Humidifier wick — let a new wick soak before the first run

Humidifier wick

Fill the tank and let a new humidifier wick soak up water before you switch the fan on, so the dry top edge does not scorch or run stale.

diagram of an evaporative humidifier wicking water upward
Photo: Necono AG / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

A brand-new humidifier wick starts bone dry. Give it time to soak before the fan runs so it wicks evenly from the start.

Soak a new humidifier wick before the first run

  1. Seat the new wick in its frame and fill the tank as usual.
  2. Leave the unit off for about 15 to 30 minutes, or as long as the manual suggests.
  3. Check that the wick looks damp all the way to the top edge.
  4. Then turn the humidifier on at a low setting first.

Honest stop: if the top of the wick stays dry after a long soak, the water level or wick seat may be off — check the fit before running it.

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