How to service Aprilaire 800 Steam Humidifier & Replace Model 80 Canister

[@fuzzyfish80549]

I'm a DIY guy. I removed the canister and red rubber o-ring, vacuumed the minerals out of the fill/drain assembly, replaced the o-ring and replaced the canister. I left the cover off to monitor the refilling but nothing happened when I pressed the power button. What I didn't notice was the switch on the front in the lower right corner. I pushed it in and it started filling! It's a stupid safety switch. BTW, I also learned you can add a 10th of a teaspoon of table salt into the fill/drain cup for better conductivity.

[@Leerkobbinc]

Why are you installing an ice maker water filter? The manufacture specifically points out that is does not recommend the use of a filter. The conductivity is much better with having some grit or minerals/deposits in the canister. I've installed a lot of these units without any issues. Just wondering if there is something I don't know here.

[@edbouhl3100]

Never hurts to read the directions.

[@beta6024]

Did you forget to open that valve after the installation?

[@PipeDoctor]

Honestly, don’t remember the service call was several years ago

[@chuckquinn8026]

Always replace the included red o-ring. New replacement cartridges have updated instructions saying to clean the housing that the cartridge sits in. I still use my cold water saddle valve, but use a braided stainless dishwasher supply hose on the water supply. Get my cartridges from Supply House.

[@jbailey2148]

What is the Best water filter for the Aprilaire Steam Humidifier Model 800??

[@shanegoodman5420]

NONE! They do not recommend a water filter as it makes it easier for the system to heat the water with solids still in it.

[@shanegoodman5420]

From Aprilaire 800 manual “Aprilaire Model 800 steam humidifiers use electrode technology and are simple to install, operate, and maintain. With electrode technology, electrical current flows between submerged electrodes, resistance of the water to the electric current heats the water. The submerged electrodes are found in a replaceable canister. At the end of a humidifier season, the canister - including the electrodes, is replaced. No cleaning, no scrubbing, simply replace the canister and you’re ready for the next humidifier season. Electrode technology requires impurities in the water to promote the transfer of electricity. For this reason, water filtration is not required with electrode technology, minimizing the complexity of the installation and ongoing operating costs.”

[@fma3487]

I replaced the canister but three lights are on, power, steam and fill, but it just keeps draining, do you have any idea why?

[@PipeDoctor]

call for tech support. bad control board reset button F6 on the ICM board

[@marknoyes5337]

Yeah, get that water filter out of there! The system needs HIGH mineral water so it's more electrically conductive.

[@TheProletariat.]

Have you ever installed these with the the fan assembly add-on sitting just on top of the humidifier? Have an issue with one originally set up in this fashion and it spits condensation out all over. I'm debating trying to move the fan assembly further away and using more of the radiator hose... perhaps the extra length would help. ???

[@TheProletariat.]

@@PipeDoctor I just got done watching an hour video from Aprilaire on these units and they showed adding in a tee fitting to the steam line to allow condensate to drain away, into a trap, and then down the drain. Had this system (Drysteam) installed professionally and had nothing but problems with it. Boards going out.. going through canisters like crazy due to the hard water in the area. The unit has constantly spit water and has really made a mess of it with water running down it all the time. So I decided to remove it completely and install new. But went with the Aprilaire (I know they are sister company to Drysteam). The fan pack was a little different. Well I installed in the exact same way as the original system was about 3 years ago however I was able to run soft water to it this time. Just got it back online this afternoon. And just before I left for the day they called and said it's spitting water just as the old system. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!! So now after seeing this video from Aprilaire I now know what the problem is! I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't catch this and install it right instead of doing it exactly as the contractor installed the original one. So now Monday I will be taking part of it back down and redoing it.

[@kansascityshuffle8526]

Just curious does this humidify the surrounding air or foes it inject humidity into the HVAC?

[@fmmaj9noname332]

It injects it into the HVAC, so the humidifier has to control the furnace blower to disperse the humidity, otherwise the humidity just sits there half the time when the furnace isn't running, and mold can result. The idiots who installed my 3 units didn't connect the fan controllers, and left them in their boxes sitting on top of the units! Needless, to say, that company isn't allowed in my house any more.

[@bkoz319]

I have seen those saddle valves last 30+ years no issues but i still would never install them

[@honolulu1476]

Thanks