. T e minerals and solid residue not trapped by t e replace-
able Water Panel evaporator are flus ed down t e drain. T e drain
also eliminates t e problems caused by stagnant water. T is is t e
most effective and least expensive met od to dispose of trouble-
causing minerals.
®
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T ere are some omes w ere drain facilities are not accessible
or available. For t ese situations, or w ere ig water
ardness is not a problem, t e newest Aprilaire, Model 400, is
designed to satisfy t ese applications.
Capacity is ig because an average-size ome (10,000 cu. ft.)
requires t e addition of approximately 9 gallons of water
per day to maintain 35% relative umidity w en t e outside temper-
ature is 20°. T e smallest Aprilaire Humidifier under most operating
conditions, as t is umidifying capacity. Trouble-free perfor-
mance and minimum maintenance are assured by t e design fea-
tures of t e Aprilaire Humidifier. All unit ousing parts t at come in
contact wit water are non-metal and will never rust or corrode.
Neit er eat nor water will affect t em under normal operating con-
ditions.
T e Water Panel evaporator, designed especially for uniform,
ig evaporation, and t e Scale Control Insert also efficiently traps
mineral deposits w ic are often t e cause of damage to working
parts in ordinary umidifiers. No “w ite dust” can be distributed
t roug out t e living quarters. T e Water Panel evaporator is t e
eart of t e unit and must be in good condition to assure ig
capacity trouble-free performance. It s ould be c anged once a year
wit t e exception of t e Model 400 w ere it s ould be c anged
twice a season.
T e granular coating in t e bottom of t e distribution tray is
designed to provide equal distribution of t e water to eac of t e
openings assuring an even flow of water over t e Water Panel evap-
orator. Do not clean t e mineral scale off t e bottom of t e water
distribution tray at t e end of t e umidification season. T e scale
itself provides an excellent track for t e water to follow. T is is actu-
ally w at we try to simulate wit t e synt etic coating in t e bottom
of t e tray. If t e coating is removed, it is not necessary to purc ase a
new distribution tray or upper ousing. You can accomplis t e
same uniform performance by applying a small amount of liquid dis -
was ing detergent over t e entire inside surface of t e water distribu-
tion tray. T is will allow t e water to flow evenly t roug eac of t e
openings, provided, of course, t e unit is level in order to ac ieve
maximum capacity.
T ere are many umidifiers on t e market. T ey all add
moisture . . . wit varying degrees of efficiency. None, owever, can
provide t e features, design, and performance incorporated into
your Aprilaire Humidifier.

II. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
There are 2 p ssible m des f perati n f y ur Aprilaire Humidifier
C ntr l and an explanati n f b th m des f ll ws:
Aut matic M de:
(Manual M de-see pg 5)
Your Aprilaire Humidifier Control is installed in the cold air return.
During the first heating season, your Humidifier Control needs to
be set initially to match your home’s condition. Please follow these
steps when adjusting your control (refer to Figure A .
1. Turn t e dial setting knob to “5,” w ic is wit in t e normal range.
During t e next 24-48 ours it may be necessary to adjust t e dial for
more or less umidity, depending on your personal comfort and
ome’s requirements. Refer to t e “Operation Guide” (Table 1).
2. During t e coldest portion of t e first eating season, minor
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(Table 1) Operati n Guide
C nditi n S luti n
Condensation on windows Reduce the setting on the control dial
by 1 increment.
Lack of humidity Increase the setting on the control dial
by 1 increment.
Humidifier does not operate Turn dial to “Test. Make certain furnace
blower is operating and furnace is calling
for heat. If unit still doesn’t operate, consult
a heating contractor.
Humidifier won’t shut off Turn dial to “Off. If unit continues to
operate, consult a heating contractor.
Test mode System operation is checked by setting the
knob to “Test. Make certain furnace blower
is operating and furnace is calling for heat.
Humidifier will operate for one minute.

adjustments may be necessary. T is is dependent upon your
individual ome construction, refer to t e “Operation Guide” (Table 1).
Your Aprilaire Automatic Humidifier, is a high precision system
that will accurately maintain the relative humidity in your home.
For every 1º change in outdoor temperature, the control will
automatically adjust the indoor relative humidity (RH by
1
/ 2 %.
If you would like to determine the RH in your home, follow
these steps:
1. Determine t e outdoor temperature.
2. Activate t e furnace blower by setting your t ermostat fan
switc to t e “On” position, or setting your t ermostat to a
ig er temperature.
3. Turn t e control dial setting to t e “Off” position. T en, slowly
turn t e dial clockwise until you ear t e solenoid valve “click
on.” Next, slowly turn t e dial counter clockwise until you ear
t e solenoid valve “click off.” At t is point, make note of t e
dial setting.
4. Locate your dial setting on Table 2. Follow t e dial setting to
t e rig t until it intersects wit t e current outdoor
temperature. T is is t e relative umidity in your ome under
existing conditions.
5. Return t e t ermostat and t e control to t eir original settings.
The Automatic Humidifier will accurately control the humidity in
your home to a maximum of 45% RH and a minimum of 10% RH.
The values of outdoor temperature and dial settings may fall in
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Off
7
6
5
4
321
T
e
s
t
N
O
R
M
A
L
Automatic Mode
(Figure A)
T e relative umidity in
your ome will now be
accurately controlled to
meet your needs and s ould
not need furt er adjustment
during future eating
seasons. Make note of t e
dial setting in t e event you
temporarily move t e knob
w en performing annual
maintenance of t e Aprilaire
Humidifier

