Humidifiers are especially important when the humidity in our L.A. environment reaches a low point. However, they require regular maintenance to effectively prevent mold growth in your home. Mold can contribute to asthma conditions and other allergies, as well as respiratory infections.
There are a number of ways to clean humidifier mold from your equipment, lessening the chance of poor indoor air quality.
- First, empty your reservoir and wash it with hot soapy water on a daily basis.
- Rinse your tank with a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide. This will be effective at removing mold.
- Make sure you refill your tank with the correct water type. Some models require distilled water, while others can accept tap water.
- On a weekly basis, it’s advisable to add two cups of white vinegar to your humidifier tank and fill it up. Run it outside for at least 30 minutes before rinsing and refilling the tank. Run again to ensure that there are no traces of vinegar left in your system.
- Finally, remove old filters and cartridges before storing your humidifier away for the season, replacing them with new ones next year.
The points above will help reduce mold growth in your home, but they will not eliminate what’s already present. There are a number of ways to clean humidifier mold from surfaces. The most effective being the use of a mold remover product. This can then be followed up with a mold inhibitor. Furthermore, a HEPA air purifier can remove up to 99 percent of airborne mold spores.
At Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating, we understand the importance of maintaining a clean, healthy environment. We have trained, friendly specialists on hand to answer all of your questions, so please, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about cleaning humidifier mold and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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