Which is better to choose - an air purifier or a humidifier? Detailed device comparison

The abundance of modern technology to improve the microclimate of housing can sometimes lead to a stupor even by an experienced buyer who follows all the latest in the home appliance market. Manufacturers offer a variety of models that can clean the air of unwanted impurities, destroy the pathogens in it, increase the humidity level and maintain it for a long time. This technique is indispensable for families with young children and allergy sufferers who are very sensitive to air quality and composition.

But in this variety of specifications it is very easy to get confused, because of which you can choose far from the most suitable model specifically for your home, agree? Trying to figure out what is the best air purifier or humidifier, it is important to first find out what each type of this technique is for and how it performs its functions.

In this material we will talk about the features of air purifiers and humidifiers, we will reveal the principles of their work and find out what type of climatic devices should be purchased in a particular case.

The principle of operation and function of the humidifier

During the heating season humidity in the apartment may fall to critically low rates - 20%. The normal level of relative humidity in the room in winter time must be in the range of 30-45%. In the summer period, the requirements for this microclimate parameter are even higher: the indicator should remain within 30-60%.

Therefore, it is extremely difficult to do without a device that can make up for the missing amount of moisture in the air. A humidifier is an almost indispensable device that allows you to easily maintain a normal microclimate in the house.

In fact, humidifiers convert water into steam or into microscopic droplets. More about the device and the principle of operation of humidifiers we told here.

Individual types of devices do this in different ways:

1. Cold Humidifiers They drive fluid through special cartridges with a fan. In these blocks there is a splitting of water, and its partial purification from harmful impurities.
2. Ultrasound models transform water into microdrops due to membrane vibrations. It vibrates at tremendous speed, practically breaking water into the finest dust. This technique is extremely productive and quite economical, but remains very demanding on water quality. Pouring into an ultrasonic humidifier is exclusively a distillate, since together with water, the membrane can also break down harmful impurities that can be found in ordinary purified water.
3. Steam humidifiers They are distinguished by power, productivity and greater loyalty to the composition of the water being poured. Devices evaporate water due to heating: after boiling, water turns into steam and is fed into the air. The steam output is almost sterile. The disadvantages of such devices are decent energy consumption and the ability to significantly moisten the air.

Such characteristics allow air humidifiers to perform their main tasks efficiently.

However, the advantage of this type of technology is the ability to choose a very compact, but quite productive model, which can be put even on the desktop

If good air purification is required, such devices will not be the best choice, since their main goal is the conversion of water into steam. They can only make the air cleaner: the smallest dust, mixed with microdroplets of water, settles faster on surfaces and does not fall into the respiratory tract in full.

It is important to remember that most humidifiers are demanding on water. Therefore, if you are not ready to buy distilled water or prepare it yourself, it is better to abandon ultrasonic modifications and traditional humidifiers.

Some models of steam humidifiers may have a special compartment for aromatic oils or salt solution, which adversely affect pathogenic bacteria. The use of such liquids will make the air more humid and safe. However, even such a neutralization of pathogens will not make the air masses extremely clean.

To get acquainted with the best offers of household air humidifiers for home and apartment, please go this link.

Features and operation of air purifiers

In addition to humidity, an important indicator of good air is the absence of harmful impurities in it, which, alas, the urban atmosphere is so rich in. Dirty street air inevitably enters the apartment through forced ventilation or when ventilating, filling the room with harmful and even dangerous trace elements.

In addition to chemicals, dust also penetrates, microorganisms that provoke various ailments. In such difficult conditions, it is difficult to refuse high-quality air cleaner.

The operation of these devices consists in driving air through a purification and filtration system. A powerful fan directs the air flow, and the main differences lie just in the filter compartment.

By the method of air purification, the systems are divided into dry and water. Next, we consider in more detail their features.

Option # 1 - Water Purification System

The air purifier, which performs its functions thanks to the water purification system, is a kind of hybrid of a traditional humidifier and purifier. The air masses carried away by the fan pass through the filtration system and are not only cleaned of dust and fine pollutants, but also filled with missing moisture.

