AprilAire 56 Automatic Humidifier Control Instruction Manual

AprilAire 56 Automatic Humidifier Control Instruction Manual

YOUR HUMIDIFIER

Your Humidifier Control offers two modes of operation, Automatic or Manual. The automatic mode of operation requires the installation of an outdoor sensor and provides the following benefits:

1. You always receive the optimal amount of humidity. Automatically adjusts your home’s relative humidity (RH) based on the outdoor temperature.
2. Eliminates the need to manually adjust the control when outdoor temperature changes – a common occurrence with manual humidistats.
3. Maximizes the amount of time humidity is maintained in he healthy range, 40-60% RH. Precisely adjusts the relative humidity to deter the adverse effects of low humidity on your home’s occupants, such as itchy eyes and dry skin. It alsoprotects your home and its furnishings from the effects of excess condensation when outdoor conditions are the most severe.
4. Simple operation with few adjustments. Eliminates the need to turn the dial setting to OFF during the summer season.

Product Info & Digital Manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

AUTOMATIC MODE (MANUAL MODE – SEE PAGE 4)

Your Humidifier Control is installed in the return air duct of your air conditioning and heating system. 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.

1. Turn the dial setting knob to 5, which is within the normal range. During the next 24-48 hours, it may be necessary to adjust the dial for more or less humidity, depending on your personal comfort and home’s requirements. Refer to TABLE 1.
2. During the coldest portion of the first heating season, minor adjustments may be necessary. This is dependent upon your  individual home construction. Refer to TABLE 1.

TABLE 1 – OPERATION GUIDE

Condition| Solution
Condensation on windows.| Reduce the setting on the control dial by 1 increment.
Humidity too low.| Increase the setting on the control dial by 1 increment.
Humidifier does not operate. (Solenoid does not “click” when control is moved to TE S T / R E S E T position.)| Turn dial to T E S T / R E S E T. 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 TE S T / R E S E T. Make certain furnace blower is operating and furnace is calling for heat. Humidifier will operate for one minute.

The relative humidity in your home will now be controlled to meet your needs and should not need further adjustment during future heating seasons. Make note of the dial setting in the event you temporarily move the knob when performing annual maintenance of the humidifier.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Your humidifier is a high precision system that will accurately maintain the relative humidity in your home. For every 1°F change in outdoor temperature, the Automatic Humidifier Control will automatically adjust the indoor relative humidity (RH) by 1/2%. If you would like to determine the relative humidity in your home, follow these steps:

1. Determine the outdoor temperature.

2. Activate the furnace blower by setting your thermostat to a higher temperature.

3. Turn the Humidifier Control dial setting to the OFF position.
   Then, slowly turn the dial clockwise until you hear the solenoid valve “click on”. Next, slowly turn the dial counterclockwise until you hear the solenoid valve “click off”. At this point, make note of the dial setting.

4. Locate your dial setting on TABLE 2. Follow the dial setting to the right until it intersects with the current outdoor temperature. This is the relative humidity in your home under existing conditions.

TABLE 2 – % RELATIVE HUMIDITY GUIDE

| Outdoor Temperature (°F)|
-10°F| 0°F 10%| 10°F 10%| 20°F| 30°F 20%| 40°F 25%
Dial Setting| 1| 10%| 15%| Relative Humidity (%)
2| 10%| 10%| 15%| 20%| 25%| 30%
3| 10%| 15%| 20%| 25%| 30%| 35%
4| 15%| 20%| 25%| 30%| 35%| 40%
5| 20%| 25%| 30%| 35%| 40%| 45%
6| 25%| 30%| 35%| 40%| 45%| 45%
7| 30%| 35%| 40%| 45%| 45%| 45%

As an example, if the outdoor temperature is 20°F and, following step 3, the humidifier turns off at 5 on the dial range, then the relative humidity in your home is 35%.

Return the thermostat and control to their original settings.

The healthy humidity range is 40-60%, but on cold days that can result in condensation forming on cold surfaces which can cause damage to your home. The Humidifier Control will automatically adjust the humidity setting lower to compensate. The Humidifier Control 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 between or outside of the listed values in TABLE 2. In these cases, you can only approximate your home’s actual indoor relative humidity

MANUAL MODE (AUTOMATIC MODE – SEE PAGE 1)

Your Humidifier Control is installed in the return air duct of your air conditioning and heating system. When installed in the manual mode, it is important to anticipate a drop in outdoor temperature and reduce the setting accordingly to avoid excess condensation. For example, with an outdoor temperature of 20°F, the correct setting will be 35%. If the temperature is expected to fall to 0°F, reduce the setting to 25% several hours prior to the temperature change.

