Should I Close The Door When Using A Humidifier?

Upgraded Home Team
by Upgraded Home Team

Many homeowners invest in humidifiers, with approximately eight million sold in the U.S. every year. Humidifiers are an important part of maintaining proper air quality in your home. These machines add moisture to dry air, which makes a big difference, especially for colder months.

Humidifiers increase moisture levels, while dehumidifiers eliminate moisture from the air to get the best balance. Humidifiers are usually required in kitchens, family rooms, bedrooms, and other living spaces where the air is dry.

With the U.S. humidifier market worth 4.5 billion dollars, the demand for home air products is high. Households that have the heater on for most of the time often need a humidifier. Prolonged exposure to dry air may lead to dry skin or throat irritation, but a humidifier can solve the issue.

The effectiveness of your humidifier depends on the size of the room in relation to the humidifier’s capacity. If your humidifier is the appropriate size for the room it is in, it is generally safe to keep the door closed while in use.

However, if the humidifier is too powerful for the space, you’ll want to leave the door open to allow some humidity to escape. If the door is closed, the humidifier may add too much moisture to the air. Too-high humidity levels lead to damp furniture, bacteria growth, and respiratory problems.

The key to success with your humidifier is following the safety instructions and getting the right balance of humidity levels. You want to reduce the dry air without making you or your loved ones sick.

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Should I Close the Door When Using a Humidifier?

The specific operating manual for your humidifier will give you more details, but generally, you should consider leaving the doors slightly open. While some manufacturers recommend keeping the door closed when using a humidifier to avoid the humidity from leaving the area, others assert that you may need additional ventilation.

Unless you know that your particular humidifier is the appropriate size and capacity for your space, at least leave the door partially open to achieve the best airflow and dewy, comfortable air quality.

Also, if you can set the specific humidity level you want, it is perfectly safe to leave the door shut. However, if you cannot, it’s best to open the door and allow some air circulation into the space. In this case, closed doors can restrict airflow and could lead to over-humidification and excess moisture in a room. In addition to keeping the door open, you should avoid these common humidifier mistakes for excellent airflow and quality:

  • Leaving the humidifier on constantly, which saturates the air too much.
  • Trapping the humidified air in one small room, rather than letting it filter throughout the house naturally.
  • Letting water sit in the humidifier for days, which can lead to mold and bacteria growth.

Homeowners who leave the door somewhat open while the humidifier is on have better humidity levels compared to those who don’t. It’s all about choosing the appropriate humidifier for your space and finding the right balance between dry air and moisture.

Choosing the Proper Humidifier for Your Home

Enjoying better air quality at home starts with deciding on the best humidifier for your needs. Then you can improve the humidity levels in each room and let this quality air circulate throughout your home. There are five main types of humidifiers to consider:

  • Central
  • Evaporator
  • Ultrasonic
  • Cool Mist (Impeller)
  • Warm Mist (Steam Vaporizer)

A central humidifier is the only kind that’s not portable. This is installed within your heating and cooling system to control humidity levels across your entire home. With the other portable humidifiers, you can move them from room to room, but remember to prop the door open.

Choosing the Right Capacity for Your Home

In the question of whether or not you should close the door when using a humidifier, the main factor to consider is its capacity. The key to achieving safe moisture levels with a humidifier is choosing one that has the appropriate capacity for the room it is in. There are single-room humidifiers and those designed for the entire house.

The single-room variety has varying capacities and, therefore, should be chosen carefully. If you purchase a humidifier that is too large or too powerful for the room, you can end up with a soaked space. On the other hand, if the humidifier is too small, you won’t achieve your humidity goals for the room.

Safely Monitor Moisture Levels at Home

If a large humidifier is left running constantly in a small room with poor ventilation or closed doors, humidity goes up. Also, if you cannot specifically set the humidity levels, you could end up with too much humidity for the space. A room that is too humid will feel damp and spur bacteria and growth production. Plus, if all that moisture is trapped in one tight, enclosed space, the poor air quality triggers asthma and allergies.

The humidity levels in your home should be no lower than 30 percent and no higher than 50 percent. If the levels drop too low, you may be at risk of dry skin, nosebleeds, and nose irritation.

On the other hand, bacteria and mold thrive in rooms where the humidity levels are too high. Excessive humidity often triggers asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.

Keep your humidity in the target range by switching your humidifier off once it reaches the right level. Only use your humidifier when you need it; if the humidity is at an acceptable level, skip the humidifier.

Ensuring Efficient Humidifier Operation

Whatever kind of humidifier you use, it’s important to commit to regular maintenance. However your humidifier emits moisture and circulates air, you need to keep it clean for the safest and healthiest results.

A clean and well-kept humidifier is more efficient and reliable. Every time you switch it on, you should:

  • Leave the door at least semi-open for the best airflow and to avoid oversaturated rooms.
  • Use distilled water to minimize unhealthy mineral particles in the air.
  • Check the humidity levels when you start it so that you can know when to turn it off. A hygrometer allows you to measure the amount of moisture in the air, or high-tech humidifiers may show the level.

Easy Humidifier Maintenance

Using your humidifier correctly is one thing but keeping up with routine maintenance is also essential. Humidifiers can last for many years if you take care of them properly to avoid mechanical and mold issues.

Don’t wait to clean your humidifier. The longer the water sits in the machine, the more time there is for bacteria to spread. Once the humidity percentage is at the desired level and you switch your humidifier off, remember to:

  • Rinse out the old water in the tank and completely dry it out before using it again.
  • Add fresh distilled water to avoid day-old standing water that may breed bacteria, fungi, and mold.
  • If you see a white buildup in your humidifier, this is referred to as scale and needs to be removed.
  • Use a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to thoroughly clean the tank every few days.
  • Follow all manufacturer instructions for cleaning. If you have an older humidifier that hasn’t been cleaned often, consider replacing it.

Establish a Simple Humidifier Routine

The best way to use your humidifier is to come up with a routine and stick to it. Get the proper setup, whether it be a portable humidifier you move around or a separate device for each space.

Check the humidity before you turn it on, then stop running the humidifier once the levels have improved. If you suspect the humidifier may be too powerful for your living space, consider keeping the doors in your household ajar while the humidifier is on

Make cleaning your humidifier a priority to prevent bacterial growth and ensure efficient moisture production for your home. If you notice dry skin or flare-ups of asthma or allergies, evaluate the humidity and adjust as necessary.

Do You Need Central Humidifier Installation or Replacement?

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Related Questions

Can I leave the humidifier running when I go to work?

Yes, it should be fine to keep your humidifier on during the day. Just remember to check where the humidity is at before you leave and when you get home. If you notice the humidity levels are too high, then you may need to change the machine’s power setting to accommodate accordingly.


How do I know when a humidifier should be replaced?

If your humidifier is noticeably dirty, has mold growth, or doesn’t work properly, it needs to be replaced. Like any household machine, a humidifier requires regular maintenance to last for a long time. When it no longer does its job in increasing moisture levels in the air, you need a new one.


My family is having allergy symptoms – could this be linked to my humidifier?

Yes, allergy and asthma symptoms may occur if the rooms are too humid. If you’re overusing the humidifier and the air has too much moisture, it could cause you and your family to feel sick. If the humidity is above 50 percent, cut down on your humidifier usage.

Upgraded Home Team
Upgraded Home Team

We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.

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