Indoor air quality is a serious concern for all households. People use air purifiers and humidifiers to keep the air clean and healthy.
The air quality becomes a bigger problem if you or your loved ones have allergies. So, you are probably wondering whether to use a humidifier or air purifier for allergies?
To answer that, you need to understand the differencesbetween the two. Apart from being two separate tools, the humidifiers and air purifiers perform entirely different functions. Choosing one of them would depend on the problem that you need to solve.
Without further ado,let's dive right in!
See Also: Best Air Purifier for Allergies
How does a humidifier work?
The humidifier is a device that increases the moisture level in your indoor air. Acold climate makes the air dry, which can lead to nosebleeds, dry coughs, chapped lips, vocal cord problems, etc. The humidifier is designed to solve this problem by adding moisture to the environment.
You can set the required moisture content on the device. The EPA recommends keeping it below 50%. Moisture level above 60% can lead to other problems like mold formation, dampness, etc.
How does an air purifier work?
Unlike a humidifier, an air purifier has nothing to do with humidity. Its primary function is to clean and purify the air. The air purifier traps and eliminates physical impurities such as dust, mold spores, pollen, etc., from your air.
Air purifiers can also remove bacteria and certain viruses like flu, from your air. They reduce the chances of you getting sick by keeping your air clean.
Humidifier vs. air purifier
Now that you know the primary function of each object, the answer seems simple. An air purifier is easily the best option for allergies. It removes particles like dust, allergens, pollen, bacteria, etc. from your air. These particles are the reason for allergic reactions, and an air purifier can easily capture and eliminate them. People with allergies and respiratory problems asthma use air purifiers for relief.
On the other hand, humidifiers have nothing to do with particles and allergens in the air. They only maintain the humidity level in your air. Besides, if you aren't careful, a humidifier can even cause allergic reactions and asthma symptoms. If you don't maintain your humidifier properly, it can lead to mold development, which triggers allergic reactions.
Can I use both an air purifier and a humidifier together?
Yes! Since both objects perform different functions entirely, you can definitely use them at the same time. An air purifier will keep your air clean while a humidifier will ensure that it's appropriately moisturized.
However, make sure you don't put both of them too close to each other. They can affect each other's function if some distance isn't maintained. Opposite corners of the room would be an ideal positioning for both.
