Spitting noises and gushing water

Another alternative to vinegar is to use lemon juice. About 1 cup to a tank of water should do the trick. It smells much better than vinegar and also has the acid content to clean the vaporizer.

Sounds like it needs a good cleaning. Use 1/2 c. regular vinegar to 3-4 cups regular water and let soak for a few hours. Remove and tap the steamer to remove caked up sediment. Should be ready to use again. If it's a little slow, add a small pinch of salt.

Take it apart and clean the element. Find a small flathead that fits the two small star head screws if you don't have the star head drivers. Gently scrape / chip off mineral buildup on two small rods. Rods are black underneath the crud. Reassemble, it's only like three pieces and only goes back together the right way. I've done it to the Vicks model many times. No waiting for vinegar / lemon to hardly work. Only thing close is espresso machine descaler and that's not worth the time either. If I could do the same to my coffee machine I would.

Mine works best if I use a small handful of rock salt (the kind for sidewalks) tied up in a stocking. I hang the stocking over the edge of the tank. I have tried just putting a little table salt in but it would still spit and sputter. After cleaning it, I tried this and wow, what a difference!