Humidifiers are potent devices for combating discomforts due to dry air in many homes.
But this highly beneficial appliance can also pose a serious risk to you and your family if it’s inappropriately used or not thoroughly cleaned.
So this is what I mean…
Some humidifiers have complex designs, making cleaning complicated. Consequently, mold and other harmful microbes breed in those hard-to-reach spots.
Eventually, they find their way into your air, becoming airborne with some settling on surfaces.
Once mold starts forming, the humidifier, with the aid of its fan, releases potentially harmful mold spores into the air indoors.
And when you and your family breathe them in, you experience all sorts of respiratory malfunction, allergies, and inflammation in the lungs.
This article will serve as a guide to the best ways of preventing mold growth in your humidifier.
And also provides answers to some of the very important frequently asked questions regarding mold and humidifiers.
Can Your Humidifier Get Mold?
Humidifiers are designed with water tanks and pipes or channels through which moisture flows and disperses into the air.
These hard-to-reach channels serve as a perfect breeding area for mold, plus they harbor mold and facilitate the spread of mold in the unit.
Furthermore…
Apart from the water tank, some other parts of humidifiers are challenging to clean.
It needs more diligence to get rid of mold and other microorganisms.
So yes, your humidifier can get mold if you clean it inconsistently and if you use water rich in minerals in the tank.
Why Am I Getting Mold In My Humidifier?
There’re three reasons why your humidifier may get moldy. The first is the need for proper maintenance.
Failing to clean and sanitize your humidifier and its components regularly, especially the water tank and filter, is a significant reason for mold growth in a humidifier.
Mold thrives in unclean surroundings.
Secondly, suppose you use mineralized or tap water, especially in a humidifier with no filter or cleaning mechanism.
In that case, you’ll likely have mold growth in the tank.
And this is because tap water contains substantial mineral deposits and therefore serves as a rich medium that supports mold growth.
So…
To prevent mold from getting in your humidifier, take cleaning and disinfecting it more seriously and avoid using it with tap water.
Humidifiers come in different types, each capable of accumulating mold under abnormal conditions.
However, here are the common ones you’re likely to come across in many homes:
- Central humidifiers – These humidifiers are built into the central air conditioning system humidifier and can moisturize the entire house—some you don’t have to worry about frequently refilling water tanks.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers – This type uses vibrating disks to create and disperse fine mist particles into the air. The disks vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies.
- Impellers – this humidifier vaporizes the air using rotating disks, mixing water at high speeds.
- Evaporators – This type of humidifier releases water vapor with heat application.
Is It OK To Use A Humidifier With Mold?
It’s definitely not OK. A moldy humidifier disperses mold spores in and around the house. And this is quite dangerous to your health.
Once the infected mist is inhaled…
It may trigger an allergic reaction in allergy sufferers, cause breathing problems and even flare-ups in persons with asthma, and cause sensitive individuals with no underlying health conditions to fall sick.
Hence, you must keep your humidifier clean always to prevent such occurrences.
How Do You Know If There Is Mold In Your Humidifier?
To check for mold in a humidifier, you must first look inside the water tank and some components through which moisture is released.
If there’re molds, you’ll probably see some colored substances, and some particles of the spores may drop in spaces around the humidifiers.
It’s typical for moldy humidifiers to have black or green mold inside them.
However, you must know that mold growth in a humidifier is only sometimes visible.
In some situations…
Humidifier mold appears as white or pink matter, making detecting them difficult.
So in the absence of colored matter, an alternative means of identifying the presence of mold in humidifiers is by paying close attention to the smell emanating from them.
An unpleasant musty odor indicates that your humidifier has a mold infestation.
So, you don’t need to wait to see or smell mold before doing the right thing.
Always take precautions!
Can A Moldy Humidifier Make You Sick?
A moldy humidifier compromises your indoor air quality by releasing vapor infected with mold into the air.
And this may result in symptoms such as sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, nasal irritation, severe cases, difficulty breathing, and many more manifestations in persons suffering from allergies and sinusitis.
In addition, a moldy humidifier increases the frequency of asthma attacks in persons with asthma.
This is because it causes lung inflammation and exacerbates breathing problems.
So yes, humidifiers can make you sick if you have to use them rightly.
Dangers Of Mold In Humidifiers
In immunosuppressed individuals, a moldy humidifier increases their exposure to attacks from germs and allergens.
