The purpose of both air purifiers and humidifiers is to improve air quality. Although their approach differs from one another.
In a single day, the average adult breathes 8,000 to 12,000 liters of air. During this period, a person breathes in pollutants such as pet dander, dust, pollen, and fibers.
When you expose yourself and your family to these pollutants, certain health conditions will get triggered. They include asthma, allergies, and others. Also, dry air causes various health issues, such as skin diseases, cold, and flu.
The good news is that you can improve your indoor air quality by filtering pollutants and maintain your home’s humidity levels.
For this to happen, you need to buy an air purifier and a humidifier. So, can you use an air purifier and humidifier in the same room?
Can You Use an Air Purifier and a Humidifier in the Same Room?
Of course, the answer is yes. Setting up an air purifier in your home will improve your indoor air quality. How you may ask. The purifier sucks in air via the intake thanks to a powerful motor. The unfiltered air gets redirected through a multi-stage filtration system.
This filtration system may include a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. Some purifiers have ionizers that generate negligible amounts of ozone. These are safe to use, according to the California Air Resources Boards and EPA.
As the air passes through the filters, they trap most of the pollutants. Others, like the activated carbon filter, absorb odors. Some have UV lights that kill airborne bacteria and viruses.
Imagine this, you come home from work, tired but you have to cook. Due to fatigue, you lose concentration and end up burning the food. Breathing in the smoke is not suitable for your health.
It’s even worse if you have a baby or children in the house. An air purifier in the kitchen will trap and remove the smoke particles while releasing purified air into the room.
EPA recommends that the ideal humidity level in a home should be 30 to 50%. If the level falls below 30%, the air will feel stuffy and stale. This is true even when you run the air purifier. Want to know the signs that the humidity level in your home is below 30%?
Well, do you have chapped lips, itchy skin, or dry cough? If you do, you need to run a humidifier. It helps to add moisture in the air for better breathability.
While you can run an air purifier and humidifier in the same room, they should be at a distance. Why you may ask. First off, they serve different needs – air purifiers filter the air while humidifiers add moisture in the air.
Second, the air purifier may have an activated carbon filter that is susceptible to moisture. To avoid loss of the activated carbon filter, keep it away from a running humidifier.
Air Purifier vs. Humidifier:
Size
Air purifiers vary in size. You can find compact designs that are lightweight and easy to move and large appliances that weigh several pounds. The lightweight models can be placed on a nightstand or office desk while the bigger purifiers are floor-based.
Warm mist and cool mist humidifiers are compact in design. As such, air purifiers are much bigger as they accommodate multiple filters.
Features
An air purifier has a multi-stage filtration system. It includes a pre-filter, HEPA filter, activated carbon filter. Some also have a UV-C light, and an ionizer. Many come with an air quality sensor that measures particles and VOCs in the air.
For humidifiers, they have a water reservoir that allows it to add moisture to the air. This helps to soothe any irritation brought by dry conditions. Also, humidifiers have a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity (RH) in the air.
Health Benefits
Air purifiers trap and remove pollutants and toxins from the air. As such, they are beneficial to allergy and asthmatic sufferers.
The humidifier is beneficial to asthmatic sufferers and those with irritated respiratory tracts. To improve the living condition, the humidifier adds moisture to the air.
Noise Level
The noise level of an air purifier depends on fan speed. At the lowest speed, the noise level can range between 20 to 40 decibels, and at the highest speed, it can vary between 45 to 65 decibels.
A majority of humidifiers are ultrasonic. As such, they operate near silent. This means they can run in your bedroom without disrupting your sleep habits.
Do I Need an Air Purifier or a Humidifier? (or Both?)
It would be best if you had both because they serve different purposes. An air purifier traps and removes pollutants such as VOCs, smoke, dust, pet dander, lint, pollen, and pet hair. So, if your allergies flare up while indoors or you smell paint and chemicals in the building, you need an air purifier.
Also, use a purifier if you are prone to headaches, have difficulty breathing, have trouble sleeping, and have pets.
A humidifier can solve lots of problems in your home. If you have excessive sinus congestion, dry skin, and a sore throat, we recommend running a humidifier.
By adding moisture in the air, the humidifier helps to lubricate your respiratory tract and skin. As such, it improves their function. What you need to know is that there are 2-in-1 combo devices – air purifier and humidifier.
You can invest in such devices if you experience any of the symptoms above. Remember, avoid using a humidifier in a room with high humidity levels, such as a bathroom. Doing so can make the environment too damp, leading to the growth of mildew and mold.
Don’t forget to do your research before buying an air purifier or humidifier.
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