Humidifiers | Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What filter does my humidifier use?
A: All Vornado Humidifiers use the same filter. If you find a filter with Vornado’s name, it will work on any Vornado Air Softening Humidifier or air softener.

Q:  Why humidify the air?
A:  For both health and comfort reasons.  Physicians have long-recommended humidification to help relieve nasal and chest congestion for infants, children and adults. Humidification also helps with dry skin.  A humidifier can also minimize annoying static and provide your furniture with much needed moisture.

Q:  Why humidify with Vornado?
A:  First, the Vortex Action of Vornado Vortex Humidifiers effectively distributes moisture and recovers heat throughout an entire room. Second, the evaporative style system is clean running, delivering moisture the same way Mother Nature does.  Finally, you will enjoy Vornado's easy-to-use, hassle-free design that includes a patented, easy-fill, no-spill, leak-free bottle design.  It also operates very, very quietly in comparison to competitive models.

Q:  You say Vornado's humidifier is an evaporative type. What does that mean? Are there other ways to humidify?
A:  It means that water is dispensed from a storage vessel into a chamber where the water is drawn up into a cellulose wicking filter.  A fan pulls air through the filter wick evaporating the water into an invisible vapor that is dispersed into the room. Yes, there are other ways to humidify.  In addition to evaporative, there are warm mist humidifiers that boil water to moisturize the air.  There are also cool mist devices that atomize the water by way of impellers or ultrasonic transducers.  We chose the evaporative method as it is both simple, clean-running and costs little to operate.

Q:  How much area or space will my new Vornado humidify?
A:  As a rule of thumb, Vornado's Model 30 humidifier will effectively humidify a single room in an average home.  The Model 40 humidifier can effectively humidify several rooms when strategically placed in close proximity to the rooms so that the humidity can be dispersed between the rooms.  Keep in mind, there are very few portable humidifiers that can humidify an entire home.  To truly achieve the desired level of humidity, you will likely need additional units.

Q:  I have a whole house humidifier on my furnace. Why do I need a room humidifier?
A:  Depending on the outside air temperature in winter, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends humidity levels between 30% and 60%.  Most houses are "leaky" enough as to prohibit whole house humidifiers from achieving the recommended levels, hence the need for supplemental room humidification.

Q:  How much energy do the Vornado Vortex Humidifiers use?
A:  Both Vornado models use a MAXIMUM of 40 watts or 0.7 AMPS at the highest setting...which is the same energy that is used to operate a 40-watt light bulb.

Q:  Is it okay to run the unit 24 hours a day?
A:  Yes, Vornado Vortex Humidifiers are designed to run continuously.  In fact, continuous operation is not only healthier for your environment, it is better for the humidifier.  Allowing the unit to continue running after the water supply runs out allows the wicks to dry out, reducing the chance for mold or mildew grow.  Keep in mind, continuous operation requires that the bottles be filled every 24 to 48 hours.

Q:  How can I tell how much humidity my humidifier is producing?
A:  The best way is to use a hygrometer, an instrument that measures the humidity level in a given area.  A simple hygrometer can be purchased at most hardware stores for around $3 to $4.  Another, albeit less accurate, way of judging the humidity level is to check to see if your windows are fogging with condensation.  If so, humidity levels may be excessively high.

Q:  How much care and maintenance does a Vornado Vortex Humidifier require?
A:  Because of its clean-running design, the Vornado Vortex Humidifier requires less care and cleaning than many humidifiers.  Frequency of cleaning depends on the condition of your water.  If your water has a lot of minerals in it (known as "hard" water), you may need to clean the unit every week or two.  If your water is relatively mineral-free (or "soft"), a thorough cleaning every 30 to 60 days may be sufficient. To clean the base and bottles, simply follow the instructions in the Owner's Guide using a water-and-white-vinegar solution.  There are also disinfecting instructions.  These cleaning and disinfecting instructions follow the guidelines recommended by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).  You can dust and vacuum the outside of the unit along with your regular weekly cleaning.  To get dust off the blades and keep the motor clean, you can use a hair dryer, leaf blower or "canned air."  In addition, the filter wicks used in the Vornado Humidifier are disposable, which saves you time and energy. All you have to do is toss the used filter wick and replace it with a new one – it's that easy!

Q:  The filter wicks on my humidifier are getting discolored, hard and crusty at the top. Is this normal?
A:  Yes, it's normal.  As the filter wicks evaporate water, minerals and other impurities are left behind.  Unfortunately, that mineral build-up also makes your wicks less efficient at evaporating water.  If your filters still appear to be absorbing at least halfway up from the bottom, you can clean them.  If they are no longer absorbing and there is no humidification action from your humidifier, it's time to replace the wicks. Replacement wicks can be ordered from our website.  Click here to buy now.  Remember, replacing a dirty filter wick is easier than scraping the hard water deposits off the bottom of some other types of humidifiers.

Q:  My filter wicks smell funny. What can I do?
A:  On first use, the wicks may give off a mild odor that should go away after several hours of operation.  If the odor persists, refer to the cleaning procedure below.

Q:  Can I clean the filter wicks? If so, how?
A:  Yes, you can clean the wicks in an effort to extend their useful life or in an attempt to remove an odor.  However, remember that the wick is a repository of impurities, many of which you will never fully remove.  Having a disposable wick is a convenience because you can simply throw it away once it becomes encrusted.  Think of it this way...would you rather throw away a disposable diaper or clean a cloth one?  Additionally, cleaning the wick more than once or twice may end up destroying it as the cellulose will eventually break down. To clean the filter wicks...place them in a pan or sink with just enough cool water to cover them.  Mix in 2 teaspoons of white vinegar and allow the wick to soak, gently pressing the wick with your fingertips occasionally to help force the material out of the wick.  After 20 to 30 minutes, remove the wick and rinse it under cool tap water — DO NOT WRING OR TWIST.  Finally, replace the wick in the humidifier.

Q:  How often do you need to change the filter wicks?
A:  We recommend you change your wicks every 6 to 8 weeks.  If you have hard water or poor quality water, you may need to change them more often.  If you have a "soft water system," you may wish to use a bacteriostat additive and/or a "Humidifier Water Treatment" additive to help prolong wick life.  While the sodium used in water softeners is not harmful to humans, it can cause wicks to deteriorate rapidly. NOTE: The life of your wicks can be prolonged by rinsing them under running water a few times a week as well as cleaning them whenever the humidifier is cleaned.

Q:  Will my local retailer have replacement wicks for my Vornado Humidifier?
A:  Generally, the retailer where you purchased your Vornado Humidifier should carry replacement wicks during the fall and winter, the primary seasons for humidification.  We can't guarantee your retailer will carry the wicks all year.  Replacements wicks are just a toll-free phone call away.  Call our Accessory Sales Service at 1-800-886-1001.  Or you can order replacement wicks online by clicking here

Q:  Can I use a filter wick not made by Vornado in a Vornado Humidifier?
A:  Some companies make replacement filters they say will fit a Vornado Humidifier, but our experience shows that these will not perform as well as a Vornado-made filter. All of our products' performance specifications are built around the use of Vornado-made filters and accessories.

Q:  What are these wicks made of?
A:  Humidifier wicks are made of cellulose fiber, a paper-like material, and are held together with a melted plastic layer. They are safe to dispose of in household refuse.