A change in the color of water in your humidifier can raise some concerns and increase your likelihood of exposing yourself to harmful pathogens.
If the water in your humidifier is changing color or turning black, it could be because of the build-up of magnesium and calcium mineral deposits from hard water, accumulation of mold in the humidifier due to prolonged use of the humidifier without cleaning it or emptying the water in the humidifier, a damaged filter, or use of low-quality essential oils.
While humidifiers can be useful in improving indoor air quality, using the wrong type of water, not cleaning the humidifier frequently, or leaving water in the humidifier for a long time can pose a health risk to you and the people living in your home.
Continue reading to find out more reasons why the water in your humidifier may be turning black and possible solutions that you can implement to resolve them.
In this post, we will address:
- Why does my humidifier water turn black?
- Quick steps on how to clean your humidifier
- How do I get the black stuff off my humidifier?
Why Does My Humidifier Water Turn Black?
| A build-up of mineral deposits |
| Mold growth and collection in the humidifier |
| Bacteria and other microbes |
| Use of essential oils of low or poor quality |
| Continuous use of dirty or tap water |
| A clogged or damaged filter |
| Prolonged use of humidifier without cleaning it |
Why Does My Humidifier Water Turn Black: Reasons and Possible Solutions
A build-up of mineral deposits
Hard water contains different mineral deposits that can accumulate in your humidifier. Common mineral deposits include calcium and magnesium.
It is common to find higher levels of mineral deposits in tap water or unpurified water. The level of water hardness also differs depending on your geographical region.
Solution: If you live in an area with tap water, consider investing in a water purifier or buying distilled water to use in the humidifier to prevent the build-up of mineral deposits.
If you notice an accumulation of mineral deposits on the inner part of your humidifier, you can descale the humidifier using white vinegar.
White vinegar will dissolve the minerals that have accumulated in your humidifier and prevent further discoloration.
If you live in an area with hard water, you should consider rinsing your humidifier with white vinegar every month to prevent excessive build-up of mineral deposits.
Mold growth and collection in the humidifier
Mold will grow anywhere as long as there is water, organic material, which would act as food, and oxygen.
Stagnant water is the best breeding ground for mold growth. So if you leave water in your humidifier for a long time without cleaning the humidifier or emptying the water tank, you will notice some mold growth after a few days.
If you notice that the water in your water is turning black, dark green, or brownish color, there is a possibility of mold growth in the water.
If you do not clean your humidifier for a long time, you risk releasing mold into the air around your home. Mold can accumulate in your room if the humidity levels are above the recommended levels in the room or if there is a constant source of mold in the room.
Solution: you can prevent mold growth by cleaning your humidifier regularly, ensuring that the water tank in the humidifier is completely dry during storage, and monitoring the relative humidity levels in your home to ensure that it is within the recommended levels.
Bacteria and other microbes
Just like mold, bacteria and other microbes thrive in environments that offer them the three basic components; water, food, and oxygen.
The presence of stagnant water or leaving water in your humidifier for a long time can create a film of dust particles and other organic microbes in the air, which would create the best breeding site for bacteria.
Solution: Most portable humidifiers have a capacity that allows them to run continuously for 24 hours. Instead of refilling your humidifier after you notice a reduction in the amount of water in your humidifier, you should opt for emptying the humidifier after every 2-3 days and then cleaning it before refilling the water.
Use of essential oils of low or poor quality
Most humidifiers are not designed to be used with essential oils or other additives. As such, adding anything to the humidifier could affect its performance.
Solution: Unless you have a humidifier that has a diffuser or that has been designed specifically for essential oils or other additives, you should avoid adding anything to your humidifier water.
If the water in your humidifier is already black because of the consistent use of essential oils or other additives, you could clean your humidifier and its filter well to eliminate any deposits that might be linked to the black deposits.
If your humidifier has a diffuser and you still notice black deposits in the humidifier, you should check the quality of your essential oils or invest in high-quality essential oils that will not pose a health risk to you and the people living in your home.
