We have learned that a humidifier is good to maintain the humidity level inside your house but if it is not working potentially then you should look for the causes of its malfunction. In this article, we are going to discuss and try to answer a question asked by many citizens of the United States. This question is: why does my humidifier water turn black?
You don't need to worry if your humidifier's water turns black as it is something commonly faced by the owners of humidifiers. Stay connected to learn more about the topic.
Why Does My Humidifier Water Turn Black: Ways To Fix This Issue
We have seen many people in the United States using tap water in the humidifier for the purpose of adding more moisture to the air around their living space. This is one of the reasons why your humidifier gets high mineral content and produces mold that can cause many unwanted problems. Stay with us, on this article a bit more, to find out the ways to fix this issue easily and efficiently.
You can also visit: How Often Should I Use A Humidifier For My Plants? - Tips
Take Control Over Excessive Mineral Deposits
We will recommend you keep checking your humidifier on a frequent basis as it is such a device that is to be used for longer hours on a daily basis. Humidifiers have certain health benefits but they have certain health hazards as well, if not treated well and used in a proper manner. The mineral deposit is one of the common causes that can make the water of the tank turn black.
Tap water contains calcium and magnesium in excessive amounts which are not good for your humidifier. The presence of these minerals plays a significant role in turning the water black.
Ways To Deal With The Mineral Deposits
Keep in mind the following points in order to fix the mineral deposits settling down in your humidifier:
- Frequently replace the water and refill the tank with fresh water in your humidifier.
- Cleanliness is a key to keeping your humidifier working potentially for a longer period of time.
- Thirdly, we will recommend you replace the filters frequently whereas the suggested time period for a filter to be used is 1 to 3 months.
Read This: How Long Does Humidifier Lung Last? - Treatment & Recovery
Keep Your Humidifier Clean From Mold
Another significant reason for your humidifier turning water black is the overgrowth of mold inside the water tank. Humidifiers are such a gadget that is supposed to be used for many e continuous hours to keep the environment humid. But with the passage of time, despite your cleanliness, mold overgrowth is going to increase in your humidifier’s tank. The mold is a kind of fungus and it will make the water of the tank black, gradually. Following are the two types of mold:
- Green Mold
- Black Mold
Ways To Deal With The Mold Overgrowth
We will recommend you clean your device properly in order to avoid mold overgrowth in it. But if you feel like your normal cleaning routine is not enough then ponder upon the following points:
- Scrubbing the base will clean it from the mold residue left behind by the high mineral water.
- Use distilled water the cleaning the Vick of your humidifier and rinse it properly.
- You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide to wash and clean the tank of your humidifier.
- Let your device and its parts dry before using it again.
Always Use Distilled Water
Using normal tap water in your humidifier is highly prohibited in our point of view under the guidance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You need to understand the working mechanism of your humidifier and how the wrong type of water affects its working efficiency. To keep your machine working for a longer period of time with its full potential, our suggestion is to use distilled water only.
Look For External Help
We have told you the best ways to make your humidifier work efficiently and avoid producing Black Water due to mold or any other relevant cause. But if none of the remedies are successful in bringing your humidifier back to its normal state then you should acquire external help to treat this issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there black stuff in my Vicks humidifier?
For Black Particles The black stuff you see in your Vicks humidifier is mineral residue from the tap water you use in the tank. The reason minerals turn black is that minerals pass between charged electrodes. Black particles are completely safe for your humidifier and do not affect the purity of the steam.
How do I get the black stuff off my humidifier?
The easiest way to clean mold from the inside of your humidifier is to use a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide:
- Make a mixture of four parts water with one part 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and pour it into the tank of the humidifier.
- Stir it well with a sponge or a soft brush and let it sit for at least half an hour.
- After that, clean the tank with some warm water.
Can dirty water in a humidifier make you sick?
If you use a dirty humidifier for 8 to 12 hours a day, it can cause you problems including flu or lung infection because the air is filled with polluted mist. Dirty humidifiers become very dangerous for people who have problems like asthma and allergies.
Does black mold grow in humidifiers?
Yes, it is possible for mold and bacteria to grow in your humidifier. The main reason behind this is that if you don't clean your humidifier regularly, parts of your humidifier come in contact with water and this can trigger mold and bacteria growth. Bacteria and mold spores can potentially be released into the mist when we talk about an invisible mist humidifier.
How do I know if my humidifier has mold?
If you see stuff like this, it's possible your humidifier has mold or bacterial growth:
- If you notice a strong musty odor in the area around your humidifier.
- If you notice any noticeable increase in mold.
- Look for mold spores because they will attach to surfaces like carpets or walls under and around the unit.
Final Words
To sum up the whole discussion we can conclude that, yes it is possible to have mold or bacteria growth inside your humidifier. This type of black stuff is a mineral found in tap water. These minerals turn into black particles when they come in contact with a charged electrode.
Black particles are not dangerous for your humidifier and they do not affect the purity of the steam, but if you have any problems like asthma or some kind of allergy, they become very dangerous. If the air is full of polluted fog, it can cause lung infections and flu-like problems, and some breathing problems even if you are a healthy person.
Related:
