Are you looking for ways to make the air in your home more comfortable? Then you’ve probably stumbled upon purifiers and humidifiers during your search. Those who haven’t used them before might believe they aren’t very different — but they’d be wrong. To learn more, here are the differences between a humidifier and purifier and why you would want either for your home.
Is a Humidifier and Air Purifier the Same?
On the surface, humidifiers and air purifiers might appear similar. After all, they both influence the air in your home to make it a healthier place for families — they can even address symptoms brought about by poor air quality. However, the similarities stop there. There are many differences between humidifiers and purifiers beyond just their names. While they do affect indoor air, they do so in entirely different ways and for completely different purposes. Anyone who tells you humidifiers and air purifiers are the same is lying!
What’s the Difference Between a Humidifier and Purifier?
So, what is the difference between a humidifier and a purifier? Let’s start with the latter. Air purifiers are designed to improve indoor air quality through filtration. The purifiers use a filter to catch airborne pollutants and prevent them from entering the room. The exact filtration technology used differs from model to model, but it serves the same general purpose. An air purifier can rid your home of a wide range of contaminants, including pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, and more.
Humidifiers, on the other hand, don’t technically clean the air in your home — instead, they produce moisture that’s currently absent in the air. By creating either hot steam or cool water vapor and blowing it out with a fan, humidifiers are able to increase humidity levels in dry rooms. The way humidifiers accomplish their goal also varies by model, with some using a component to boil water and others using an ultrasonic frequency to make water droplets.
Should I Get an Air Purifier or Humidifier?
Given the many differences between a humidifier and a purifier, you can probably tell that they provide different functions. However, you may need both of them, depending on the circumstances. They’re even able to work in the same room, provided that they’re not too close together — the moisture of the humidifier can clog the purifier and weaken its effectiveness.
Let’s start again with air purifiers. Because they remove allergens from the air, they’re ideal for families dealing with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues. It’s worth noting that purifiers aren’t doctors that can cure colds and other illnesses. Rather, air purifiers are capable of dealing with symptoms like coughing, running noses, watery eyes, and other problems by eliminating the contaminants in the air that cause them.
Likewise, humidifiers are effective at easing problems caused by dry air, such as chest or sinus congestion and dry skin or nasal passages. By adding moisture into the air, humidifiers are able to help break up congestion. However, you shouldn’t leave a humidifier on for too long, as the excess moisture can increase the growth of mold and bacteria. Additionally, it’s important for homeowners to disinfect their humidifiers routinely to keep them clean.
If you need assistance fixing or installing a humidifier near the capital of Utah, then you can always count on Paradise Heating & Air. Our team provides many professional services, including both furnace and thermostat repairs in Salt Lake City. Contact us today for further information on the ways we can enhance the comfort in your home and to schedule an appointment.