Why Is My Vicks Humidifier Spitting Out Water? – (Easy Fix)

Vicks humidifier spitting out water can be a concerning sight, especially if your humidifier is brand new.

This issue is usually caused by prolonged wear and natural mineral buildup but sometimes happens due to hardware damage.

To fix a Vicks Humidifier spitting out water, regularly clean the unit to prevent mold and mineral buildup. Ensure distilled or demineralized water is used. 

Now that you are aware of the fixes we will be attempting, let’s try to understand what causes water spitting from humidifiers:

Why is My Vicks Humidifier Spitting Out Water?

Whenever your Vicks humidifier spits water, it is most likely because of excessive pressure within the unit.

This pressure can be caused by obstructed waterways caused by mineral deposits from your water. Sometimes, it’s also due to incorrect settings or improper water filling.

Here are some of the most common reasons for this:

Now that you know which areas cause this issue, we can start checking them one by one!

How to fix Vicks Humidifier Spitting Out Water

Tip: Regular maintenance and cleaning are required to ensure your humidifier stays issue-free, especially if you don't use distilled water.

1. Clean the Humidifier

If you are asking how to fix my Vicks humidifier spitting out water, you need to ensure there is no mineral buildup obstructing the water flow.

This is the most common cause of humidifier spitting, as this plaque will make the mist dispensing irregular.

Here are the steps to clean your Vicks humidifier: 

1. Unplug the humidifier and empty the water tank.
2. Disassemble the unit according to the manual by removing the top or side panels.
3. Clean the water tank with a mixture of white vinegar and water (mix at a 1:1 ratio).
4. Use a soft brush to clean the water wick or filter.
5. If the filter/wick is too dirty and beyond cleaning, consider replacing it.
6. Rinse the Vicks humidifier water tank thoroughly with clean water and reassemble it.
7. Refill your humidifier to the specified level and test the unit.

Note: If your humidifier has mold where the water tank makes contact, you must disinfect it.

2. Check Water Quality

If you’re facing issues like your Vicks humidifier spitting water or white dust, consider the type of water you’re using.

If your area has water rich in calcium or other minerals, it will degrade your humidifier faster than usual. 

Here are the best ways to ensure your water quality is optimal for your Vicks humidifier:

1. Power off your Vicks humidifier and empty any water from the tank.
2. Refill the humidifier with distilled or demineralized water.
3. Avoid using tap water, especially if it’s hard or mineral-rich.
4. Turn on the humidifier and check if the spitting issue is resolved.

Using distilled or demineralized water minimizes mineral deposits that can cause spitting.

This can be done by buying a special water filter that removes the minerals.

Note: Be careful not to pour overly hot or cold water into your Vicks humidifier.

3. Adjust the Mist Setting

Depending on your Vicks humidifier model, there will usually be a knob or buttons to control the mist strength and intensity.

In some cases, if you turn these settings too high, your humidifier might start spitting water droplets instead of turning them into a fine mist.

Here are the general steps to adjust the mist settings (note may vary based on your exact model):

1. Turn off the humidifier and unplug it from the power socket.
2. Locate the mist control setting on the Vicks humidifier unit (usually on top of the front).
3. Adjust it to a lower setting from the interface or control knob.
4. Turn on the humidifier and observe to see if the water spitting decreases.

Note: If you are using a humidistat that controls your Vicks device, check its humidity settings to ensure they are not overly high.

4. Inspect the Wick/Filter

Many Vicks humidifiers have a small round wick or filter meant to absorb as much of the trace elements in your water as possible before it goes through the humidifier.

This filter will get degraded with time, depending on your humidifier’s uptime and water quality.

Here are the steps to check your Vicks water filter or wick for buildup:

1. Turn off the humidifier and unplug it.
2. Open the Vicks humidifier unit top or side panels to reveal the internal components.
3. Locate the wick or filter (usually a small round filter made of a soft fabric).
4. Visually inspect it for damage, mold, or heavy mineral buildup.
5. Replace with a certified filter if necessary.
6. Reassemble and test the Vicks humidifier to check if the issue persists.

Note: Some Vicks humidifiers come with indicator lights or alerts. 

5. Ensure Proper Placement

If your Vicks humidifier is not positioned optimally, this could disrupt its misting and turn it into smaller water droplets.

To prevent this from happening, you must ensure you are properly setting up your humidifier.

Here are the steps to ensure proper placement of your Vicks humidifier:

1. Turn off the Vicks humidifier.
2. Ensure the humidifier unit is on a flat and stable surface.
3. Ensure it’s not close to walls or other obstructions.
4. Verify that it’s at least 6 inches off the ground.
5. Turn on the humidifier and check.

If your humidifier starts making unusual noises, this can be a sign of internal blockages, a faulty motor, or other mechanical issues.

Note: Never place warm objects next to the humidifier, as this can overheat its components.

6. Check for Overfilling

If you are Vicks humidifier is still spitting out water, then it’s likely because the water level is too full, causing your humidifier to disperse it incorrectly.

To prevent this issue from occurring, you must check that you fill the humidifier within its factory specifications.

Here is how to ensure a proper water level for your Vicks humidifier:

1. Turn off the humidifier.
2. Check the water amount in the tank and ensure it’s not above the maximum fill line.
3. If you are uncertain how much to fill it, reference your Vicks instruction manual for further info.
4. If your Vicks water tank is overfilled, remove excess water.

After these steps, restart the humidifier and see if the water-spitting issue is gone. 

Note: Some humidifiers benefit from a simple reset when they're acting up. This can be done by unplugging the unit, waiting for a few minutes, and then plugging it back in.

7. Verify the Seal

All humidifiers rely on small silicone or rubber seals that make the device watertight and prevent water leaking.

Sometimes, those o-rings or seals can snap or become damaged, causing irregular water dispensing.

Here is how to ensure your Vicks humidifier seals are in order:

1. Turn off and unplug the humidifier.
2. Inspect the seal between the tank and the base (rubber seals are typically black or gray).
3. Ensure it’s positioned correctly and isn’t damaged or has excessive plaque buildup.
4. If damaged, replace the seal or gasket. 
5. Reassemble and power on your Vicks and check if it works as intended now.

If changing the seal, you must ensure compatibility by ordering the replacement from an authorized Vicks distributor.

Note: It's a good practice to keep a record of when you last replaced parts or cleaned the unit.

8. Check for External Factors

Sometimes, environmental settings can prevent your Vicks humidifier from properly misting.

Temperature extremes can cause the water to become denser and thus cause spitting water instead of fine misting dispersal.

Here are the ways to ensure your Vicks humidifier is in an optimal environment:

1. Observe the room’s ventilation and temperature.
2. Ensure that there’s adequate airflow in the room.
3. Avoid placing the humidifier near heating sources or vents.
4. Adjust the room conditions if necessary.

If you hear a buzzing sound when your Vicks device is running and it’s spitting out water, check the ultrasonic disk that creates the mist for mineral buildup or damage.

Note: If your room is too cold, this might cause the water to not mist properly.

Quick Recap

To prevent Vicks humidifier from spitting out water, first clean the entire unit and ensure you are using the appropriate amount of water.

Next, disable your unit and check for mineral buildup and damaged seals.

Lastly, you might need to replace the filter and check for temperature extremes.