Holmes HM3640 Manuel D’Utilisation

HM-3640 xploded view     5/01

Your humidifier is equipped with a technologically advanced 1 Touch™

Electronic Humidistat.  You can set the humidifier to run continuously in 

manual mode or set the 1 Touch™ Electronic Humidistat to your desired 

temperature setting.  The 1 Touch™ Electronic Humidistat will automatically

turn the humidifier ON or OFF, depending on the preset comfort level.  

The comfort level ranges between 35% and 55% relative humidity.

1. Plug the humidifier into a 120V AC electrical outlet.
2. To start the unit, push the MODE/OFF button once for the HIGH 

manual setting.  (See figures 1 and 3.)

3. Press the button again for the LOW manual setting. (See figures 1 and 3.)
4. To stop the unit, press and hold the button for two seconds, or keep 

pressing the button until all the humidity indicators are OFF.

NOTE: In Manual Mode, only the LOW or HIGH power light will be lit.

To take advantage of the 1 Touch™ Electronic Humidistat, press the

MODE/OFF button until the speed is set in either the HIGH or LOW setting,

and the Desired Humidity is set.  When the humidity level rises above the 

set humidity, the humidifier will stop.  When the humidity level drops below

the set humidity, the humidifier will turn on automatically.
NOTE: When the 1 Touch™ Electronic Humidistat is set, either the HIGH 

or LOW power light and the percent humidity light will remain lit during 

operation.  (See figures 1 and 3.)
NOTE: Allow up to 30 minutes for the filter to fully absorb water 

and for the unit to produce moisture.
NOTE: The 1 Touch™ Humidifier has memory.  This means that when you

turn the unit back on, it will be at the last setting the humidifier was set at.
If you do not plan to use the humidifier for two or more days, make sure any

residual water is drained from the water tank, base and wick filter to prevent

algae or bacteria growth.

WHEN USING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, ESPECIALLY WHERE CHILDREN ARE

PRESENT, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE BASIC PRECAUTIONS TO

REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK AND INJURY TO PERSONS:
1. Read all instructions before using the appliance.
2. To avoid fire or shock hazard, plug the appliance directly into 

a 120 V AC electrical outlet.

3. Keep the cord out of heavy traffic areas.  To avoid fire hazard, 

NEVER put the cord under rugs, near heat registers, radiator, stoves, 

or heaters.

4. DO NOT place humidifier near heat sources such as stoves, radiators,

and heaters.  Do locate your humidifier on an inside wall near an

electrical outlet.  The humidifier should be at least 4" away from the

wall for best results.

5. NEVER place humidifier in an area where it is accessible to children.

NEVER use humidifier in a closed room, particularly where a child

may be sleeping, resting, or playing (a closed room may result in

excessive humidity).

6. WARNING: DO NOT attempt to refill humidifier without first 

unplugging the unit from it’s electrical outlet.  Failure to heed 

this warning may cause personal injury.  Be sure to pull the plug 

and not the cord.

7. Never place anything over moisture outlet when the unit is running.
8. NEVER drop or insert any object into any openings.
9. DO NOT operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, after

the appliance malfunctions, or if it has been dropped or damaged in

any manner.  Return appliance to manufacturer for examination,

electrical or mechanical adjustment, or repair.

10. Use appliance only for intended household use as described in 

this manual.  Any other use not recommended by the manufacturer

may cause fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.  The use of 

attachments not recommended or sold by The Holmes Group, Inc. 

may cause hazards.

11. DO NOT use outdoors.
12. Always place humidifier on a firm, flat, level surface. A waterproof

mat or pad is recommended for under the humidifier.  NEVER place 

it on a rug or carpet, or on a finished floor that may be damaged 

by exposure to water or moisture.

13. DO NOT allow the Moisture Outlet to directly face the wall.  

Moisture could cause damage, particularly to wallpaper.

14. Humidifier should be unplugged when not in use.
15. NEVER tilt, move, or attempt to empty unit while it is operating.  Shut

off and unplug before removing the water tank and moving the unit.

16. This humidifier requires daily and weekly maintenance to operate

properly.  Refer to the Cleaning and Maintenance instructions section

in this manual.

17. NEVER use detergents, gasoline, glass cleaner, furniture polish, 

paint thinner, or other household solvents to clean any part of the

humidifier.  Use only Holmes

®

care products recommended in this

manual.

