Taos Humidifiers: Altitude Lies, Breeding Mold?

By Franklin Everett Shaw

October 31, 2025

The dry air of Taos, New Mexico, combined with its high altitude, can be brutal. Newcomers often find themselves battling dry skin, nosebleeds, and the dreaded altitude sickness. The knee-jerk reaction? A humidifier. But in Taos, especially in its iconic adobe homes, that solution can quickly turn into a bigger problem: mold.

The question isn’t whether the air is dry – it is. The question is how to combat that dryness without turning your home into a petri dish. We need a Taos-specific strategy.

The Adobe Dilemma

Adobe homes, beautiful and culturally significant, are inherently porous. They breathe. This is great for natural temperature regulation, but it also means they readily absorb moisture. Introduce excessive humidity, and you’re essentially feeding mold spores a feast.

Mold in Taos isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it’s a health hazard. It can exacerbate respiratory problems, trigger allergies, and even lead to more serious health complications.

Measuring Your Humidity: A Taos How-To

Before you even think about plugging in a humidifier, you need to know your current indoor humidity level. Don’t guess.

Get a Hygrometer: These inexpensive devices measure relative humidity. You can find them at most hardware stores or online. Look for one that displays both temperature and humidity.
Placement Matters: Place the hygrometer in a central location in your home, away from direct sunlight, vents, and exterior walls. A good spot is usually a living room or hallway.
Monitor for a Week: Track the humidity levels at different times of the day for at least a week. This will give you a good baseline understanding of your home’s humidity fluctuations.
The Ideal Range: Aim for a relative humidity between 30-50%. Below 30% is too dry; above 50% risks mold growth.

Identifying Mold: Early Detection is Key

Mold can be sneaky. It often hides in dark, damp places. Regular inspections are crucial, especially in adobe homes.

Visual Inspection: Look for discoloration on walls, ceilings, and around windows. Mold can appear as black, green, brown, or even white spots. Pay close attention to areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.
Sniff Test: A musty or earthy odor can be a sign of mold, even if you can’t see it.
Common Hiding Spots: Check behind furniture, inside closets, under sinks, and in crawl spaces.
Professional Help: If you suspect mold but can’t find it, or if the mold covers a large area, call a professional mold inspector. They have specialized equipment to detect hidden mold.

Humidifiers in Taos: Proceed with Extreme Caution

If your humidity levels are consistently below 30%, and you’ve ruled out other causes of dryness (like poor insulation or excessive ventilation), then you might consider a humidifier. But do so with extreme caution.

Type Matters: Avoid ultrasonic humidifiers. They can release minerals into the air, creating a white dust that settles on surfaces. Evaporative humidifiers are generally a better choice, as they use a wick to absorb water and a fan to evaporate it.
Size Matters: Choose a humidifier that’s appropriately sized for the room. Over-humidifying is a recipe for mold.
Maintenance is Non-Negotiable: Clean your humidifier religiously, at least once a week. Mold and bacteria thrive in humidifiers. Use a solution of water and white vinegar to disinfect it.
Monitor, Monitor, Monitor: Continuously monitor the humidity levels with your hygrometer. Adjust the humidifier settings as needed to maintain the ideal range.

Beyond Humidifiers: Taos-Specific Alternatives

Before resorting to a humidifier, explore these Taos-friendly alternatives for managing dry air and altitude sickness:

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration: This is the most important thing you can do. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid sugary drinks and excessive caffeine, which can dehydrate you.
Saline Nasal Spray: Combat dry nasal passages with a saline nasal spray. Use it several times a day, especially before bed.
Lip Balm: Protect your lips from cracking and chapping with a good quality lip balm.
Lotion: Moisturize your skin regularly, especially after showering. Look for lotions that contain hyaluronic acid or ceramides, which help to retain moisture.
Indoor Plants: Certain plants, like snake plants and spider plants, can help to increase humidity levels naturally. Plus, they purify the air.
Humidifying Hacks: Place bowls of water near heat sources to encourage evaporation. Hang damp towels in your bathroom after showering.
Address Underlying Issues: Seal any drafts around windows and doors to prevent dry air from entering your home. Consider adding insulation to your walls and attic to improve temperature and humidity control.
Altitude Adjustment: Give your body time to adjust to the altitude. Avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. Consider spending a few nights at a lower altitude before heading to Taos.
Ginger: Ginger can help to alleviate nausea, a common symptom of altitude sickness. Drink ginger tea or chew on ginger candy.
Acetazolamide (Diamox): If you’re prone to altitude sickness, talk to your doctor about acetazolamide. This medication can help your body adjust to the altitude more quickly. This is a prescription medication and should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

The Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

Ignoring the Hygrometer: This is the biggest mistake. You must monitor your humidity levels.
Over-Humidifying: More isn’t better. Aim for the 30-50% range.
Neglecting Humidifier Maintenance: A dirty humidifier is worse than no humidifier.
Ignoring Mold Signs: Address mold problems immediately. Don’t let them fester.
Relying Solely on Humidifiers: Explore alternative strategies for managing dry air and altitude sickness.
Assuming All Adobe Homes are the Same: The age, construction, and maintenance of an adobe home all affect its moisture levels. What works for one home might not work for another.

A Taos Case Study

Consider Maria, a recent transplant from sea-level San Diego. She moved into a charming adobe casita in Taos and immediately experienced dry skin and nosebleeds. Her first instinct was to buy a large humidifier and crank it up. Within weeks, she noticed a musty smell and dark spots appearing on her bathroom wall.

Maria learned the hard way that humidifiers in Taos require a nuanced approach. She consulted a local contractor specializing in adobe homes, who identified the mold and recommended a dehumidifying strategy to dry out the adobe. Maria switched to a small evaporative humidifier, cleaned it religiously, and focused on hydration and saline nasal spray. She also added some snake plants to her home. The mold was remediated, and her symptoms improved significantly.

The Takeaway

Living in Taos is a unique experience, and it requires a unique approach to managing your health and home. Humidifiers can be helpful, but they’re not a magic bullet. Understand your home’s humidity levels, explore alternative strategies, and prioritize prevention. By taking a proactive and informed approach, you can breathe easier and enjoy all that Taos has to offer, without the worry of mold. Remember, in Taos, moderation and awareness are your best allies in the battle against dry air.