Humidifiers vs Dehumidifiers vs Air Purifiers: What’s the Difference?

Do you feel you don't sleep properly because of sneezing or sore throat? Your day makes you feel tired with the allergic symptoms? Does the indoor air in your home feel damp or dry? There are many reasons with the indoor air that cause health issues. Whether it may be due to pollutants in the air or humidity level in the air. Analyze the atmosphere where you live with the climate, pollutants, and more. There are many devices such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers to help you live in comfort. It is vital to understand their differences and analyze what device could help you with your current need?

Most of the time we don’t give much attention to the atmosphere indoors. As the climate changes outdoors we feel cool and hot at different times and different places. Air contains water in the form of vapor or liquid. Indoor air also carries water and it is considered moisture. The level of moisture in the air is determined as the humidity level in the air. Humidity in the indoor air should be at the optimum level, if it is more or less then it causes health issues. So, to keep the humidity under control these humidifiers or dehumidifiers are used depending on the moisture in your indoor air.

Air not only contains water but also many airborne particles such as dust particles, dust mites, pollens, pet dander, fine particles, microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens). Since air is invisible and so the airborne particles. The Air purifier is a device designed to trap all these contaminants from the air and produce clean air to breathe.

It can be difficult to identify what device you should buy for your comfort. Each device is installed for different purposes. What do the humidifiers and dehumidifiers mean and how do they differ? Can an air purifier work with either of these devices?

Humidifier

The humidifier is used to add moisture to the indoor air to prevent dryness from the environment that causes dryness of the skin, nose, lips, and throat. Humidifiers are to be used optimally. If overused it can cause respiratory troubles. It is vital to use it properly and optimally. There are different types of humidifiers available with different ranges and different sizes.

How Do Humidifiers Work?

Air always has a certain relative humidity when the humidity level decreases and the air becomes dry. To increase humidity in the air, a humidifier is used. Humidifiers use different mechanisms to add moisture to the indoor air. The humidifier is of different types depending on the mechanisms used to add moisture to the air.

An evaporative humidifier has an internal fan to pull air through a damp filter soaked in the pool of water. As the dry air passes through the damp filter, some of the water evaporates, adding moisture to the air. A steam humidifier boils water, releases hot steam. 

Ultrasonic humidifier, a vibrating diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies converts liquid water into tiny droplets producing cool air. A humidifier can reduce the dryness in the air and hence reduce the symptoms of dry skin, respiratory conditions and keep you fresh ever. The humidifier generates moisture in the indoor air and keeps the humidity at the optimum level.

When is the humidifier required?

Humidifiers are used where you spend most of the time. Generally, it is placed in the bedrooms. It is vital to define your problems with the indoor air whether to remove contaminants in the air or to add moisture. If you feel dryness in the indoor air and it causes health issues then humidifiers are the only way to add moisture to the indoor air. This humidifier also reduces the symptoms caused due to dryness in the air such as dry nose, throat. and lips. This humidifier also reduces sinus congestion.

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Dehumidifier

As the name implies, dehumidifiers work reverse to that of humidifiers. While humidifiers add moisture to the indoor air, dehumidifiers remove moisture from the indoor air. 

Why does indoor humidity matter?

The human body contains typically 60 percent water. As the humidity level increases or decreases, it affects your body. Even the clothes in the cupboard go moldy as the humidity level increases. The increased humidity level causes rusting in the electronic circuits. The increased humidity level is also bad for optical equipment and the camera and binoculars are sold with silica gel (that absorbs water in the air). According to the scientific research on the health effects of humidity published by Arundel et al in 1986  review an increase in indoor humidity will increase the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, dust mites, or other pathogens. This causes respiratory troubles, infections, and sickness.

When is the dehumidifier required?

If the indoor air in the room where you spent most of your time is damp or mold or very cold because of the increased humidity level. A dehumidifier is used to maintain the moisture at the optimum level and reduce the risk of mold. The key difference between humidifiers and dehumidifiers is clear now. 

Air Purifier

The air purifier is the potential device that allows you to remove contaminants in the air. It helps you breathe clean air. It traps all the dust particles, pollens, pet dander, or microorganisms that are present in the indoor air and provides purified air.

How Does An Air Purifier Work?

An air purifier that consists of an internal fan that pulls air into a series of filters. The contaminants in the air get trapped in the filters. There are many types of air purifiers.

Some air purifiers use a series of filters (pre-filter, activated carbon filter, HEPA filter). The HEPA filter is the potential filter that traps 99.97% of the very fine particulates in the air that are as small as 0.3 microns. Ionizers are another type of air purifier that makes particles ionize and attract them. Some air purifiers use UV lamps that kill the microorganism in the air.

When Is an Air Purifier Required?

Air purifiers are required when you are living in highly polluted areas, or when you are very much sensitive to allergic infections, or when any person in your family is suffering from respiratory diseases, heart, and lungs.

Which One You Are In Need? Humidifiers Or Dehumidifiers Or Air Purifiers

To understand this, You must identify the cause of your need to look for such devices.

If you are looking for a humidifier

  • You are living in a dry or hot climate.
  • You feel dryness on your skin and that causes itches and other skin problems.
  • You experience health issues such as nose bleeds, sinus, or respiratory problems

If you are looking for a dehumidifier

  • To avoid musty smells in your home
  • Protect your laboratory or room where the devices get destroyed by humidity
  • To reduce the temperature of indoor
  • Prevent health issues of increased humidity levels.
  • Prevent the respiratory problems that are aggravated through high humidity level

If you are looking for an air purifier

  • You are living in highly polluted areas.
  • You are very much sensitive to allergic infections.
  • Any person in your family is suffering from respiratory diseases, heart diseases, and lung diseases.
  • Require a dust-free and germ-free environment that keeps you fresh ever.

Which Is Best For Babies?

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that the indoor humidity level must be around 45% or in the acceptable range of 30-50%. A hygrometer is used to test the humidity in your environment or baby's room. Keep the air purifier away from the young one. Make sure that the air purifier includes a true shield HEPA filter that traps very fine particles from the air. This helps protect your young one from the undesired pollutants and keep them healthy.

Which Device Is To Be Chosen For Asthma?

Asthma can be cured only by doctor prescriptions. But people require a comfortable place to live in. They get affected by climatic changes. Balanced humidity helps alleviate them from the symptoms.

If people have asthma it is a must to use pure or distilled water in the humidifier and also it needs to be cleaned regularly. Proper use of air purifier also helps to protect their lungs further by the damage of fine dust particles 

Which Device Is To Be Chosen For Allergic infections?

Allergies can differ from person to person. It depends on the body’s condition. If you are allergic due to dust particles, pollens, pet dander, smoke, or chemical effluents then an air purifier is the best choice to help you free from allergic infections.

If you are living in a dry climate or too humid environment it may also lead to allergic infection. It is vital to understand your indoor environment then go for the device depending on the indoor environment.

Can I Use A Humidifier, Dehumidifier, And Air Purifier At The Same Time?

Yes, determine your indoor environment and choose whether you require a humidifier or a dehumidifier. If you choose a humidifier and air purifier together, keep your devices a little away for a few feet. As an air purifier comprises a carbon filter, the excess moisture in the room may damage the device.

Conclusion

Now, you got a clear view of humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers. Analyze your indoor environment and determine the cause of your infections with the doctor and get your device to keep you healthy.
AerMax 500- air cleaner is the best air purifier that includes a true shield HEPA filter that traps almost 99.97% particles from the indoor environment and provides you a healthy and clean environment to live in.


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