See TABLE 3 for the recommended settings. These settings represent a compromise between healthy humidity levels (40-60% RH) and protection from window condensation. For example, a range of 40-60% indoor humidity in wintertime may be ideal for comfort, but would result in damaging condensation. Thus, observing recommended humidity levels on the Humidifier Control is important. Condensation on the inside surface of windows in the form of fogging or frost is indicative of over humidification. This same condensation can occur in other areas of the home,
resulting in damage

TABLE 3 – OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE / INDOOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Outside Temperature| Recommended RH
+40°F| 45%
+30°F| 40%
+20°F| 35%
+10°F| 30%
0°F| 25%
-10°F| 20%
-20°F| 15%

TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY (RH) IN YOUR HOME

The Humidifier Control is a precision instrument that can be used to determine the RH accurately in your home. If you would like to determine the relative humidity in your home, follow these steps:

• Activate the furnace blower by setting your thermostat fan switch to the ON position, or by setting your thermostat to a higher temperature.
• Turn the control dial setting to the OFF position. Then, slowly turn the dial clockwise until you hear the solenoid valve “click on”. Next, slowly turn the dial counterclockwise until you hear  the solenoid valve “click off”. This will be very close to the actual RH in your home.

CHECK THE HUMIDIFIER OPERATION (BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL MODES)

Set the knob to TEST/RESET. Make sure that the water shutoff valve is open and that there is electricity to the unit. The furnace blower motor must be operating for the humidifier to function. After the humidifier has operated for one minute and water is entering the unit and coming out at the drain, reset the control to it’s original setting.

CHANGE WATER PANEL LIGHT (BOTH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL MODES)

If the Change Water Panel light remains lit, your Water Panel needs to be replaced. After changing the humidifier pad, turn the knob to TEST/RESET until the Change Water Panel light starts to blink.

NOTE: Control must be powered (furnace on) to reset the Water Panel change indicator.

If the Change Water Panel light is blinking, your unit is in TEST mode.
Do not leave in TEST mode or humidifier will not operate. Turn the knob to it’s original setting for normal operation.

LIMITED WARRANTY

Your AprilAire® Automatic Humidifier Control is expressly warranted for five (5) years from date of installation to be free from defects in materials or workmanship. The exclusive obligation of AprilAire under this warranty shall be to supply, without charge, a replacement for any control which is found to be defective within such five (5) year period and which is returned not later than thirty (30) days after said five (5) year period by you to either your original supplier or to AprilAire, Madison, Wisconsin 53701, together with the installation date of the control.

THIS WARRANTY SHALL NOT OBLIGATE APRILAIRE FOR ANY LABOR COSTS AND SHALL NOT APPLY TO DEFECTS IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS FURNISHED BY YOUR INSTALLER AS CONTRASTED TO DEFECTS IN THE CONTROL ITSELF.

IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE AFORESAID FIVE YEAR PERIOD. THE APRILAIRE LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OTHER THAN DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURIES, RESULTING FROM ANY BREACH OF THE AFORESAID IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR THE ABOVE LIMITED WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS VOID IF DEFECTS(S) RESULT FROM FAILURE TO HAVE THIS UNIT INSTALLED BY A QUALIFIED HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR. IF THE LIMITED WARRANTY IS VOID DUE TO FAILURE TO USE A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR, ALL DISCLAIMERS OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UPON INSTALLATION.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above exclusion or limitations may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state

WARRANTY REGISTRATION

Visit us online at aprilaire.com to register your AprilAire product. If you do not have online access, please mail a postcard with your name, address, phone number, email address, product purchased, model number, date of purchase, and dealer name and address to: AprilAire, P.O. Box 1467, Madison, WI 53701. Your warranty registration information will not be sold or shared outside of this company.

B2202674B • 10005447 • 6.22
© 2022 AprilAire | aprilaire.com | 800.334.6011
AprilAire reserves the right to change specifications without notice.

References

• AprilAire Home

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