Air Purifier vs. Humidifier: Which One Do You Need?

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- While both air purifiers and humidifiers have an impact on the quality of the air you breathe in your home, they each perform a different role and provide a different range of benefits.

It’s important to understand the differences between an air purifier and a humidifier in order to effectively treat allergies, respiratory issues, and dry air conditions. It’s also important to understand how to use each effectively if you’re looking to create a healthy home environment for your infant.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- How each device works, as well as the safest ways of operation, will be discussed, as will the situations in which an air purifier or a humidifier should be used.

When it comes to Air Purifier Vs. Humidifiers, which is better?

Essentially, the objective of an air purifier is to clean the air by removing or otherwise “inactivating” toxins from the air. A fan and a filter surface are the two most important components of an air purifier, and the filtration technology utilized may range from traditional HEPA filters to ionizers to the brand-new PECO technology, among other options.

The vast majority of air purifiers function by circulating air through the device, trapping or eliminating impurities on a filter, and re-emitting clean air into the room once it has been cleaned. Air purifiers are devices that remove moisture from the atmosphere.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- A humidifier, on the other hand, does not help to cleanse the air. It just adds water to the air by boiling water to generate steam, vibrating water droplets into the air using ultrasonic technology or evaporating the water with a fan and wick. It is not a humidifier.

Remember that if you use tap water instead of filtered water, ultrasonic humidifiers may also introduce minute mineral particles into the air, which might cause health problems. Despite the fact that the health consequences of these particles are unclear, research has shown that they may have an effect on lung tissue [ (Umezawa et al., 2013).

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should use distilled water and clean and sanitise your humidifier on a regular basis.

How do Air Purifiers and Humidifiers Impact your Health?

Air purifiers and humidifiers have a variety of impacts on the air quality, some of which may be detrimental to human health. Several of the most frequent conditions include the following:

Asthma and allergies – Some air purifiers are designed primarily to reduce allergens in the air, such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mould spores. Numerous allergy and asthma sufferers utilise an air purifier to reduce their exposure to allergens and asthma triggers.

These allergens are carried by airborne particles that are often so tiny that they stay suspended in the air for hours at a time. While standard air filters capture harmful particles, only the Molekule air purifier effectively eliminates allergies.

Humidifiers, on the other hand, have minimal influence on allergen levels. Rather than that, if your nasal passages are dry and irritated, they may help ease symptoms. Notably, humidifiers do not improve allergy or asthma symptoms and may instead increase your risk of acquiring them (Svendsen, Gonzales & Commodore, 2018).

 

 

Additionally, if a humidifier is not properly maintained, it may develop mould and emit mould spores into the air, causing allergic and asthmatic reactions.

Colds, flu, and rhinitis — While ordinary air purifiers catch particles in the air, many viruses are so small that they pass through regular air filters. While an air purifier cannot cure an existing cold, it may help ease symptoms by removing additional respiratory irritants from the air.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- A humidifier, according to the National Institutes of Health, may help relieve stuffy noses and the suffering associated with colds or flu. Additionally, maintaining a proper level of humidity may provide some protection against viruses.

According to multiple studies increasing the relative humidity of the air to between 40% and 60% reduce viral infectiousness. Additionally, although a humidifier cannot cure you once you are unwell, it may help ease symptoms by preventing a dry, scratchy nose and throat.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- Due to the fact that an air purifier does not add moisture to the air, it has no impact on excessively dry air, which may worsen a range of respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

A humidifier adds moisture to the air, increasing the relative humidity and relieving symptoms of dry air. When the air is too dry, as it often is during the winter months when the heater is switched on, the nose and throat may get irritated.

Air Purifier vs Humidifier for Eczema! Which works better for Different conditions?

When it comes to air purifiers and humidifiers, there are certain situations when they are desirable.
When it comes to newborns, a humidifier may be preferred in the nursery if the major problem is dry air, since they may help prevent dry, scratchy noses and throats from occurring.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- A cool-mist humidifier, according to the Food and Drug Administration, may be beneficial for newborns suffering from coughs and colds since it narrows nasal airways and makes breathing easier for them. A warm mist humidifier, on the other hand, should not be used since it may irritate the nasal passages, making breathing even more difficult for the patient.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- When humidifiers are used to maintain an optimum relative humidity of 40 per cent to 60 per cent, they may also be able to reduce the infectiousness of germs and viruses in the environment.

By eliminating pollutants from the air, such as toxins from tobacco smoke, “out-gassing” plastics, allergens and asthma triggers such as mould spores, pet dander, pollen, and other possible respiratory irritants, an air purifier may assist in maintaining long-term air quality. This makes an air purifier a more suitable alternative for a baby’s nursery throughout the year.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- For those who suffer from allergies, an air purifier may be useful in lowering the number of allergens in the air they breathe. The use of a HEPA filter may aid in the capture of particles; however, the Molekule technology goes one step further by eradicating allergens from the air.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- While humidifiers might be useful for relieving stuffy noses and other discomforts, they can also aggravate allergies by raising the survival rates of dust mites [Berkeley Lab].

If you have asthma and you have dry air, a humidifier may help relieve your symptoms. However, it has little impact on asthma itself, and increasing humidity levels are actually associated with asthma attacks because harmful germs, dust mites, and mould grow in high humidity [Mayo Clinic].

A good air purifier that can remove particles such as pollen, dust, and dander is recommended for asthma sufferers due to the fact that impurities in the air are often the cause of attacks.

Air Purifier Vs. Humidifier- Keep in mind that a humidifier must be kept clean, ideally by allowing it to dry fully after each use and by cleaning it out every few days or as needed. Other than that, mould may develop inside or on the humidifier, sending mould spores into the air and causing the kind of allergy or asthma attacks you wish to avoid.