Humidifier with wick change indicator

A method for indicating the need to replace an evaporative pad of an evaporative room humidifier of the type having said pad and having an exhaust air stream that is of a predetermined humidity value during normal operation and below the predetermined humidity value when said pad is nonfunctional, said method comprising:

• placing a humidity sensor in said exhaust air stream to sense the humidity thereof;
• providing an indicating device in a position that is visible from outside of said humidifier, said indicating device having at least a first condition for indicating normal operation and at least a second condition for indicating that said pad is nonfunctional, said indicating device further being controlled by said humidity sensor such that said sensor causes said indicator to be in said first condition when said sensor senses that said air stream is of or above the predetermined humidity and to be in said second condition when said sensor senses that said air stream is below the predetermined humidity value.

A method for indicating both the need to refill a water supply to, and the need to replace an evaporative pad of, an evaporative room humidifier of the type having said pad and having an exhaust air stream that is of a predetermined humidity value during normal operation and below the predetermined humidity value when either said supply of water is depleted or when said pad is nonfunctional, said method comprising:

• placing a humidity sensor in said exhaust air stream to sense the humidity thereof;
• providing an indicating device in a position that is visible from outside of said humidifier, said indicating device having at least a first condition for indicating normal operation and at least a second condition for indicating that either said water supply is depleted or said paid is nonfunctional, said indicating device further being controlled by said humidity sensor such that said sensor causes said indicator to be in said first condition when said sensor senses that said air stream is of or above the predetermined humidity and to be in said second condition when said sensor senses that said air stream is below the predetermined humidity value.