The Humidisafe® device is a small flow-through capsule containing the patented and proven antimicrobial material Aquastat.  A non toxic all natural antimicrobial material that has been used in the Food and Beverage Industry for years to control the growth of bacteria in drinking water storage tanks. This technology is now brought to the home to control bacteria and mold within the residential humidifier.

Bacteria and Mold growth within portable console humidifiers has long been a concern due to the ability of the humidifier to emit this bacteria into the surrounding room where children, elderly and other family members are at risk of serious illness from inhalation of these microorganisms.

Studies have shown that regular cleaning of the humidifier is not sufficient to control bacteria growth in the water and mist as airborne bacteria drawn into the humidifier and common bacteria found in tap water and bottled water automatically introduce a new population of bacteria for growth right from startup. These studies have shown that significant growth of bacteria and mold in humidifiers can occur within hours after cleaning. The only way to control the growth of bacteria in the humidifier tank and mist is to treat the water.

How does it work?

The Humidisafe® capsule contains the advanced and patented composite Aquastat®, which was custom-designed to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of bacteria and algae found in humidifier water. The technology utilizes antimicrobial properties of various oligodynamic minerals along with other metal oxides to interfere with the microorganism’s cell replication, electron transport and overall organism function. It’s safe for people..but deadly on microbes.

Bacteria

Unfortunately the problem is not only limited to humidifiers that have gone uncleaned for extensive periods of time. Even fresh chlorinated tap water contains bacteria called HPCs or Heterotrophic Plate Count bacteria that are a common constituent in the public water supply. Therefore, right from startup, bacteria are emitted from clean humidifiers. Additionally, several studies have shown that bottled water and distilled water can also contain significant quantities of bacteria. Using either of these water sources will allow the humidifier to emit these bacteria into the air right from initial startup. These bacteria, along with other airborne bacteria drawn into the humidifier water tank from normal operation can result in a significant bacteria and mold bloom and health hazard for anyone in the vicinity. To date the only method of limiting the emission of these bacteria into the air has been to regularly clean and disinfect the humidifier using harsh and toxic chemicals. This regular maintenance, although effective at cleaning the humidifier has no residual effect at controlling the bacteria once the humidifier tank is rinsed and refilled with new water. Once you fill the tank with fresh water, you are automatically introducing a new population of bacteria for growth.

Performance

An Independent University Laboratory performed a test to evaluate the ability of the Humidisafe® capsule to control the growth of bacteria and fungi in the water tank and mist of a standard room humidifier/vaporizer. The test compared the bacteria concentration in a humidifier with the Humidisafe® capsule in the tank versus a humidifier without the Humidisafe® capsule.

After only 72 hours of operation the humidifier without the Humidisafe® capsule contained over 12,000 cfu/ml of bacteria in the water tank ( that’s 12,000 bacteria for every 4 drops of water!) and over 8,000 cfu of bacteria were found in a two (2) second exposure to the mist. In contrast, the humidifier that used the Humidisafe® capsule contained no bacteria in either the water tank or mist.

Protec® is a registered Trademark of Helen of Troy