Maintaining the proper humidity level in your home is critical for your health and safety. Many types of mold and bacteria thrive at high levels of humidity, while skin irritation and respiratory problems are common at low levels of humidity. Low humidity can even crack wood furniture! During dry parts of the year, you may need to run one or more humidifiers in your home to achieve optimal relative humidity of 35% to 50%. However, humidifiers can develop residue and mold inside that make them less effective and can even get you sick. Therefore, use several humidifier cleaning strategies to keep your humidifiers running well.

Humidifier Cleaning Tips

1. If you have an older portable humidifier with a tank, disinfect the water tank on a regular basis, ideally weekly. The procedures vary depending on what type of humidifier you have, but you generally want to soak the tank for about a half hour with a mild solution of warm water mixed with a small amount of white vinegar or bleach. Rinse the tank with plain water before refilling it and turning the humidifier back on.

2. Wipe away visible residue with a firm cleaning brush anytime you notice it developing in your humidifier. This residue is often mold or bacteria growth, particularly if it is yellow or pink in color. Dislodging it from your humidifier and dumping out any remaining water gives you a clean surface for a fresh start.

3. Make the process of humidifier cleaning easier by using filtered water in your humidifier. If you have a lot of minerals in your tap water, you may end up with significant quantities of hard mineral deposits. This is particularly true in humidifiers that produce steam or evaporation, which distribute pure water into the air while leaving behind any impurities. Using filtered water reduces the amount of hard deposits you will have to clean off.

4. If you have a whole house humidifier that distributes humidity through your existing ductwork, you may not have to do any humidifier cleaning during the dry part of the year. However, you should have the unit professionally cleaned at the end of the dry season on an annual basis to remove residue and dry the unit thoroughly before it sits unused for several months.  Filters should also be replaced by the homeowner or a professional.

To learn more about how Indoor Air Quality, Inc. in Denver, Colorado can make your home more comfortable, safe and energy-efficient year round, please submit a “Schedule a Service” form for a free estimate or contact our trained technicians today.