How to use the Klarta humidifier so that the filter lasts up to 6 months?
By following the recommendations below, you will ensure low-cost usage of the Klarta Humea Wifi humidifier (as well as the older version, Klarta Humea), and most importantly, the long-term operation of the evaporative filter, which, with proper use, will provide you with effective operation for up to 6 months. The record for a filter maintaining high efficiency (>90%) is 7 and a half months of continuous use. We believe it can be surpassed.
Please read the detailed recommendations to adapt them to your humidifier's working conditions or use the simplified operating rules.
Simplified operating rules
- Use cold tap water (chlorinated).
- Do not use the same water for more than 24 hours. If water remains after this time, pour it out completely and refill with fresh water.
- If you need to add water during the day, pour out the last 0.2 – 0.5 liters and then add fresh water.
- When adding fresh water, turn the filter so that the part that was on top is now in the new water.
- At least every 2 days, rinse the filter under running water, directing the water stream from the inside of the filter to the outside.
- At least every 7 days, wash the tank, float, and plastic filter elements with warm water and a mild detergent.
- Use the filter drying function as needed. Do not let the filter dry out during daily use.
- If you pause using the humidifier for more than 12 hours, rinse the filter and wash the plastic parts and tank. Leave the filter in a place where it can dry easily.
- If a large layer of scale forms on the filter, soak it for 30 minutes in a solution of water and food-grade citric acid at a ratio of 60 grams of acid to 1 liter of water. Then rinse the filter thoroughly before use.
Extended version of humidifier usage rules with explanations
Use tap water
Klarta humidifiers like tap water, even if it's hard water with a lot of scale. You'll read how to minimize scale build-up on the filter later in this guide.
Thanks to the natural, healthy process of evaporation, all solid contaminants in the water settle on the filter and do not get into the air.
Tap water contains safe amounts of chlorine, which keeps hygienic conditions in the water tank for about 24 hours. Chlorine destroys airborne microorganisms, including those that cause bad odors.
You can use distilled water, but it's expensive and requires more discipline in maintaining the filter and water tank.
The same goes for filtered water from a pitcher. Such water contains less scale, but it is mostly deprived of chlorine. Pitcher-filtered water is good for drinking and cooking but is not necessarily the best choice for an evaporative humidifier.
Use cold water in the humidifier. You can use warm water for rinsing the filter and cleaning the tank. Never use water warmer than 40 degrees Celsius. It can permanently deform the filter.
Determine daily water usage to know how often to maintain the humidifier
The Klarta Humea humidifier can effectively humidify small bedrooms of 6 m², as well as rooms exceeding 40 m². The effective humidification area depends primarily on ventilation strength, frequency of airing, atmospheric conditions, and indoor temperature.
Each room needs a different amount of water to achieve the desired humidity. To reach a recommended humidity level, e.g., 50%, one room may require 2 liters of water, and another may require 6 or more liters per day.
The demand will change depending on the outdoor temperature. The lower the outdoor temperature, the harder the humidifier has to work. Therefore, consider changing conditions in the next steps.
After several days of continuous use, assess how much water the humidifier needs to use in a day. This number will help you determine the best cycle for water replacement and refilling.
Effective water replacement and refilling cycle
Water in the humidifier should not be used for more than 24 hours.
Depending on daily water usage, the need for device engagement will vary. Besides the following tips, remember to rinse and rotate the filter (explanation below).
- If daily water usage is less than the full tank volume (3 liters), add the needed amount plus about 0.5 liters. Once a day, pour out the water residue (0.2 to 0.5 liters) and add fresh water.
- If you need more water than one tank in a day, set it to refill 2 or 3 times a day for refilling. It's best to add the needed amount plus 0.5 liters and pour out the remaining amount before the next refilling.
In both cases, better humidification results are achieved by adding only the needed amount of water rather than filling it to the brim, as a smaller amount of water in the tank increases humidification efficiency by increasing the evaporation surface above the water surface.
Pouring out the water residue significantly prevents scale build-up on the evaporative filter. The remaining water contains the highest concentration of scale and contaminants that enter the humidifier with the air.
Room humidity can change very quickly. Similarly, it can drop quickly when the humidifier runs out of water. Therefore, observe the room's water demand and regularly refill the humidifier.
Rinse the evaporative filter as it cleans the air not only of dust
Air passing through the humidifier's evaporative filter dries it. This air contains dust, hair, plant pollen, smog pollutants, bacteria, and viruses.
Your Klarta humidifier partially acts as an air purifier, although this is not its intended purpose. It's an inherent function of the evaporative humidifier. Therefore, contaminants that accumulate on the filter's exterior and in the water should be removed.
Therefore, at least once every 2 days of use, rinse the filter under running water. Direct the water stream from the inside of the filter so the water flows through the external structure of the evaporative mat. You can do this whenever you refill the water. It's better to do it more often than less. Contaminants on the filter can become a breeding ground for microorganisms, causing unpleasant odors or even the filter smelling bad.
If you struggle with excess dust, live in a smoggy area, or want to remove allergens or viruses from the air, consider using an air purifier.
Rotate the filter upside down when changing the water to significantly extend its lifespan
Rotating the filter is one of the most important but simplest actions that extends the filter's lifespan.
During operation, the evaporative filter collects all solid contaminants from the water–scale and metals. They settle on the evaporative mat and its structures that conduct water.
As these contaminants accumulate, humidification efficiency decreases. Scale buildup in the filter structure reduces water conductivity. If there's too much scale, the filter won't be fully wet, reducing humidification efficiency and ultimately leading to filter wear.