The figure shows a typical water purifier device. This device effectively removes contaminants and maintains a normal level of relative humidity in the room.

Often, such models are called air washing, which is quite true: the air really rinses with water, getting rid of dirt.

A bonus of such sinks is the manufacturer’s desire to protect their own device from mold and fungus, because the humid environment inside it is an excellent springboard for the development of pathogens. Therefore, models are often supplemented with ionizers and UV lamps, which disinfect both the wash tanks and the exhaust air. But humidifiers should be regularly clean from plaque and mold.

Option # 2 - dry air purification system

Dry type air purifiers are represented by a wider model range and perform their functions due to the direction of air flows through special filters.

Dry type air purifiers work more loudly than their water counterparts. This is due to the aerodynamic noise that air flows when passing through filters.

Air filters come in several forms:

1. Coarse filter traps large pollutants, such as wool, cobwebs, large dust lumps. The membrane is made of mesh or porous material and performs its functions quite well.
2. Fine filter effective against fine particles of dust and allergens. It has an accordion-like shape, which is quite easy to obtain thanks to a woven or paper material that has many pores. The bending of the material and the overlapping of the ribs on top of each other can increase the number of pores that the air will pass. Therefore, with this filtration, most allergens and dust deposits are removed.
3. HEPA filter It is one of the most effective barriers that capture even the waste products of dust mites. Like the fine filter, HEPA resembles an accordion. The knot is made of fibrous material, the diameter of the threads of which is only 0.65-6.5 microns. With a distance between the fibers of 10-40 microns, the filter provides the maximum possible air purification.
4. Adsorption catalytic filter (AK) contains a special material that traps gas molecules and is ideal for neutralizing unpleasant odors.

Carbon or photocatalytic filters can perform similar functions. However, a combination of two AK filters will be more efficient.

The figure above shows the HEPA filter device. Such membranes are used not only in air purifiers, but also in other equipment, for example, in vacuum cleaners, since they trap small particles of dirt as efficiently as possible.

From all of the above, it becomes clear that the main function of the air purifier is nevertheless the neutralization of pathogens, allergens, dust and large pollutants.

Humidification is only a nice bonus, which is available only in models with water filtration of air masses.

Choosing the best model for home

Trying to decide what to choose - an air purifier or a productive air humidifier, you should focus on your own needs and specific living conditions.

The most compromise option will be air washing, which effectively moisturizes the atmosphere inside the room and removes the main pollutants. However, the functioning of such a gadget may not be enough for the special needs of households, for example, to remove the most popular allergens

When buying, you can use a kind of cheat sheet, which will not let you get confused in the abundance of models offered by manufacturers.

When buying a dry type cleaner, you should pay attention to the filtration system: the more filters the gadget contains, the better will be the removal of unwanted impurities. The fan speed also affects the performance of the device: the higher it is, the faster the cleaning of the masses will occur.

Additional options, for example, ionization of air or neutralization of microbes with the help of a UV lamp, will not be superfluous. Detailed recommendations for choosing a purifier are given in this stuff.

Choosing the optimal model, give preference to equipment designed to service at least 40 square meters. m of area so that the device can fully process a decent amount of air. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the detailed humidifier selection criteria for home and apartment.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

This video presents the TOP-5 low-cost models of humidifiers that are ideal for operation in an apartment:

The following video shows testing air purifiers:

An expert on the selection of climate technology tells how to choose an effective air wash:

Air purification and maintaining the optimal level of relative humidity in the room is the basis of a healthy indoor microclimate. Thanks to a responsible approach to choosing an air purifier or humidifier, the owner of the apartment will save himself and relatives from regular respiratory diseases, reduce the risk of allergy recurrence and even preserve the walls and furniture, which can lose their aesthetic appearance when exposed to excessively dry air. A suitable device must be selected based on your own needs and living conditions.

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