Double Bass my humidifier started a fire- what now?

[groooooove]

i've used the same little humidifier for 2-3 years i think now. i just recently got one of these:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f3/humidifying-helper-713644/

and was loving it for the week or so i had it. last night, i dont know how/what happened, but my humidifier overheated, filled the house with smoke, and it still wreaks of melted plastic. weather or not its due to the new gadget i dont know, but everyone in the house is insisting i shouldn't have anything that generates heat (or steam, therefore) plugged in if i'm not home. fair enough, but i've got a lot of string instruments i need to look after.

anyone been here before, or have an alternative to recommend?

thanks,

t

 

[isolated]

You want/need an evaporative humidifier. Far less dangerous to have around.

 

[fdeck]

i've used the same little humidifier for 2-3 years i think now. i just recently got one of these:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f3/humidifying-helper-713644/

and was loving it for the week or so i had it. last night, i dont know how/what happened, but my humidifier overheated, filled the house with smoke, and it still wreaks of melted plastic. weather or not its due to the new gadget i dont know, but everyone in the house is insisting i shouldn't have anything that generates heat (or steam, therefore) plugged in if i'm not home. fair enough, but i've got a lot of string instruments i need to look after.

anyone been here before, or have an alternative to recommend?

thanks,

t

Does your house have central forced air heat?

 

[turf3]

I had a similar experience, but got it stopped before any damage was done. This fall, just as the weather turned cold and humidity dropped, I started up the humidifier for the first time, smelled the "uh oh, overheating electrical stuff" smell, and shut it right down. I pulled the heater assembly off (it is made to be detachable, you just depress a little catch and it slides off) and I could see the heating element. The heating element on mine is a metal dome that sticks up into the water. The metal dome was covered with mineral scale. I scraped the mineral scale off with a screwdriver (and there was A LOT of it) and the problem is solved. I guess that the mineral scale , being almost an insulator, does not transmit heat to the water, so the element keeps heating, and eventually overheats.

I think the humidifier manufacturer tells you to use distilled water. Of course, I use tap water. Our tap water has a lot of dissolved minerals. So, if the humidifier is salvageable, open it up and clean off the heating element. If not, I guess you need to clean off the element every year or so or use distilled water.

 

[hygrotechindia]

cool mist humidifiers do not have the danger of burns or fire hazards