Humidifiers add moisture to dry indoor air. They are commonly used during winter months when cold outdoor temperatures cause indoor humidity levels to plummet. Low humidity can lead to a variety of health issues:
- Dry skin, irritated respiratory passages, cracked lips
- Increased susceptibility to colds and flu
- Aggravation of allergies and asthma
- Nosebleeds
- Static electricity, which can damage electronics
By using a humidifier to maintain indoor relative humidity between 30-50%, you can avoid these issues.
However, humidifiers can encourage the growth of microorganisms like mold, fungi and bacteria, which are then dispersed into indoor air. Failure to properly care for your humidifier puts you and your family’s health at risk. It also reduces the device’s longevity and effectiveness.
This article will discuss proper humidifier hygiene and maintenance. Following these best practices will maximize indoor air quality, health benefits, and the operating life of your unit.
The Impact of Poor Maintenance
Neglecting to clean and maintain your humidifier can have serious consequences:
Health issues:
- Mold and bacteria growth releasing toxic particles and germs into your indoor air
- Increased allergy, flu and asthma symptoms
- Lung infections like pneumonia
Unit problems:
- Mineral deposits and corrosion
- Reduced moisture output
- Shortened humidifier lifespan
Other risks:
- Possible voiding of your product warranty
- Fire hazard from mineral deposits in the heating element
To avoid these risks, follow the maintenance routine outlined later in this article. But first, let’s look at why humidifiers are such a hotbed for microbes.
Why Humidifiers Encourage Microbial Growth
There are three reasons humidifiers easily grow mold, bacteria and fungi:
1. Warm temperatures: The warm, moist environment inside a humidifier mimics the tropics and encourages rapid microorganism multiplication.
2. Stagnant water: Non-moving water allows biofilms – a gluey layer of microbes – to flourish out of reach of moving air.
3. Nutrients: Microbes feed on the naturally-occurring minerals and organic matter in tap water. This fuels growth.
Using distilled or demineralized water prevents this by removing minerals and nutrients. But microbes can still grow on humidifier surfaces and tiny water droplets dispersed by the humidifier.
That’s why regular cleaning and disinfection is so critical.
Read More: When Is It Time to Buy a New Appliance vs. Fix It?
Regular Cleaning & Maintenance
To keep your humidifier hygienic, it is important to follow both a daily maintenance routine as well as a regular deep cleaning schedule.
Daily Maintenance
- Use distilled or demineralized water: Tap water contains minerals and nutrients that fuel microbial growth. Using purified water prevents this.
- Change water daily: Stagnant water enables biofilms to develop. Changing it daily disrupts these microbial communities.
- Clean all surfaces: Wipe down exterior surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner to prevent microbial growth on the humidifier and dispersal into room air.
- Follow manufacturer instructions: Always consult your manual for additional daily maintenance recommendations.
Deep Cleaning Schedule
Deep cleaning your humidifier to remove established grime and kill stubborn microbes is also essential. Cleaning frequency depends on humidifier type and usage patterns:
- Cool mist humidifiers: Clean and disinfect every 3 days
- Ultrasonic humidifiers: Clean and disinfect every 3 days
- Warm mist humidifiers: Clean and disinfect daily
- Whole house humidifiers: Service seasonally
For portable units, deep cleaning involves:
- Turning off and unplugging the humidifier
- Disassembling the unit
- Removing scale, grime and sediment
- Washing parts in hot water and vinegar
- Rinsing thoroughly
- Disinfecting all surfaces
- Rinsing again
- Drying fully
- Reassembling
Later sections provide step-by-steps for each type of humidifier deep clean.
Filter & Cartridge Maintenance
Some humidifiers also require regular filter replacements or cartridge cleaning:
Filter Replacements:
- Frequency: Replace every 1-2 months according to manufacturer specifications
- Purpose: Filters trap mineral scale to keep it out of mist droplets
Demineralization Cartridges:
- Frequency: Replace every 2-4 months based on usage
- Purpose: Remove minerals from water to prevent scale buildup
Refer to your instruction manual for the location of filters and cartridges. Mark your calendar with replacement reminders based on expected lifespan.
Health & Environmental Impact
Using a poorly maintained humidifier puts your family’s health at risk. It also threatens vulnerable populations outside your home.
Health Risks
Unhygienic humidifiers harbor hazardous bioaerosols – airborne particles of mold, fungi, bacteria, allergens, and endotoxins. Prolonged exposure causes:
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Respiratory issues like sore throat, cough and congestion
- Asthma and lung infections
- Flu-like fatigue and aches
Infants, seniors, those with suppressed immune systems or pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable. But unhealthy bioaerosols impact everyone’s wellbeing and productivity.
Environmental Impact
Many humidifiers atomize unfiltered tap water containing live microbes and emit them as microscopic droplets. A single minute of ultrasonic humidifier operation releases over 1 million virus-sized water particles into the air!
