Humidifiers are machines that add moisture to the air in a home. As such, they can become havens for mold. Here's what you need to know.
Humidifiers can relieve the symptoms of a host of medical conditions from asthma to dry skin, but too much moisture could cause mold
A rising awareness about how our environment can impact our health has been reflected in a boom in the number of people buying humidifiers for their homes. The Covid-19 pandemic was also a driver, as humidifiers became a tool to mitigate the spread of respiratory illness, while also helping to alleviate symptoms.
Humidifiers can be beneficial to provide relief from a range of health concerns, including eczema, chesty colds, blocked sinuses, and sore throats. They’re also claimed to help sleep; especially to ease a blocked nose or sore, dry throat if you’re suffering from a cold or cough. Although there is debate over whether humidifiers should be used by people with asthma, since too much humidity can aggravate the condition.
Balancing humidity levels
So, while humidifiers bring many advantages, as the saying goes: too much of anything can be a bad thing. Increased humidity in your home can also create the perfect conditions for the micro-organisms that cause mold to thrive, bringing a whole host of other problems.
Michael Rubino, a mold and air quality expert, podcaster and environmental wellness advocate, is also founder of HomeCleanse – a company focused on ending the worldwide health epidemic caused by poor air quality and toxic indoor environments. He says that to prevent mold from forming while using a humidifier, you need to find a balance. “Do not let the indoor humidity rise above 35-50%. Some species of mold can grow in 60% humidity, so the goal is to keep it below that threshold.”
Read the full article here: https://www.expertreviews.com/humidifiers/do-humidifiers-cause-mold