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between or outside of the listed values in Table 2. In these cases,
you can only approximate your home’s actual indoor RH.
Manual M de:
(Aut matic M de – see pg 3)
Your Aprilaire Humidifier Control is installed in t e cold air return. It
is important to anticipate a drop in outdoor temperature and reduce
t e setting accordingly to avoid excessive condensation. For exam-
ple, wit an outdoor temperature of 20° t e correct setting will be
35% relative umidity. If t e temperature is expected to fall to 0° t at
evening, t en merely reduce t e setting to 25% several ours prior to
t e temperature c ange.
T e recommended settings on t e umidistat are based on
years of researc (see table 3) and experience as to w at is best for
t e average ome. T ese settings represent a compromise between
RH levels t at would be most desirable for comfort
reasons and umidity levels t at are suitable for protection of your
ome and to avoid condensation on your windows. For example, a
wintertime indoor RH of 50% may be considered ideal, but unfortu-
nately, it probably would result in damage to your ome.
Observance of t e recommended RH levels on your umidistat,
t erefore, is an important safeguard. Condensation of water on
inside windows in t e form of fogging or frost is usually an indica-
As an example, if t e outdoor temperature is 20º F, and, following step 3, t e
umidifier turns off at “5” on t e dial range, t en t e RH in your ome is 35%.
(Table 2) % Relative Humidity Guide
-10 0 10 20 30 40
1 101010152025
2 101015202530
3 101520253035
4 152025303540
520253035 40 45
6 253035404545
7 303540454545
Outdoor Temperature (ºF)
Dial Setting

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reverse t e dial direction slowly until you ear t e solenoid valve
“click on”. At t is point, read t e RH on t e dial. T is will be very
close to t e actual RH in your ome. (See Figure B)
To c eck t e umidifier operation, set t e knob to “test”, make
sure t at t e water saddle valve is open and t at t ere is electricity
to t e unit. Generally, t e furnace blower motor must be operating
for t e Aprilaire Humidifier to function. After t e umidifier as oper-
ated for one minute and water is entering t e unit and coming out at
t e drain, reduce t e umidistat setting to t e recommended inside
relative umidity, depending on t e outside temperature. DO NOT
LEAVE IN TEST MODE AS HUMIDIFIER WILL NOT OPERATE. Follow t e
suggested settings prior to a drop in t e outside temperature.
MANUAL MODE
(Figure B)
tion of too ig relative umidi-
ties. T is same condensation can
take place in ot er areas in your
ome wit t e possibility of dam-
age resulting.
T e umidistat is a precision
instrument t at can be used
to determine t e RH accurately in
your ome during t e winter. Turn
t e dial to t e lower setting, t en
Outside Temperature Rec mmended RH
+40° 45%
+30° 40%
+20° 35%
+10° 30%
0° 25%
–10° 20%
–20° 15%
(Table 3) Outd r-Ind r Relative Humidity

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Additi nal Inf rmati n
Be sure to keep fireplace dampers closed w en not in use.
T ey provide an excellent escape route for eat, as well as
umidity. Humidity is lost at an even faster rate t an eat because
water vapor tends to seek its own level and your umidifier would
not be able to replace it even w en running at full capacity.
On occasion, indoor moisture producing activities suc as
clot es drying, cooking, s owers, etc., may raise t e relative
umidity level ig er t an it s ould be, even t oug t e Aprilaire
Humidifier is not operating. Telltale indications, again, are con-
densation or frost on cold surfaces suc as windows, doors,
walls, etc. If suc condensation persists for several ours, your
ome s ould be ventilated to dissipate t e potential damaging
excess moisture levels.
III. EFFECT OF WATER CHARACTERISTICS
Your umidifier will operate effectively using eit er ot, cold, ard
or mec anically softened water. W et er to use available tap water,
even t oug it may be quite ard, or c emically softened water, is a
common concern to omeowners w en installing a umidifier.
Water used in omes contains varying amounts of minerals. T e
residue remaining as a result of ard water evaporation is primarily
calcium and magnesium components and is usually quite ard,
scaly, and dense.
Residue from softened water tends to be soft and fluffy and as a
greater volume t an ard water scale. T e service life of a Water
Panel evaporator may be extended by using ard water. In eit er
case, t e Water Panel evaporator is usually c anged once a year
wit t e exception of t e Model 400 w ere it s ould be c anged
twice a season. Service ot water, 140° maximum, is recommended
wit drain type units for increasing capacity and for eat pump
applications.
In t e drain-equipped models, most of t ese solids are effectively
controlled by flus ing t em down t e drain.

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IV. ANNUAL MAINTENANCE
F r best perf rmance, we rec mmend that y u replace the
water panel evap rat r in y ur Aprilaire Humidifier annually
with the excepti n f M del 400 where it sh uld be changed
twice a seas n.
• Call t e installer of your Aprilaire Humidifier. T is information is
often found on your equipment.
• Call your eating and air conditioning dealer.
• Use our “Dealer Locator” at: www.aprilaire.com
• Look in t e Yellow Pages under Humidifying Apparatus
or Heating & Air Conditioner Contractors.
• If none of t e above is successful and you still need
information, please feel free to write us.
• Purc ase only Genuine Aprilaire Water Panels to maintain
performance.
V. ANNUAL SUMMER SHUTDOWN
1. For Models 400, and 600 close t e bypassdamper. Wit t e
use of t e small damper andle.
2. S ut off t e water supply to t e umidifier by closing t e sad-
dle valve.
Humidifier Control:
T ere is no adjustment to t e Humidifier Control required for
summer s utdown. (Applies to bot Automatic and Manual
Mode.)
VI. PERIODIC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
NOTE: Periodic inspection and preventive maintenance
of your total eating system is important for efficient and safe opera-
tion. Your eating contractor s ould include umidifier service at t e
same time.
All models are equipped wit an in-line water strainer and orifice as
s own below. T ese parts s ould be inspected and cleaned periodi-
cally to assure continued proper unit performance.