Rotating the filter causes the scale that accumulates during water evaporation in its upper structure to dissolve in the water after rotation. You'll remove it from the system when you pour out the water residue before adding fresh water.
It's recommended to avoid unnecessary drying of the filter, as this process hardens the scale, making it harder to remove from the evaporative mat later.
Rinse a scaled filter in a solution of water and food-grade citric acid
If scale accumulates on the evaporative mat, you can partially or completely remove it by soaking the filter in a solution of water and food-grade citric acid.
Prepare a solution of warm water, using the principle that for every 1 liter of water, add 60 grams (from 60 to 100 grams) of citric acid. Soak the entire filter for 30 minutes, occasionally stirring the water or rotating the filter. If the entire filter isn't submerged, rotate it and repeat the 30-minute soak. The citric acid will dissolve the scale.
During the citric acid soak, the filter may fade.
Alternatively, you can use a solution of water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. Unfortunately, this solution has more odor issues due to the vinegar smell.
After descaling, thoroughly rinse the filter under running water to remove all solution residue.
We recommend preventing scale buildup by pouring out the water residue and rotating the filter, as descaling can be impossible and can damage the salts that prevent fungi and mold growth on the evaporative mat.
Use the filter drying function sparingly
Klarta brand evaporative humidifiers have an automatic filter drying function. It is necessary to protect the filter from remaining in a moist environment conducive to microorganism growth.
This function activates when the water tank is empty. The humidifier goes into slow mode and works for 6 hours to dry the evaporative mat.
However, this function has a drawback: the scale that accumulates on the mat hardens after drying. Therefore, use it only in emergencies, and do not let the filter dry out during daily use.
Regularly clean the tank, float, and plastic elements
The air that collects moisture from the filter brings contaminants, including microorganisms, into the water tank. Even with regular water changes, some can settle there permanently. This process is facilitated by water deposits that settle on plastic surfaces – the tank bottom and walls, the float (especially its underside), and plastic parts of the evaporative filter.
Therefore, it is essential to regularly remove deposits and slippery film from all plastic elements that come into contact with water. It is recommended to wash them with warm water and a mild detergent at least once every 7 days. After washing, rinse all parts with running water.
If using water without chlorine, consider cleaning the tank more frequently. You can do this every 2-3 days.
You can check the tank for contamination by touching its surface with your finger. If it becomes slippery, it means microorganisms have settled on its surfaces. They are not harmful to health, as the evaporative humidifier generates water vapor smaller than most microorganisms and they cannot transfer on micro-droplets of water, but they can cause water to spoil faster and create a bad filter odor.
Plan for a break in humidifier use by drying the filter and tank
If you plan to stop using the humidifier for more than 12 hours, rinse the filter and wash the tank. Leave the parts in a place where they can dry quickly.
In warm periods, such as summer, when the humidifier is not needed, ensure the entire set is dry.
Leaving a moist filter for a long time can cause bad odors and, in particular cases, mold growth.
If a moist filter is left for a long time, ensure there are no black spots on it. If they appear, use a new filter. Before reuse, thoroughly rinse the filter and, if necessary, soak it in a solution of water and citric acid as described above.
Remember that the first humidification is the hardest
If you have just started the humidifier and it shows very low humidity, e.g., 30%, you need to know that besides the air in the room, the device will humidify walls, floors, furniture, and other items that also "drink water." Depending on the materials used and the size of the room, the environment's demand can be several liters. Proper wall humidity ranges from 4 to 15%, and furniture about 9%.
Therefore, the initial humidification phase is the hardest. During this phase and in daily use, most of the moisture delivered to the air will disappear irretrievably with the air removed in ventilation processes. The stronger the ventilation, the harder it is to humidify the air.
During this period, it is worth using the highest possible humidification speeds to provide the maximum amount of water to the room's air.
Discoloration on the filter is safe
In the initial period of filter use, darker spots may appear on the evaporative mat. This occurs particularly if the filter is not rotated. The cause of discoloration is the accumulation of antibacterial salts that protect the evaporative mat in the places where water evaporates. Excess salts in the filter structure get into the water, then later settle on the filter. These salts will be removed during filter rinsing or pouring out the water residue.
Do not use scented oils
It is not recommended to use scented oils in Klarta air humidifiers. They can react with antibacterial salts and clog the filter structure, reducing its water conductivity efficiency.
Evaporative humidifier filter replacement
Filter replacement is necessary in 5 cases:
- The filter has stopped conducting water. This manifests as dryness in the upper part of the filter when there is water in the tank. The cause may be scale or metal accumulation in the filter structure. The rate of conductivity reduction depends on the water composition used in the humidifier. Following the above recommendations will significantly extend the filter's lifespan.
- The humidifier emits a bad odor that interferes with its use. The cause is the appearance of anaerobic bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide. The filter has antibacterial salts, but accumulating scale and contaminants create a surface isolated from the salts, which is friendly to bacteria.
- Descaling and rinsing the filter can reduce bad odor to zero. Remember to wash all plastic parts and the tank.
- The filter is deformed by high temperatures. Hot water can distort the filter, reducing the humidifier's efficiency or causing the water level measurement system to malfunction.
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Mold spots appear on the filter. Improper filter use, especially leaving it wet in an empty tank, can cause mold in rare cases.
Klarta humidifiers automatically count the average filter wear cycle, set at 180 days (4320 hours). When this period is reached, an FR message will appear on the display (often read by users as FA).
After the message appears, evaluate the filter's suitability and replace it if necessary. After replacement, reset the filter life cycle counter.