Room Humidifier

An evaporative humidifier including a wicking filter reduce the proclivity for mold growth using one or more of: a disinfecting light emitting diode (LED) and at least one sensor adapted to determine whether water is present in a particular area of the device and to operate a fan or blower while water is present. A method can include operating a blower that passes air about or through a humidifying wick that has been made wet by a supply of water; determining a first absolute or relative time at which the wick ceases to be made wet by the supply of water; and automatically deactivating the blower at a second absolute or relative time, wherein the second time is later than the first time by an amount of time sufficient to cause the wick to be dried by the blower.