18. DO NOT use humidifier in an area where humidity level is in excess 

of 50%; excessive moisture could cause damage.  If the unit does 

not feature a hygrometer (a device use to measure the humidity 

level), one may be purchased by calling 1-800-5-HOLMES or visit 

www.holmesproducts.com.

19. DO NOT attempt to repair or adjust any electrical or mechanical 

functions on this unit.  Doing so will void your warranty.  The inside 

of the unit contains no user serviceable parts.  All servicing should 

be performed by qualified personnel only.

20. Never place housing under water flow or immerse in liquids.
21. DO NOT plug in the cord with wet hands: electric shock could result.
22. DO NOT fill through openings other than intakes.
23. DO NOT block intakes or exhaust grills.
24. To prevent damage to surfaces, do not place humidifier 

under overhanging surfaces.

Thank you for choosing a Holmes Cool Mist console humidifier. To ensure

the best performance from your humidifier, please read and save the 

following instructions.

N

OTE:  This is an electrical appliance and requires attention when in use.

NOTE:  If moisture forms on the walls or windows of the room, turn off 

the humidifier.  The room already has plenty of humidity and additional

moisture may cause damage.

The length of cord used on this appliance was selected to reduce the 

hazards of becoming tangled in, or tripping over a longer cord.  If a longer

cord is necessary an approved extension cord may be used.  The electrical

rating of the extension cord must be equal to or greater than the rating of

the humidifier.  Care must be taken to arrange the extension cord so that it

will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by

children or accidentally tripped over.

REPLACEMENT OF HOLMES

®

EXTENDED LIFE FILTERS:

Through normal use, waterborne minerals and sediment become trapped 

in the wick filter. The harder your water, the greater the amount of minerals

in the water, and the more often you will need to change your filter.
You will be able to monitor the life of the filter in your humidifier by 

checking the Filter Check™ Indicator.  When the unit is off, the Filter Check™

Indicator will read in the OFF position.  After 60 minutes of use, Filter

Check™ Indicator (refer to figure 5

for close-up of indicator) will move

from the OFF position and indicate

your filter condition.  A brand new 

filter will register in the blue section 

reading GOOD filter.  After frequent

use of your humidifier, the Filter

Check™ Indicator will let you know

when the filter needs to be changed.
When the needle is in the red (CHANGE) section, this means the proper

amount of moisture is not getting into your air due to the excessive minerals

and sediment that have become trapped on your filter.  At this point, you

should replace your filter.  It is important to change your filter as indicated to

obtain stated performance level.

TO REPLACE THE FILTER:

1. Push the MODE/OFF button for 2 seconds to turn the unit off and 

unplug the humidifier. Lift off the housing of the unit, remove the 

used wick filter, and throw it away.

2. Remove the protective bag from the new wick filter and slide the filter

down into the circular filter support in the base. Replace the housing, refill

the tanks, plug the cord into the electrical outlet and press the MODE/OFF

button to turn the unit on. Because the filter needs to absorb water to

function properly, it will take about 30 minutes for the humidifier to 

reach the maximum moisture output (see figure 3).

NOTE: You can purchase replacement filters (model HWF75) at a local 

retailer, by calling 1-800-5-HOLMES, or by visiting www.holmesproducts.com.

Please refer to the replacement Accessories section at the end of this 

manual.  It is recommended that a replacement filter is purchased for 

uninterrupted use.

Figure 2

A. STATIONARY WHEELS
B. SWIVEL WHEELS
C. UNDER–SIDE OF 

HUMIDIFIER BASE

WHEEL INSTALLATION

B

C

A

Figure 3

Figure 1

A. CIRCULAR EXTENDED

LIFE FILTER

B. CIRCULAR FILTER 

SUPPORT

C. FLOAT SWITCH
D. HUMIDIFIER BASE

A

D

B

C

Figure 4

1. Push the 1 Touch™ (MODE/OFF) button for 2 seconds to turn the unit OFF,

and disconnect from the electrical outlet.

2. Remove housing, filter and tanks (see figures 1 and 4).
3. TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MOBILITY AND CONVENIENCE TO YOUR CONSOLE

HUMIDIFIER, install the wheels. Remove the four wheels located in a small

pouch in the box. Turn the base upside down, and locate the holes at each

of the four corners on the underside.

Note: You will notice that there are two different shaped wheels. Two of 

the 4 wheels are stationary wheels and two are swivel type wheels. The 

stationary wheels are identified by a flat top surface, while the swivel type

are curved and include a small plastic piece on the shaft.  (See figure 2 for

installation location for each type of wheel.)  DO NOT use any tools to install

the wheel because tools may damage the base of the unit. Return the base 

to the upright position.
4. Choose a location out of reach of children. DO NOT place the humidifier on 

a finished floor or near furniture which can be damaged by moisture or water.