This becomes an environmental health issue for your community when those droplets:
- Accumulate on surfaces outside your home
- Are inhaled by neighbors and passersby
- Settle into waterways impacting ecosystems
Using distilled water and disinfecting ultrasonic humidifiers prevents this.
Cool Mist Humidifier Maintenance
Cool mist (evaporative) humidifiers use a wicking filter to absorb and then release water vapor. A fan blows air through this damp filter to add moisture to your indoor air.
Cleaning frequency: Every 3 days
Follow these steps to deep clean your cool mist humidifier:
- Turn off and unplug the unit. Allow any residual heat or moisture to dissipate.
- Disassemble by removing the tank, wicking filter, any fragrance boxes and other parts.
- Inspect visually for scale, grime, sediment or separated glue. Make notes on any problem areas requiring extra attention during cleaning.
- Wash fully disassembled tank and parts by hand or in your dishwasher using hot water and detergent.
- Soak wicking filter in a 50/50 diluted vinegar solution for 30 minutes to remove stubborn scale and stains.
- Rinse all parts thoroughly with clean water to remove vinegar solution or detergent residue. Repeat rinses as needed for a squeaky clean finish.
- Disinfect parts by soaking for 20 minutes in a solution of 1 tbsp bleach per 1 gallon of water. This kills any remaining microbes living on surfaces.
- Rinse disinfected parts thoroughly with clean water to remove all bleach residue. Residual bleach could damage your humidifier. Verify no bleach scent remains.
- Air dry fully before reassembling so no moisture is trapped inside. Trapped moisture encourages future microbial growth.
- Reassemble correctly when completely dry. Replace wicking filter every 3-4 months.
Your evaporative humidifier is now clean and ready for service!
Ultrasonic Humidifier Maintenance
Ultrasonic humidifiers use high frequency vibrations to create microscopic water droplets instantly dispersed into air. They require frequent cleaning to prevent calcification on the transducer.
Cleaning frequency: Every 3 days
Follow these steps to service your ultrasonic humidifier:
- Repeat disassembly steps from cool mist cleaner instructions. Remove tank, transducer, air stone and other parts as applicable.
- Soak transducer in distilled white vinegar for 20 minutes to loosen mineral scale on surface.
- Gently scrub transducer with a soft bristle toothbrush to carefully remove scale without damaging fragile piezoelectric material underneath. Take extra care around electrical contacts.
- For tough buildup, upgrade to 50/50 vinegar and water soak for the transducer. Check every 5 minutes until scale is removed.
- Follow remaining steps in cool mist humidifier instructions for washing, rinsing, disinfecting, second rinse and thorough drying.
- At reassembly, reset any output adjustments changed during cleaning or scale removal.
You ultrasonic humidifier is now clean and ready to buzz!
Warm Mist Humidifier Maintenance
Warm mist humidifiers boil water to create steam. They require meticulous care to prevent dangerous mineral scale accumulation on heating elements.
For maximum safety:
- Use demineralized or distilled water only
- Clean daily to prevent scale deposits inside
Follow these steps to clean your warm mist humidifier:
- Repeat disassembly and inspection steps from cool mist cleaner guidance.
- Clean exterior with soft cloth dipped in warm soapy water. Avoid wetting air vents or electrical parts!
- Remove heating chamber scale by wiping with cloth dipped in undiluted white vinegar.
- For tough scale, fill chamber with straight vinegar and let sit 1 hour before scrubbing with soft brush.
- Rinse heating chamber thoroughly until no vinegar smell remains. Scale residue damages the heating element.
- Follow remaining washing, rinsing, disinfecting and drying steps as outlined in cool mist humidifier guidance.
- At reassembly, reset controls to appropriate output levels.
Your warm mist humidifier is now clean and ready for steam!
Whole House & HVAC Humidifier Maintenance
Whole house humidifiers are integrated into home heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. They humidify every room simultaneously.
Whole house units use evaporative or steam dispersion methods. They require seasonal maintenance by an HVAC technician that includes:
Fall: System activation
- Inspecting, cleaning and replacing any filters or worn parts
- Verifying proper humidistat settings
- Testing functionality when heating system activates
Early spring: Full system cleaning & disinfection
- Shutting off water supply
- Draining evaporation chamber
- Removing and cleaning evaporative pads or steam dispersion parts
- Flushing water feed lines
- Disinfecting system surfaces
- Replacing filters and nozzle tips
- Restarting and testing system operation
This rigorous professional cleaning prevents summer mold growth inside air ducts!
Conclusion
Humidifiers improve comfort, health and wellbeing during dry winter months. But microbial growth inside an unclean humidifier threatens to undermine these benefits.
By using purified water and practicing regular cleaning routines, you can unlock the full potential of your humidifier. Follow the maintenance checklists provided above to:
- Prevent mold, bacteria and fungi growth
- Reduce health issues caused by dirty humidifiers
- Extend the operating life of your unit
Protect your investment and your family’s health this winter season with proper humidifier hygiene. Your whole household will breathe easier!