How to Maintain Your Room Humidifiers

In the heart of the driest months of winter, a lack of humidity can make your home incredibly uncomfortable. For those who cannot install a full home humidifier, a single room unit may be what you need to stay comfortable, without dry and cracking skin. But, like all appliances, a room humidifier needs to be properly cared for or you risk having significantly worse problems such as mildew and mold in your home.

Using a Room Humidifier

Remember that a humidifier is essentially a closed container filled with water. If you leave that container with water alone, without it running for days at a time, there is a very good chance that mildew or mold will start to grow. Most humidifier manufacturers recommend throwing out the water after 2 days if you haven’t used up the tank. To avoid this happening, make sure the unit you buy is the right size for your room. A 10 or 20 gallon humidifier will take days to empty for a 200 square foot room, and the risk of mold growth will increase dramatically.

Your humidifier should have a filter as well. This filter often doesn’t need to be changed very often – usually just once every 2-3 months depending on how many months you use it. However, if the humidifier frequently has a mildew problem, the filter should be checked and possible changed during cleaning. If mildew gets into the filter, you won’t be able to remove it and the result could simply put more pollutants into the air.

If something starts to grow in your humidifier’s tank, avoid using chemicals that leave residues behind. Bleach can evaporate just as easily as water and enter the air for you to breathe. Luckily, there are plenty of natural cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice that will remove mildew from the inside of a humidifier and not cause any future indoor air quality problems.

Be Mindful of Your System

A well maintained room humidifier will be the one thing that keeps you and your family comfortable through the worst the winter dryness has to offer. However, make sure you follow a regular maintenance schedule for your humidifier, draining it at least once a week and checking it daily for any signs of growth. It does you no good to make your home comfortable if that comfort translates to illness.