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Humidifier wick — set the unit level so the wick wets evenly

Humidifier wick

Humidifier wick dry on one side or mist output low? Put the humidifier on a flat, level surface so water reaches the whole wick evenly.

Illustration of an evaporative humidifier sitting level with water reaching both ends of the wick
Photo: CoraCo Studio™ original (generated)

A tilted humidifier pools water at one end of the base. One side of the wick stays soaked while the other dries out and crusts early.

Level the humidifier so the whole wick gets wet

  1. Unplug the humidifier and set it on a hard, flat surface, not a rug or a sloped shelf.
  2. Set a small cup of water on top. If it tilts, the surface is not level.
  3. Fill the base and look at the wick. The water line should reach both ends.
  4. Check again after a day. A dry corner means the unit is still off level.

If the wick is wet all over but output is still low, check for a sunken or mineral-crusted wick.

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