CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland
 ·RoadRunner Cable
·WOW Internet and C..
|  Aprilaire 760 Whole House Humidifier
I have an Aprilaire 760 whole house humidifier. The water supply is on. The small screen is clean. When it calls for humidity the fan starts and the solenoid valve clicks, but no water comes out the other side of the valve.
Which leads me to 2 conclusions.
1 The solenoid valve is not opening (broken).
2 The valve is sticking or clogged.
Is the valve itself a gate type? Can it be disconnected from the water supply, energized open and run a pipe cleaner through it? Also any other tips?
Would rather try to fix the valve as a replacement is about $80.
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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KirkyInCT
join:2008-11-04
Higganum, CT | Installed with a saddle vale? Personally I don't care for them, that could very well be clogged. |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | No. It has a 1/2" ball valve for the water supply shutoff.
That valve is good. The one I'm referring to is the solonoid valve on the humidifier.
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs:
| reply to CCat
Could be, the valve, I know they sell replacement part for that. »www.alpinehomeair.com/viewproduc···53054452 But that is up to you to decide if you need it. Actually give them a call and ask to help trouble shot it with you over the phone. |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | Well if I have to replace it that ones better than $80. Thanks for the site. |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | That is the site is where I got my 700 from, had a problem connecting it to my HVAC and they helped me over the phone. Very Helpfull. |
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Dennis
Premium,Mod
join:2001-01-26
Algonquin, IL | reply to CCat
Does it have a sail switch, that turns it on only when the air is flowing? |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | If it's anything like mine it doesn't. It's activated when the Therm calls for heat or if you wanted to when the blower turns on. I assume he rechecked all wiring to and from the control panel to the HVAC and the humidifier? |
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jgriz
join:2008-12-10
Saint Charles, IL
| reply to CCat
If the valve is "clicking" then the coil is OK and the armature inside is being drawn up. That is the clicking you hear. You can check the coil for continuity using an ohm meter. You can also verify that by holding a screwdriver above the coil when the valve is energized. If the coil is good, the screwdriver will be attracted to the top of the coil.
There are some small passages inside of the valve that may have gotten clogged with hard water deposits during the off season. The valve can be disassembled. The nut on top of the coil comes off, then the coil lifts off. The metal cylinder under the coil that is part of the valve is called the guide tube. There is a slot on top of the guide tube that you can twist counterclockwise with a screwdriver to remove it. All that is inside is a metal armature that has a rubber piece on one end and a spring. When the coil is energized, the armature lifts up against the spring and pulls the rubber tip off of the body seat opening the passageway. Once it is disassembled, you can explore the passageways of the valve to see where it is clogged. |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | Ohhh I am bookmarking this. |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | reply to jgriz
Great respose. Thanks very much for the how-to. |
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Doug45
join:2002-08-27
Wheaton, IL | reply to jgriz
I agree with Warzau and CCat: This is great information! |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland
·RoadRunner Cable
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to CCat
Just a follow up post.
1. I turned humidistat to off.
2. I shut off the water supply.
3. I disconnected both water tubes in and out.
4. Removed the valve from the humidifier.
5. The coil just pulls off (on this one anyway). I had to insert a flat blade screwdriver between the coil and valve to get it started then pulled it off. I didn't disconnect the wiring.
6. This valve did not have a slot on the end but a pair of pliers on the narrow part of the guide tube and unscrewed it.
7. Checked the motion of the armature it was OK.
8. Removed the inlet and outlet fittings.
9. Removed the seat rubber gasket.
10. Soaked the valve body in lime away for about 15 minutes (it was clogged and had mineral deposits inside).
11. Rinsed it off and blew it out.
12. Reassembled it, turned it on and away it went.
I now have a humidified house again.
Thanks for the help everyone.
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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KirkyInCT
join:2008-11-04
Higganum, CT | reply to CCat
Thanks for the followup... All too often there are suggestions on top of suggestions, but nobody ever knows what the real problem is/was. |
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StepR
Code Warrior
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL | reply to CCat
I have to disassemble my Aprilaire every year to clean out the water filter and the pinhole through which water is released. It is a pain. |
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Snakeoil
Taxes are Armed robbery.
Premium
join:2000-08-05
Mentor, OH | How do you take it apart, I have one and never could figure out how it came apart.
Guess I need to call someone.
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Omne initium est difficile |
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jgriz
join:2008-12-10
Saint Charles, IL
| reply to CCat
I am glad to hear that it worked out OK for you. The valve design between yours and mine must be a little bit different but the principal is the same. I'm glad you were able to make adjustments to the instructions on the fly. Just a word of caution, as you found out, you can grip the guide tube with plyers to twist it but care must be excercised as to not squeeze the tube too tightly. If the tube collapses it could interfere with the up and down travel of the armature inside. |
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CCat
Purrplexity
Premium
join:2005-12-06
Wonderland | I guessed that. Lucky though, tube did not require a lot of effort to unscrew.
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Sometimes My Mind Wanders.....Other Times It Leaves Completely! |
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