A humidifier is a source of humidity. Any sources of humidity, moisture, or water, when placed near electronics can damage some of the parts of the electronic device, especially when the humidity or moisture comes into contact with areas of the electronic that have access to electric current.
Short Answer
A humidifier can damage a computer or a PC if the nozzle of the humidifier is directed towards the computer. In addition, placing a humidifier close to a computer for long hours can also increase the computer’s exposure to moisture, which would over time damage the computer.
Humidifiers can be used in the same room where computers and other electronic devices are placed, you just have to know where you need to place the humidifier in relation to the position of the computer or the position of other electronics.
Keep reading to learn more about the use of humidifiers near computers, and how humidity can prolong or shorten the life span of your computer.
In this post, we will cover:
- Can a humidifier damage a computer?
- Is it OK to have a humidifier in a room with a PC?
- Can a humidifier damage electronics?
- Can humidity break a computer?
- Should I have a humidifier at my desk?
- How to use a humidifier around computers and other electronics
Can A Humidifier Damage A Computer?
Yes, a humidifier can damage a computer. Generally, humidifiers are safe around computers and other electronics as long as you do not direct the nozzle of the humidifier towards your computer.
Some of the instances that a humidifier will damage your computer include:
| 1. Directing the nozzle towards the computer |
| 2. Placing the humidifier too close to the computer |
| 3. Leaving the humidifier on for long periods when near the computer |
| 4. Computer exposure to water spills from the humidifier |
| 5. Setting a humidifier on high mist release when placed near a computer |
| 6. High indoor humidity |
Directing the nozzle towards the computer: A humidifier can damage a computer if the nozzle of the humidifier is directed towards the computer. The damage can be extensive if the humidifier is left in that position for prolonged periods.
Prolonged exposure to moisture or humidity is often the number one cause of computer and electronic damage when working or living in an area with high humidity levels.
Placing the humidifier too close to the computer: Placing the humidifier too close to the computer will also damage your computer.
Although humidifiers release moisture in the form of mist at a relatively slow rate, exposing your electronics to the mist for long periods can damage them.
Leaving the humidifier on for long periods when near the computer: If you use your humidifier near your computer regularly, leaving the humidifier on for prolonged periods increases the risks of computer damage.
Computer exposure to water spills from the humidifier: Water spills when using a humidifier are quite common, especially if the lid on your humidifier does not close well or is not tightly closed.
Ensure that the lid on the water reservoir is tightly secured to avoid water spill accidents. You should also avoid overfilling the water tank as that can increase the risks of water spills.
Setting a humidifier on high mist release when placed near a computer: The setting on your humidifier can also be a determining factor for computer damage.
If your humidifier is set to release large volumes of water mist at a time, it will mean that the air within your home will get saturated with humidity faster when compared to cases where the mist release level is set at a low level.
Ensure that you regulate the mist released by your humidifier to avoid over-saturating the air in your home or around your workspace.
High indoor humidity: Using a humidifier when the humidity level in your indoor space is already high will damage your computer and other electronics around your home as the humidifier over-humidify the space.
Is It OK To Have A Humidifier In A Room With A PC?
It is okay to have a humidifier on in a room with a PC as long as the humidifier is not placed too close to the PC or the mist released by the humidifier is not directed towards the PC. Direct exposure to humidity or moisture can damage your PC.
If you are using a humidifier in a room with a PC or other electronics, consider placing the humidifier on the opposite side of the room to prevent the PC from being in direct contact with the mist released by the humidifier.
Can A Humidifier Damage Electronics?
Yes, a humidifier can damage electronics if not used properly. Practices like placing your humidifier too close to electronic devices or using a humidifier when the humidity level in the room is already too high will most likely damage the electronics.
Like computers, it is important to note that humidifiers can be useful and destructive to electronic devices depending on how the humidifier is used.
Using your humidifier to maintain the right humidity level in your home will reduce the likelihood of humidity-related damage while at the same time protecting your computer and electronic devices from dry air damage.
Low humidity levels can make the air in your home dry, which will cause static electricity or electrostatic discharge within your electronic devices.
Can Humidity Break A Computer?
Humidity cannot break a computer, but it can damage some of the internal components that pass electrical current through the device when it is working.
Humidity is water vapor or water molecules found in the air. When there is excess humidity in the air, it can easily accumulate on surfaces around your home and find its way into the internal parts of the electronic devices in your home.
If the internal parts of your computer come into contact with excess humidity, the humidity can damage the computer.
Since humidity is water, when the water accumulates on internal components of your computer such as the motherboard and other internal connections, when electricity passes through these connections, the humidity can interfere with the electrical circuit.
Should I Have A Humidifier At My Desk?
You can have a humidifier at your desk. The work and the things where you place on your desk will determine whether or not it is a good idea to place your humidifier on your desk.
Below are several considerations that could help you decide whether or not you should put a humidifier on your desk.
Important Documents
For instance, if you have important documents on your desk, it might not be advisable to place the humidifier on the same desk because of the risks of water spills.
If you decide that you want to have your humidifier on your desk regardless, you should ensure that you do not overfill the water reservoir when refilling the humidifier and that you close the lid of the humidifier well.
Electronics
If you have several electronics on your desk and notice that the electronics take a significantly large space on your desk, you should not place the humidifier on your desk, but rather find an alternative spot within your home where you can put the humidifier.
Pets and Children
If you have pets that move around in your room or you have a toddler in your home, placing a humidifier on your desk might be an absolute dare-devil move.
Pets like cats and dogs can easily knock down things on your desk while you are not watching them, which can lead to water spills.
If you have pets in your home and wish to use a humidifier on your desk, consider investing in a child- and pet-friendly humidifier because such humidifiers usually have leak-proof or spill-proof features that prevent water spills even when the humidifier is knocked around by a child or pet.
How To Use A Humidifier Around Computers And Other Electronics
Direct the Nozzle Away from the Computer
Always ensure that you have directed the nozzle of your humidifier away from your computer. This trick will ensure that you do not expose your computer directly to the mist released by the humidifier.
Ensure that the Water Tank is Tightly Closed
When cleaning and refilling your humidifier’s water tank, ensure that you tighten the lid of the water reservoir to prevent water spills.
You are less likely to knock down the humidifier and spill water on your computer if the water tank is well secured.
Monitor your Indoor Humidity
It is important to monitor your indoor humidity level to ensure that it is within the recommended levels.
If the humidity in your home is above the recommended level, your computer along with other electronic devices in your home can easily get damaged as the excess humidity slowly seeps into tiny openings of the electronic devices.
While you might not notice the damage immediately, the humidity in the air will slowly accumulate in the internal parts of the electronic devices and damage them over time.
Keep the Humidifier Away from the Computer
Placing your humidifier too close to your laptop is likely to expose the laptop or computer to excess humidity.
It is important to understand that while humidifiers are great for adding humidity to a room, any objects placed very close to the nozzle of the humidifier are likely to be directly exposed to the mist released by the humidifier.
As such, if you keep your humidifier very close to your computer, you will be exposing the computer to a direct source of humidity.
Related: How low humidifier levels affect computers and electronics
Final Words
Placing your computer next to your humidifier and directing the nozzle of your humidifier to the computer can be equated to leaving your computer out in the rain.
The continuous mist released by the humidifier will find its way into the internal parts of your computer and damage your computer over time.
When using your humidifier, you should ensure that the nozzle is not directed towards your computer or any other electronics like your television or an electrical socket outlet.
Always remember to place your humidifier at a central location in the room to ensure that the humidity released by the device is easily distributed to other parts of the room and that it does not accumulate in one area, as would be the case if it were placed in a corner.
