Does an Air Purifier and Humidifier Cancel Each Other Out?

Do you have a smoking spouse that keeps exposing you to second-hand smoke? Or do the kids keep leaving smelly sneakers in their rooms, or what of a sickly sweet smell from poorly ventilated restaurants on hot days? Whatever your specific reason is for needing clean air, there are different types of solutions available.

Industry experts believe there is some confusion about the differences between air purifiers and humidifiers, and this can cause people to buy the wrong product for their particular needs. 

Humidifiers vs air purifiers are two different machines that many people use in their homes. They each have their own pros and cons, but what happens when you combine the two? Does an air purifier cancel out a humidifier? This blog post will answer these questions for you so that you can make the best decision for your household.

Humidifiers vs Air Purifiers: What's the Difference?

Humidifiers and air purifiers are the most popular consumer products that ensure a healthy lifestyle. These two have become a necessity in numerous households across the world. So, what’s the big difference between them? 

Humidifiers and air purifiers are oftentimes used interchangeably. However, there is a distinction between these devices. Let us explain:

A humidifier will emit cool mist into a room to increase humidity levels. This can be helpful for those suffering from dry skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Humidifiers are also helpful for anyone who lives in very dry climates or has central heating that dries the air out.

Humidifiers are not effective at removing harmful contaminants from the air, such as dust, mold, pollen or pet dander. They are also not ideal for people with asthma and allergies because they can aggravate symptoms.

On the other hand, an air purifier will filter out these harmful contaminants from the air and can be very effective at reducing allergens such as dander, dust mites, and pollen.

How Do Air Purifiers and Humidifiers Impact Your Health?

A humidifier is used to increase humidity levels in an indoor environment (e.g. a house or office), especially during the cold season when the air becomes drier due to heating. By adding more humidity into the air, you can avoid problems caused by dry air including irritated skin and mucous membranes such as the eyes and nose.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Normal activities such as running a vacuum cleaner or cooking can stir up contaminants and increase your exposure. The EPA also reports that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, which means you're exposed to those contaminants throughout the day. 

An air purifier gets rid of indoor pollutants, including small particles, large particles, biological pollutants and VOCs. It may help protect your family's health by preventing allergies and respiratory problems.

Can You Use Air Purifiers and Humidifiers Together?

The simple answer to the question of whether you can use an air purifier and a humidifier together is... no. The two are very different kinds of appliances that perform entirely different functions, even though they have some things in common, like needing electrical power to function.

In general, using both an air purifier and humidifier in the same room is not a good idea. In many cases, running an air purification system and a humidifier together will cause damage to at least one of these appliances.

When you run an air purification system in your home, the unit has to work extra hard to remove particles that are in the air. When water vapor is introduced into this mix, it lowers the amount of available ambient oxygen in the room. This prevents the air purifier from working as effectively. 

In addition, the humidity level in the home can rise to dangerous levels which can create a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Activated Carbon Filters on Air Purifiers

Activated charcoal is not like the common charcoal used for grilling. It is made from a variety of sources such as wood, coconut shell, peat moss and more to produce a porous surface with many nooks and crannies for the adsorption of contaminants. When compressed into a carbon filter it becomes millions of microscopic pores that forms a large surface area ideal for capturing pollutants.

Activated carbon  is particularly useful for removing noxious gasses from the air, including smoke, odors from pets and cooking, gas leaks, and more. The activated carbon inside an air purifier can even adsorb a variety of chemicals including ammonia, chlorine, pesticides, mercury vapor, and formaldehyde.

Air Purifiers with UV Technology

First, let's clear up some common misconceptions. An air purifier with UV light doesn't necessarily kill all bacteria and viruses in the airstream - only those that are present and exposed to the UV lamp at the time of irradiation. Therefore it is very important that we clean our filters on a regular basis.

There are several types of UV technologies, like germicidal UVC lamps (200-280nm) that emit relatively high amounts of UV light which are highly effective at killing germs in the airstream. However, these short waves can also be harmful to humans and animals. Therefore, these lamps should only be used when there is no risk of human exposure. 

Another type of UV technology uses UVA lamps (350-370nm) that are used for surface disinfection because they remain effective even when the germs shield themselves behind objects like dirt and body oils. This makes these lamps particularly suitable for our portable air purifiers.

Conclusion

There are many reasons affecting your indoor air quality. For example, smoking, cooking, pets, humidity, dust mites…etc. All these pollutants at home can bring you respiratory issues such as asthma or even lung cancer. And that means that now you should do something to reduce their concentrations around you.