Can a Humidifier Affect Air Purifier? (Mistakes To Avoid)

Most people consider humidifiers when they’re tired of dry, uncomfortable air. The sales of humidifiers were up to $643 million in the U.S. in 2019 alone. As a source of relief for skin and respiratory issues, it’s clear why it is so famous. However, using humidifiers doesn’t mean access to clean air. You might be looking to use an air purifier as well.

A common question is if you can use a humidifier and an air purifier together. This article provides you with the answer to your question and explains if a humidifier will affect an air purifier. On that note, let’s take a look.

Table of Contents

Use of a Humidifier

There are many problems that a humidifier can help you solve, and they’re all related to dry air. Some of the issues a humidifier helps with include:

Dry skin
Cold
Snoring and sinus congestion
Asthma attack
Irritating eyes and sore throat

For hydrated skin, there’s a need for moisture in the air. The respiratory tract also needs lubricants. That’s where a humidifier enters the picture. It significantly increases the water vapor in the air to moisturize the body.

Uses of an Air Purifier

An air purifier is used in different situations, and some of them include:

When there’s lots of dust in a home
When you begin to experience a shortage of breath
When someone smokes in the house
When you experience respiratory problems
When you have pets circulating hair in the air
When there are odors of varnish, chemicals, and paints in the house

The goal of an air purifier is to eliminate different health-related issues by making the air cleaner to breathe. However, it doesn’t remove the moisture in the air. If you don’t set the fan speed too high, it won’t make the air feel drier.

Will a Humidifier Affect an Air Purifier?

The simple answer to that is no. Using them together is okay, and there are no adverse side effects. However, a humidifier and an air purifier serve very different purposes. While the humidifier increases the room’s humidity level by bringing moisture to the air, an air purifier acts as a cleanser that extracts contaminants from the air. Together, these two work to provide a better living conditions in your home.

A humidifier cannot affect an air purifier because a purifier’s filter is designed to work in different humidity levels. This ensures that the extra moisture in the air doesn’t result in any filter damage. In addition, you might be worried that an air purifier might affect the humidifier’s effect in a room.

That’s not the case, as air purifiers do not filter out moisture. This means that your purifier won’t dry out the air coming from the humidifier; it will only make it cleaner. In addition, a dirty humidifier might add particulate matter to the air. However, an air purifier will reduce these unwanted particles as they have been proven to capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles.

Can a Humidifier Cause Poor Air Quality?

Yes, they can. Humidifiers tend to get dirty easily, and the dirty filters and reservoirs can easily lead to the breeding of mold and bacteria. A dirty humidifier can lead to problems for those with allergies and asthma. This doesn’t mean that healthy people are safe from its dangers. A dirty humidifier can cause lung infections or even trigger flu-like symptoms when the contaminated steam is released into the air. That’s why an air purifier is a good choice when using humidifiers in your home.

Best Time for an Air Purifier and a Humidifier

The best time to utilize a humidifier and an air purifier are during the winter. However, they also come in handy during fall and spring, known as the allergy seasons. These devices work effectively together during these seasons to prevent unhealthy air issues.

During winter, there’s low humidity, and the air tends to be dry. Using furnaces can lead to even lower moisture levels. Therefore, a humidifier is necessary to add moisture to the air. With the inclusion of an air purifier, you can eliminate winter air pollution.

During spring and fall, the air purifier removes the pollen in the air. This is part of what causes the allergies during fall and springtime. Working in tandem with the purifier, your humidifier can reduce nasal irritation caused by dry air.

Factors to Consider When Using an Air Purifier and Humidifier Together

Now that you know that a humidifier doesn’t affect air purifiers, you might be wondering if there are vital factors to consider before running them together. Below are some factors that help you ensure the smooth running of your humidifier and air purifier together.

Humidity Levels: The Environmental Protection Agency states that humidity levels in a home should be between 30% to 60%. Avoid humidity levels beyond 50% in the summer and 60% in the winter because they can lead to higher bacteria and mold growth.
Placement: To use the humidifier and air purifier, another factor you need to consider is placement. Place the devices as far away from each other for optimum results. This ensures that the air purifier isn’t affected by water droplets from the humidifier.
Timing: This is another crucial consideration as you need to know when to use an air purifier and humidifier together. We recommend the winter, spring, and fall seasons. This is because they work excellently during these seasons to prevent unhealthy air issues.
Air Quality Sensor: Another vital consideration is using an air quality sensor. Although most humidifiers use the readings on their in-built air quality sensor, the measurement isn’t always accurate. This is because these sensors utilize infrared technology and are affordable. It’s best to purchase an air quality sensor that uses laser diffraction technology to ensure accurate results. A separate air quality sensor will efficiently examine the air quality in your room to inform you when you need to use the air purifier.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, a humidifier won’t affect your air purifier. Therefore, using them together is okay, especially during the winter and allergy months. However, it’s essential to consider the above factors to ensure an efficient operation.