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There is a theory that lighting a candle in a room will help in lowering humidity levels because of the heat produced as they burn. Scientifically, this is wrong, and below is an explanation.
Candles can’t dehumidify a room because they have hydrocarbons that produce carbon dioxide and water vapor when burnt. The water vapor causes an increase in humidity levels. Lighting many candles in a room translates to a higher humidity percentage.
It is okay to light candles for other reasons but not intending to dehumidify a room. However, lighting just one or two is okay, and this will also depend on the room size.
The smaller the room, the fewer candles you should light. Avoid lighting candles in a closed room when sleeping at night. This can be fatal because when the CO2 produced combines with that which you breathe out, it leads to low oxygen levels.
This shows that burning candles in a room will also reduce the oxygen levels while increasing the humidity levels, as shown in the graph below.
Best Candles for Humid Rooms
Not all candles are the same in terms of what they are made of. There are white and colored candles, and all have different components. While some may be dangerous in a closed room, others can be much better and safer.
In any pack of candles, there is a label of components stuck at the back. This is to help you in choosing what will work best for you. This is important, especially if there is a need to burn the candles overnight.
Candles made from soy are the best because, in most cases, they are laced with no paraffin at all. They are also friendly to the environment and easy to recycle if necessary. They tend to have a decent flame that is less aggressive compared to paraffin candles.
The best candles to use in a humid room are those made from bee wax. It has been observed that they release negative ions as they burn. Those negative ions clean and purify the air when they entangle with toxins.
This helps in removing the unwanted toxins from the surrounding area that they are lit on. Here are a few beeswax candles that are popular:
- Survival Candle Pack: Made for use with UCO candle lanterns, these 100% beeswax candles are ideal for camping, backpacking, hiking and other outdoor adventures; Add them to survival and emergency preparedness kits
- Long-Burning Candles: The perfect candles for power outages, these long-lasting candles burn for 12-15 hours with little smoke and a naturally pleasant aroma
- Minimal Mess: The ultimate emergency preparedness items, our candles minimize dripping and soot via a high-melt temperature; 100% natural beeswax formula burns clean without residue
- Optimal Burn: Each beeswax candle features a carefully sized cotton wick engineered to maintain an ideal flame height and optimize burn time
- Candle Pack Includes: 9 small candles for use with UCO candle lanterns; Each small candle measures 3.5 inches
- Self-extinguishes when the flame reaches the clip
- This candle beehive burns for 50 hours
- Made out of 100-percent beeswax
- Metal stand with a creative beehive shape mold
- Unique design that is both rustic and innovative
- ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Transform your home into a haven of relaxation with our scented candle Claricomb. Infused with natural fragrances, this candle made from 100% pure beeswax and cotton wicks, this creates an inviting aroma that soothes the senses and calms the mind
- LONG BURNING TIME: Our candles burn for up to 90 hours, providing a clean and calming ambiance that promotes relaxation and indulgence. Elevate your self-care routine and immerse yourself in a world of tranquility with the warm and inviting glow of our massage candle
- ECO FRIENDLY: Our phthalate free, sulfate free, and paraben free beeswax candles are made in USA using only 100% organic tripled grade beeswax and cotton wicks, ensuring a clean burn without any harmful chemicals or toxins. Our unique fragrance oils are a blend of essential and fragrance oils providing a natural and invigorating scent that won’t cause headaches
- SOPHISTICATED DESIGN: This Beeswax candle not only provides a warm and inviting scent but also adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any room. Its unique design complements any decor, making it a perfect addition to any space. With Claricomb Beeswax Candle, you can elevate your home’s ambiance with its sophisticated design and delightful fragrance
- PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE: Crafted from the finest natural and eco-friendly ingredients, these decorative candles are the perfect present for any occasion. The elegant and sophisticated design complements any décor, exuding a warm and welcoming glow that will envelop you and your loved ones in an aura of refined luxury. Treat yourself or someone special to the gift of indulgence with our beeswax candles
The beeswax candle takes time to burn and melt, which is why it is safe for the environment and produces less vapor. This is why they are alit bit expensive compared to the regular paraffin candles, which are cheap and harmful.
Basically, organic candles are the best to use in a room because they are free from any petroleum products. If you can afford them, you will not have to worry so much about the impact of candles on humidity levels.
Candles that increase humidity levels in a room
Candles that are blended with pure paraffin are the worst to use in a room. They produce more water vapor compared to others. This causes an increased humid environment in a room with an extra coat of soot and carbon dioxide.
Candles made from petroleum-based products also tend to produce more carbon dioxide, and the dark smoke will also end up discoloring your ceiling and walls.
When lit in large quantities, this will also leave a permanent weird aroma in your house. They tend to produce more vapors that will end up filling your portable air containers with water. This can make those machines wear out very fast.
This burnt scent and high humidity levels can permanently stick in your household and anything made of the material. It can be challenging to take this scent out.
The extra dark smoke produced will also block your ventilation, mainly if those candles are used daily. This will increase the house’s humidity levels because no natural aeration is needed to help dehumidify the house.
Based on the facts above, it is clear that candles made of paraffin cannot dehumidify a room at all. The bad news is that those are these are typical candles found in our local stores, and they are also cheap. As the old saying goes, cheap always turns out to be expensive.
Burning paraffin candles can easily lead to over 70% humidity levels in the house, which is very unhealthy, especially if you have kids and asthmatic people in the house. Those can also significantly affect your pets.
They also produce inferior lighting because of the high combustion levels. This is why they have a high chance of suffocating you in a room.
How to Stop Candles from Increasing Humidity in A Room
If you want to avoid high humidity levels yet you need to use a candle, try and minimize the duration. 1-2 hours should be fine, and this should not be done in a closed room with poor ventilation.
If candles are frequently used at night, ensure that you install proper ventilation. Try clearing any blockage on your air conditioners so that dehumidifying becomes easy in case of raised humidity levels.
Do not place the candles in a closed container or a closed area with no airflow. Doing this will increase the flame size because it will struggle to get air to combust the candle’s components.
This will lead to more heat and smoke, clogging the room rapidly. This will also lead to a fast decrease in oxygen level, making the room uncomfortable.
Ensure the candle wicks are not extra-long and loose. Long wicks will waste the candle faster than it is supposed to last. This also translates to an increased vapor in the air that causes a very humid environment.
Reference:
- CNN: Some types of candles may pollute indoor air by Kate Stinchfield
- National Candle Association: Elements of a candle
HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.