Place on a moisture-resistant surface.

Humidifiers provide comfort by adding moisture to dry, heated indoor air. 

To benefit most from the humidifier and avoid product misuse, follow all

instructions carefully. Please note that this is an electrical appliance and

requires attention when in use.
In addition, if you do not follow the recommended care and maintenance

guidelines, micro-organisms may be able to grow in the water within the

Water Tank.  You must routinely follow the cleaning procedures that follow 

in order to ensure proper, efficient operation of your humidifier. Proper 

maintenance and cleaning is essential to the continued performance of 

your unit and the avoidance of algae or bacteria build-up.

DAILY MAINTENANCE

1. Before cleaning, be sure the humidifier is OFF and disconnected from the

electrical outlet.

2. Remove the housing and the tanks from the humidifier and place them 

in sink or tub.

3. Carry the base of the unit to the sink, remove the wick filter, drain any

remaining water and rinse thoroughly to remove any sediment or dirt.

Wipe clean, and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

4. Drain the water from the tanks into the sink and rinse each tank 

thoroughly. Wipe clean, and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

5. Put filter back in the filter supports, replace the housing, then refill the

tanks with cool tap water as instructed earlier in the Filling Instructions. 

Do not overfill. 

6. Follow Operating Instructions.

WEEKLY MAINTENANCE

To Remove Scale:
1. Repeat steps 1-4 above.
2. Partially fill the base with Holmes Cleanse Clean™ (Model S1710) 

as instructed on bottle, or with two 8 oz. cups of undiluted white vinegar.

Leave this solution in the base for 20 minutes, while cleaning all interior

surfaces with a soft brush. Remove base scale by wiping the base with 

a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. 

3. Rinse with clean warm water to remove the cleaning solution before 

disinfecting the tank.

To Disinfect Humidifier Base and Tanks: 
1. Fill Humidifier Base with 2 gallons of water and 1 teaspoon of 

chlorine bleach.

2. Fill each tank with .5 gallon of water and 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach.
3. Let the solution stand for 20 minutes, swishing every few minutes. 

Wet all surfaces. 

4. Carefully empty the Base and Tanks after 20 minutes, and rinse with

water until you cannot detect any bleach smell. Dry with a clean cloth 

or paper towel.

5. Check the Filter Check™ Indicator to see if it is time to replace the filter.

Depending on the water hardness in your area, it may be necessary to

change the filter every 1-2 months. Re-insert the wick filter into the 

filter support.

6. Refill the water tanks as directed with cool tap water, replace the 

humidifier housing, and turn the Control Knob to ON.

1. Push the 1 Touch™ (MODE/OFF) button for 2 seconds to turn the unit 

OFF, and disconnect from the electrical outlet.

2. Remove the two tanks from the base of the humidifier and bring each

tank to the faucet. Turn the tanks upside down and twist off the tank 

caps by turning counter-clockwise. Fill each tank with cool, fresh tap 

water.  Replace the cap on each tank FIRMLY. 

3. When full, carry each tank to the humidifier and place onto the base 

(use both hands when carrying each tank). Each tank holds 1.6 gallons 

of water, and the base holds .25 gallons of water.

4. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet.

A

A

B

H

E

G

C

D

I

Your Holmes Cool Mist humidifier draws dry air through the rear air intake
grill area.  This air is then passed through a moisture–laden wick filter, which
retains the minerals and deposits in the water.  The resulting moist air is
directed back into the room from the top air grill.  
NOTE: This humidification system provides a cool, invisible moisture output.
It is normal not to see the mist.
NOTE: A humidity level below 20% can be unhealthy and uncomfortable.  The
recommended humidity level is between 40%-50%.

Figure 5

A. WATER TANKS
B. 1 TOUCH™ HUMIDISTAT
C. REFILL LIGHT
D. MOISTURE EXHAUST GRILLS
E. HUMIDIFIER BASE

F. AIR INTAKE GRILLS
G. HUMIDIFIER HOUSING
H. COLOR-CODED FILTER

CHANGE INDICATOR 

STICKER (not shown)

I. FILTER CHECK™ INDICATOR

F

A. SET HUMIDITY

LIGHTS

B. SPEED SETTING

LIGHTS

C. MODE/OFF

BUTTON

A

B

C

B