Continuous use of dirty or tap water
The quality of water you use in your humidifier can also affect its performance.
If you use tap water, unpurified water, or dirty water in the humidifier, over time the impurities in the water will affect the performance of the humidifier.
Aside from that, any impurities in the water will settle on the lower part of your water tank and discolor your water.
Solution: Invest in a water purifier or a deionizer to eliminate mineral deposits and remove dirt and harmful microbes from your water.
You could also opt to buy distilled water for your humidifier. Since the water is released in the form of mist, you do not need to use a lot of water in the humidifier, which means that the cost of buying distilled water would be lower than the potential health risk associated with using unpurified water.
Recommended product: Snugell Distilled Water for CPAP Humidifiers
Features
- A 24-bottle pack of distilled water
- Capacity: 16.9 oz
- Travel friendly
- 1 bottle can last for 24 hours depending on the size of the humidifier and speed of mist release
- Recommended by respiratory therapists
- Easy to use when refilling the humidifier tank
- Package dimension: 14.5 x 8.5 x 8.5 inches
- Package weight: 28.84 Pounds
A clogged or damaged filter
The water in your humidifier can turn black if your filter is damaged, clogged, or worn out. The purpose of a filter is to filter out dirt and dust particles.
Solution: If your filter is clogged you can fix the problem by simply cleaning the filter while you are cleaning your humidifier.
Use a soft piece of cloth or a soft toothbrush to gently clean the filter.
Alternatively, if the filter is damaged or worn out, you could replace the filter. Most manufacturers produce filters that can be used to replace a damaged filter.
Check your retail stores or online store for the right replacement filter for your humidifier. Ensure that you check the model of your humidifier before buying a new filter.
Prolonged use of humidifier without cleaning it
If you use your humidifier for a long time without cleaning it, it is bound to get dirty over time. While the water you place in your humidifier might be clean, you still need to clean your humidifier frequently to remove any dirt, mineral deposits, or mold.
Ideally, you should clean your humidifier at least once a week or every time that you replace the water in your humidifier.
You can rinse out the humidifier when you add water in the humidifier and opt to clean it twice or thrice a week, depending on how often you use the humidifier.
If you do not use your humidifier frequently, you should clean your humidifier before and after using it. You should also ensure that you keep the water tank in the humidifier dry while in storage.
This will ensure that any dirt that might have accumulated in the humidifier while in storage is removed and that the humidifier is clean before being stored away.
Quick steps on how to clean your humidifier
- Unplug the unit
- Empty the water tank
- Clean water tank with a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar
- Allow the water and vinegar solution to sit in the water tank for about 30 minutes then clean with a soft piece of cloth and the water solution
- Drain and rinse with clean water
- Clean the mist outlet with a soft piece of cloth or scrub with a toothbrush to remove any dirt
- Rinse and allow to dry
Summary: How Do I Get The Black Stuff Off My Humidifier?
- Use purified or distilled water
- Clean your humidifier at least once every week
- Ensure your humidifier is dry when not in use
- Avoid leaving water in your humidifier for a long time
- Avoid using low-quality essential oils in your humidifier
- Use vinegar to remove mineral deposits
- Clean your filter as recommended by the manufacturer
- Replace your filter if it is damaged or clogged
In Summary
If the water in your humidifier is turning black, there are several issues that when resolved could prolong the life of your humidifier and ensure that your humidifier works well.
First, you should clean your humidifier regularly and ensure that you use the right type of water in the humidifier to prevent the build-up of harmful microbes like mold.
Secondly, you should check the filter on your humidifier or change it after you have been using it for several weeks. Most manufacturers offer guidelines on how often you need to change the filter on your humidifier.
Lastly, if your humidifier was not designed to handle essential oils or other additives avoid using them in the humidifier. If you want to use essential oils, it is advisable to get a humidifier designed for essential oils and ensure that you use quality essential oils.
Generally, keeping your humidifier clean and following your manufacturer’s usage guidelines will reduce the risks of the formation of black residue in the humidifier.
