Can a humidifier cause mold in a room? (All you need to know)
Did you know humidifiers can bring in harmful bacteria and viruses and also cause the air in your home while adding mist to your home?
What many people don’t know as they turn to humidifiers to add mist to the air of their homes when the air gets dry is that it could also cause as much harm as it is improving the quality of air.
In this article, you’re going to know if humidifiers can cause mold, how they cause mold, and how to prevent humidifiers from causing mold in your room.
So, do humidifiers cause mold and excessive moisture in a room? Let’s find out!
Will humidifiers cause mold?
One of the major problems of using humidifiers in your home is mold. When you don’t use your humidifier properly or use the right humidifier settings, then you may be at risk of mold in your home.
Mold can develop on porous surfaces, like window sills and walls when there is an excess buildup of mist or humidity in a room.
Molds accumulate in a room when people do not use the right humidifier settings. The wrong humidifier settings may lead to excess mist in the air, which creates the perfect environment for molds to grow.
When you compare cold air and warm air, you’d discover warm air may hold more moisture. So, you need to consider the weather or season that you’re currently in and adjust the settings duly. Read our article on the right humidifier settings.
As the chill humid air enters your home from outside and your humidifier heats it to about 68 degrees, it becomes drier. This gives the air more ability to hold mist and the more ability it has given rise to molds forming in your home.
While adding mist to your home can be a positive thing, it can also pose several other problems. Among them is mold.
Molds love moist environments because they make great breeding grounds for them. When you don’t properly maintain your humidifier, it can soon turn into a perfect breeding ground for molds, which can contaminate the air you breathe.
How does a humidifier cause mold?
The wrong humidifier settings and high levels of humidity in a room will cause mold buildup. Humidity levels above 55 percent may cause mold buildup in a room.
Another way that air humidifiers might encourage the growth of mold is if they are not regularly cleaned, leading to the formation of molds that serves as a breeding environment for other bacteria and viruses.
When the humidifier is turned on, it disperses these bacteria widely across the room, where they can readily settle on wet wooden furniture, moist cotton sheets, walls, and windows that have moisture formed on them.
It won’t be long before the formation of mold appears in certain places that are very conducive for them across the room.
The Ideal humidity level to prevent mold
The Level of moisture content in the air is measured as humidity. Season, weather, and the location of your home can affect humidity levels in a room.
Summer humidity levels are higher than in winter, hence the ideal humidity level to prevent mold should be between 30% to 50% as problems may arise from humidity levels that are too high or low.
Dry skin is one of the side effects of low humidity levels in a room, while high humidity levels may cause condensation on the walls, floors, and other surfaces.
The growth of mold is often speeded up by condensation. When this isn’t taken care of quickly, it can aggravate allergies and asthma attacks while also causing respiratory issues.
How To Use Humidifier Properly To Prevent Mold
As was already noted, a humidifier can aid in the fight against mold and other disease-causing germs, but improper use could have the opposite effect.
Here are some tips for using humidifiers properly to prevent molds:
Use Distilled Water
Use only distilled and filtered water in humidifiers because the usage of hard water can cause the formation of molds.
Different water may have a greater or lesser impact on the formation of mold. The presence of bacteria and/or minerals in tap water may encourage the growth of mold.
So, it is highly recommended to use distilled or filtered water in your humidifier to discourage the growth of molds.
Change the Filter
You should change the filters in your humidifier if it has one, as dirty filters may cause molds to build up in the humidifier and subsequently spread across the room.
The filters in your humidifier should be changed every three months or at least once in 6 months to avoid mold buildup and causing damage to your device.
Additionally, each time you refill or change the water in your humidifier, turn the filter up and down to prevent areas in the humidifier from being waterlogged
This aids in distributing the water through the filter evenly and helps prevent molds from forming in the humidifier, which may cause damage to the humidifier and subsequently cause serious health issues.
Regular cleaning and maintenance
You should clean your humidifier weekly. This helps to remove any trace of molds from the humidifier and prevents molds from accumulating within it.
First, turn on your appliance for around 20 minutes after adding vinegar to a cup of water and allow it for some time.
After that, take apart any removable parts and clean them, clean the interior with vinegar removing any accumulation of molds.
For an extra deeper clean, you can also soak the holding tank in water mixed with vinegar before reassembling, letting each component completely dry off in the air.
Conclusion
Since mold thrives in a moist atmosphere, you must be very careful and take proper care and maintenance of your humidifier.
Mold growth can harm since it poses a risk to your health if breathed in, therefore you should maintain a constant humidity level in your home between 30% and 50% to prevent the growth of mold.
When you operate your humidifier properly, you will not only get the benefits but also protect your family and yourself from disease-causing germs that will be dangerous to your health.
We hope this article has answered your question and also provides you with tips to help you prevent the formation of molds in your room.