**&&##@@!! Leaking Reservoir!

beneyw · Post by **beneyw** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:11 am

Anyone have this problem? This is the 2nd time I woke up to an empty reservoir and a soaking carpet and nightstand. I guess the seal is one temperamental fit and if not pressed tightly before locking it in to the machine problems arise. So, now I am using a plastic tray and a towel for future floods. Maybe someone can invent a small sand bag for this problem....hmmm...

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:31 am

I've had the same thing happen twice. I now make sure both halves of the humidifier are sealed as tightly as possible.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:39 am

Best solution is to never take them apart.

Den

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:57 am

Wulfman wrote:Best solution is to never take them apart.

Mine also leaked twice, then I refitted everything and let it be!
Subsequently replaced with HC150, which I also let alone.

bellasmiles · Post by **bellasmiles** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:46 am

Yep...mine leaked multiple times...the DME thought I was nuts and when I suggested I would never take it apart again once sealed; that I would just clean it again through the holes in the top. In fact, I had him provide me with a new one and have pretty much determined to NOT take it apart. It's very frustrating...I do understand.

seenas · Post by **seenas** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:04 am

Hi,
I had the same problem when I started out. I first though the cannister was cracked. Water was all over my night stand. I discovered that the seal must be completely closed. Now, when I close the cannister I do it on a flat surface and hold it in place until it completely seals. I must admit I don't open it up as often as before! LOL

Seena

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:45 am

If you don't put it on a flat surface and push the plastic of square, it cocks and puts extra pressurwe on the plastic and you get a hair line crack, If you have a leak more than once, the best thing to do it replace it.

Soaking the heating element and the electronics will result in a very high bill, the HH wasn't made to run under water.

As Den says, don't take it apart, use distilled water, dump and fill only. Avoid getting the HH unit wet. Jim

jeepdoctor · Post by **jeepdoctor** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:07 am

As you know, there is a thin coating of sealant on the metal tray. The first time I disassembled the reservoir for cleaning, I recall thinking to myself that this design could be a problem. A small tear in the sealant coating resulting from improper assembly after cleaning would make the reservoir assembly leak. I decided to clean the reservoir without disassembling it unless there was a good reason to disassemble.

A likely cause of leaks/seal failure is dry assembly. Wetting the seal with soapy water before assembly is an excellent idea.

Wetting the seal surface is the same as a basic rule that most mechanics learn early-on. O-rings and lip seals are never assembled dry. The sealing surfaces (both the seal and the part to be inserted in or over the seal) are lubricated before assembly.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:18 am

[quote="jeepdoctor"]As you know, there is a thin coating of sealant on the metal tray. The first time I disassembled the reservoir for cleaning, I recall thinking to myself that this design could be a problem. A small tear in the sealant coating resulting from improper assembly after cleaning would make the reservoir assembly leak. I decided to clean the reservoir without disassembling it unless there was a good reason to disassemble.

A likely cause of leaks/seal failure is dry assembly. Wetting the seal with soapy water before assembly is an excellent idea.

Wetting the seal surface is the same as a basic rule that most mechanics learn early-on. O-rings and lip seals are never assembled dry. The sealing surfaces (both the seal and the part to be inserted in or over the seal) are lubricated before assembly.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:13 am

If you take it apart, (as Jim said) place the metal base on a flat surface (like the kitchen counter) and put the plastic top on by pushing straight down, then work around the outside (pushing down) to make sure it's gone as far as possible. Then visually inspect the plastic to metal fit before putting water in it.

To make sure it's back together properly, fill it BEFORE you take it back to the bedroom. Tap water should be fine for this test. Let it sit on the counter for a little while. Then dump the water after checking and re-fill with distilled water AFTER hooking it back up to the machine in it's location. It's a good idea NOT to go walking around the house with a machine and filled humidifier......too easy to slosh some back into the machine. If you have to move it, disconnect the machine from the humidifier first and transport separately.

Den

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:11 am

Just curious ... does this problem occur with the new M series design?

- roberto

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:04 pm

I don't dump the water out for months at a time. I just add more distilled water as needed. I don't remove the water chamber from the machine. I fill it with a funnel.

When I finally do a "cleaning" of the water chamber, I disconnect it from the machine, but I don't take the water reservoir apart. I just pour in a mixture of vinegar/water and let it soak for several hours. Rinse, then soak again for about half an hour with a mixture of baking soda/water to get rid of the vinegar smell. Rinse, let dry. Good to go again for many more months.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:30 pm

Dump and let dry without taking apart about every three days-in between I just put a funnel in and refill it. About once a week I do take mine apart-including baffle-to clean it. A lot of people think this is excessive. After taking it apart I do the flat surface routine-then give an extra squeeze at each corner-then press it against a flat surface one more time-and yes-inspect visually. I do not like the design.
BTW Insurance pays for a new one every six months-it seems like it will last a lot longer than 6 months-but I went ahead and got a replacement to have in storage. That way if it ever cracks or the seal gets damaged-I've got a replacement

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:34 pm

Dreamstalker - the two humidifier leaks I had occurred with the M Series Auto. After the second leak (I eventually learned), I'm careful to make sure the humidifier is tightly sealed.

fujiinator · Post by **fujiinator** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:06 pm

I have had it happen a couple of times. I noticed that it would leak while I was filling it. I figure that I am in too much of a hurry to put it together and run into this problem. When I look at it when it leaked I noticed that the rubber o-ring was crooked so it was not sealing properly.

I usually take mine apart each morning to dry and put it together at night and fill it back up. I have been using it for around six months.

Mask

**&&##@@!! Leaking Reservoir!

**&&##@@!! Leaking Reservoir!

M Series Humidifier chamber