And because they have a weak immune system, their probability of wading off such attacks is low, consequently increasing their chances of getting sick. In such persons, it can be life-threatening.
Also the same is experienced by people with advanced asthma and allergy condition.
Moldy humidifier ejects contaminated mists, furthering their respiratory system’s inflammatory reactions.
Hence, it results in intensified allergy and asthma symptoms.
Symptoms Of Mold In Humidifiers
Moldy humidifiers, as mentioned earlier, can injure your health and deteriorate your well-being.
Once you start exhibiting some flu-like symptoms listed below, then your humidifier is probably contaminated with mold.
Here’re some mold symptoms you may likely experience with a moldy humidifier.
- Fever
- headache
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy skin
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Read more: Mold in humidifier symptoms.
How To Prevent Mold In A Humidifier
- Ensure to clean your humidifier regularly, preferably every three days. Use a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide or a white vinegar solution. This way, you can eliminate any mineral scale in the water tank. However, check the instruction manual, as some manufacturers recommend bleach for cleaning. In any case, rinse the humidifier severally while changing the water to ensure no traces of chemicals are left.
- Change the water in your humidifier frequently, preferably daily, to prevent the build-up of mineral deposits, mold, and germs.
- Check your humidifier filter regularly to be sure it’s clean. And replace it once it gets dirty or moldy according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. The same applies to your air conditioning system and heating unit. Change their filters once they exceed their filter life.
- The space around your humidifier should be clean and dry. immediately you start noticing dampness or wetness in such areas and in carpets, windows, and tablecloths, cut down on the operation time of the unit
- Keep the humidity levels in your within the recommended threshold— between 30 and 50 percent. Above 50% humidity levels can promote the breeding of mold, bacteria, dust mites, and dust. To keep your indoor humidity in check, get a humidifier with a digital humidistat for monitoring your moisture levels. Without that, a hygrometer could serve as an excellent alternative.
Read more: Humidifier Mold Prevention.
Verdict
In conclusion, mold in a humidifier is dangerous, and you shouldn’t treat it with levity.
Moldy humidifiers can cause harm by causing microbial growth and messing with your indoor air quality.
As a result…
You will need to ensure your humidifier is always clean and out of the reach of mold.
Avoiding tap water and using distilled water will go a long way in preventing mold growth in your humidifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Throw Away A Moldy Humidifier?
In most cases, a mold humidifier is still redeemable.
A vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and bleach solution efficiently disinfects and eliminates mold in humidifiers.
But when the humidifier is old and has accumulated tough mineral deposits or scales challenging to get rid of…
So you may need to replace your old humidifier with a new one.
Does A Cool Mist Humidifier Cause Mold?
Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) studies have revealed that cool mist humidifiers, such as ultrasonic humidifiers or impellers, are the biggest offender to mold growth.
This is due to the lack of a heating element in the humidifiers, which would have been beneficial in sterilizing the water in the tank against mold and bacteria, and for demineralization.
However…
A cool mist humidifier still significantly reduces dryness and alleviates asthma and allergy symptoms; it doesn’t cause steam burns.
And the mold problem can simply be avoided if you clean and maintain the cool mist humidifiers regularly.
Is It OK To Use A Humidifier In A Carpeted Room?
This depends on your ability to keep the carpet dry, especially around your humidifier.
If you must use a humidifier in a carpeted room, you must ensure no leakage and place it on a raised platform above the floor.
And you must monitor it strictly so that immediately the carpet around the humidifier starts getting damp due to excess moisture.
You can quickly notice it and cut down on the time you use the device.
What Happens When You Breathe In Mold From The Humidifier?
Breathing in mold from a humidifier is dangerous.
Once mold spores get to your respiratory system, it triggers harmful reactions that cause inflammation of the lungs.
In sensitive people, allergy sufferers, and asthmatics, it may lead to severe symptoms such as headache, nasal congestion and irritation, and difficulty breathing.
So inhaling mold spores from humidifiers increases your chances of getting sick and should be avoided.
Does A Humidifier Kill Mold?
Well-regulated humidifiers can create an optimal environmental condition that retards mold growth indoors.
Within the 30-50% range, mold, bacteria, and dust mites’ growth is immensely inhibited.
This is one of the advantages of humidifiers.
But…
If you don’t control or regulate your humidifier appropriately, it can cause too much humidity in your house. And that’s the fuel for mold formation anywhere.