Whole house humidifiers vary as to the recommended maintenance schedule. But generally, they require less maintenance than portable room humidifiers. With portable room humidifiers, there is a concern with stagnant water breeding bacteria and other micro-organisms. So, regular cleaning and refilling of the humidifier is desirable.

With a whole house humidifier, some manufacturers recommend only annual replacement of a "humidifier pad." This can be done by a service professional during the recommended annual scheduled maintenance on your furnace.

In areas of hard water, other manufacturers recommend cleaning and dissolving mineral build-up every month or two. Consult your care manual for your particular model.