Is your Honeywell humidifier not misting? It can be confusing as to what’s happening when you have filled your filter tank and turned on your device, only to see it’s not working.
Most misting issues are due to obstructed filters or vents and can be resolved relatively quickly.
To fix your Honeywell humidifier, start by checking the water levels. Next, clean your humidifier filter and check your humidistat settings.
Now that you have a rough idea of which steps we will be performing let’s try to understand why this issue occurs:
Why is My Honeywell Humidifier Not Misting?
The most common cause for Honeywell humidifiers not producing mist is due to mineral buildup obstructing the mist.
This mineral buildup can appear on your filter, on the water intake port, or on the wick.
The other most common cause for your humidifier not misting is a software error or power issues.
Here are some of the top causes of Honeywell humidifiers not misting properly:
- Low Water Level
- Clogged or Saturated Filter
- Electrical Issues
- Defective or Misaligned Components
- Blocked Vents or Intakes
- Mineral Buildup and Deposits
We will now attempt to resolve each of the steps above in the given order; ensure you follow our steps without skipping for the best outcomes.
How to Fix Honeywell Humidifier Not Misting?
Tip: If you hear a buzzing sound but see no mist from your Honeywell device, it could be due to a malfunctioning ultrasonic disk.
Check the Water Levels
The first thing you should check whenever you notice that your Honeywell filter is not misting is to ensure its water tank is sufficiently filled.
Some modern humidifier models have a built-in safety feature that will prevent it from working if the water level is too high or too low.
Here is how to check your Honeywell humidifier water tank level:
- Turn off and unplug your Honeywell humidifier.
- Remove the water tank from the base.
- Check the water level inside the tank.
- Refill the tank if the water level is low; look for marking lines for the water levels.
- Replace the tank onto the base, ensuring it’s seated properly.
- Plug in, turn the humidifier on, and see if the misting issue persists.
Remember that as a safety feature, some humidifiers won’t work until the water reaches their base.
Note: After filing your Honeywell humidifier, the water might take a minute to reach its base.
Clean Your Honeywell Humidifier Filter
When you turn your humidifier, and it doesn’t mist, it’s often because its filter is too clogged from mineralization or debris.
This will prevent water from reaching the ultrasonic mister, and the only fix for this issue is to ensure your filter is thoroughly clean.
Here are the exact steps to ensure your Honeywell filter is in working order:
- Turn off the humidifier and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Open the humidifier and remove the filter.
- Rinse the filter thoroughly under cool tap water.
- Shake off excess water and allow the filter to air-dry completely.
- Replace the filter and reassemble the humidifier.
- If you notice that your filter is too depleted even after the cleaning, it’s best to replace it with a new one.
- Ensure you get only officially licensed filters for your Honeywell.
Mineral deposits can interfere with mist production and cause white dust around the humidifier; any alternative to tap water is usually best.
Note: Using distilled or demineralized water can reduce the buildup of minerals.
Check Your Power Outlet
If your humidifier is not working or misting at all, there could be an underlying power supply issue.
This can be either due to a frayed power cable of your Honeywell device or due to a faulty power socket.
Here are some steps to check the power of your Honeywell filter.
- Fully power down and disconnect the humidifier from the power outlet.
- Plug another electronic device into the same outlet to test its functionality.
- If the device doesn’t work, try using another outlet for your Honeywell.
- Ensure the humidifier’s power cord is not damaged.
- Plug the humidifier into a functioning outlet.
Note: Ensure the Honeywell humidifier's air intake and output areas are not obstructed.
Ensure Humidistat Levels are Properly set
Many Honeywell humidifier models come with a feature that allows you to save energy by only enabling the humidifier if a particular room moisture level is detected.
Sometimes, if you set this incorrectly, your humidifier won’t work when you want it to.
Here is a quick guide on how to check the humidistat levels:
- Locate the humidistat for your humidifier; it’s usually a round wheel or integrated into a panel with a touch screen or physical buttons.
- Check the current setting and try lowering the humidity threshold for operation.
- Your overall humidity level mustn’t exceed 50%, which could pose health concerns.
- Adjust the humidistat to the desired safe level.
- Ensure the room’s humidity isn’t already at or above the set level.
- Turn on the humidifier and monitor for misting.
Note: Check for leaks on your Honeywell device, as water leaks from the tank or base sometimes. Leaks can affect the humidifier's pressure balance, impacting mist production.
Check for White Dust from the Nozzle
If your humidifier turns on, but the mister is not working properly, and instead, you see white particles coming from it, it’s due to a mineral buildup.
To prevent this exact occurrence, you need to ensure the nozzle is free of buildup and plaque.
Here is how to fix white particles coming from the Honeywell humidifier nozzle:
- Examine the nozzle and the area around the humidifier for white dust.
- If present, turn off and unplug your humidifier.
- Clean the nozzle with a soft cloth or brush.
- Blocked vents can affect mist production.
- Consider using distilled or demineralized water to reduce mineral buildup for future use. This would also help reduce the maintenance interval frequency.
- Empty, clean, and refill your humidifier’s water tank and power it back on.
If you are in a colder environment, your Honeywell might appear not to be misting when, in fact, it is.
Tip: Cooler room temperatures can make the mist of ultrasonic humidifiers less visible.
Look For Blinking Lights
If your Honeywell device is turning on, but you notice that instead of working, you have a blinking light, it needs to be addressed first.
These lights usually appear on the main panel or near one of the humidifier sensors.
Here are some steps to check for blinking error lights on your Honeywell humidifier:
- Check the top panel or sides of your humidifier for flashing lights.
- Ensure other indicators like water level or filter condition are in order.
- If you see a red or yellow blinking light, refer to the user manual to decipher the meaning of the blinking pattern.
- Address the specific issue indicated by the lights.
- One of the most common is a red light, meaning the tank is empty or not seated properly.
- A yellow light usually indicates issues with the water level.
If your light blinks and is not constantly glowing, it indicates a specific error code.
In this case, you must check your exact Honeywell humidifier user manual, as these codes vary based on your model.
Tip: A quick way to ensure the blinking light is not due to software error is simply to power cycle your Honeywell device.
Replace Your Wick Filter
If your Honeywell humidifier stopped misting, it’s possible that your wick filter has been clogged and is preventing the mist from dispersing correctly.
A wick filter typically looks like a thick, porous pad made of absorbent material, often paper, foam, or an antimicrobial material.
Here is how to replace the wick filter on your Honeywell humidifier:
- Turn off and unplug the humidifier from the electrical outlet.
- Open the humidifier and remove the old wick filter.
- Insert a new wick filter into the humidifier.
- Ensure it’s appropriately seated and aligned with any guides or notches.
- Reassemble the humidifier and check if it’s not misting properly.
If your Honeywell humidifier model has an ultrasonic humidifier, it’s vital to occasionally clean the ultrasonic disk, as it’s responsible for creating the mist.
Note: Mineral deposits on this disk can hinder its operation.
Quick Recap
To fix the Honeywell humidifier not misting, first, check that the water levels are appropriate and that the water tank is correctly placed.
Look for any color-coded error lights and ensure the humidity levels are adequately set if applicable.