The Humidifier Tip That Lowers The Risk Of Mold During Winter

Dry winter weather can bring about a host of problems, irritating everything from your sinuses to your hardwood floors. A humidifier offers an easy way to solve this, moistening the air and raising the indoor humidity back to a more healthy level. However, there are hidden downsides to humidifiers, and if you're not using distilled water, you might also be inviting mold into the air you breathe. Since the point of a humidifier is to make the air more comfortable, choosing the right type of water for the machine is crucial. Distilled water is ideal since it's heat-treated and free from contaminants, which can prevent bacteria from forming, lowering mold risks in winter. 

Tap water may be infinitely easier to use when filling your humidifier tank (after all, it's available at your kitchen sink), but it is often full of minerals that can lead to hard water build-up and provide the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew to develop. With other mold-promoting factors at play, such as warm temperatures, stagnant water, and moist conditions, mold can grow inside the humidifier, making its way into the air when the machine is turned on.

The reason distilled water is the best choice for a humidifier is that it's undergone distillation, the process of removing impurities through boiling and condensation, ensuring the water is free from minerals and other contaminants. Tap water is usually the worst culprit when it comes to contaminants, leading to many of the horrors that hard water can cause in your home. However, even bottled and spring water can lead to mineral scale in the humidifier, increasing the risk of mold.

Aside from mold risks, there's another good reason to use distilled water: It can positively affect your humidifier's longevity and performance. Tap water can leave a white chalky mineral build-up inside the machine. The mineral scale can then cause the humidifier to work harder, therefore shortening its lifespan. While distilled water is the gold standard, it's crucial to follow basic humidifier maintenance tips that will keep it clean and working well all winter long, no matter the type of water you use. However, if the goal is to reduce mold, always opt for distilled water and clean your humidifier on a regular basis. The extra effort will be worth the clean, humidified air.