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

The abundance of modern technology for improving the microclimate of a home can sometimes confuse even an experienced buyer who follows all the new products in the household appliances market. Manufacturers offer a variety of models that can clean the air of unwanted impurities, destroy pathogens in it, increase the level of humidity and maintain it for a long time. This technique is indispensable for families with small children and allergy sufferers who are very sensitive to the quality and composition of air.

But it’s very easy to get confused in this variety of specifications, which is why you can choose far from the most suitable model for your home, don’t you agree? When trying to figure out whether an air purifier or a humidifier is better, it is important to first find out what each type of equipment is intended for and how it performs its functions.

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

The principle of operation and functions of the humidifier

During the heating season air humidity in the apartment may fall to critically low levels - 20%. The normal level of relative humidity indoors in winter should be between 30-45%. In summer, 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 replenish the missing amount of moisture in the air. A humidifier is an almost irreplaceable device that makes it easy to maintain a normal microclimate in the house.

In fact, humidifiers convert water into steam or microscopic droplets. Read more about the design and operating principle of humidifiers. told here.

Certain types of devices do this in different ways:

1. Cold type humidifiers They drive the liquid through special cartridges using a fan. In these blocks, water is split and partially purified from harmful impurities.
2. Ultrasonic models convert water into microdroplets due to membrane vibrations. It vibrates at great speed, practically breaking the water into the smallest dust. This technique is extremely productive and quite economical, but remains very demanding on water quality. Pour into ultrasonic humidifier Only distillate costs, since along with water, the membrane is capable of breaking down harmful impurities that may be present in ordinary purified water.
3. Steam humidifiers differ in power, productivity and greater loyalty to the composition of the water being poured. The devices evaporate water through heating: after boiling, the water turns into steam and is released into the air. The steam output is almost sterile. The disadvantages of such devices are decent energy consumption and the ability to significantly over-humidify the air.

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

However, the advantage of this type of equipment is the ability to choose a completely compact, but quite productive model, which can even be placed on the desktop

If good air purification is required, such devices will not be the best choice, since their main purpose is to convert water into steam. They can only partially make the air cleaner: the smallest dust, mixed with microdrops of water, will settle faster on surfaces and will not completely enter the respiratory tract.

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 have a detrimental effect on pathogenic bacteria. The use of such liquids will make the air more humid and safer. However, even such neutralization of pathogens will not make the air masses extremely clean.

To get acquainted with the best offers of household air humidifiers for your home and apartment, please go to via 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, is so rich in the city atmosphere. Dirty street air inevitably enters the apartment through supply ventilation or during ventilation, filling the room with harmful and even dangerous microelements.

In addition to chemicals, dust and microorganisms also penetrate, causing various ailments.In such difficult conditions it is difficult to refuse quality air purifier.

The operation of these devices is to pass air through a purification and filtration system. A powerful fan directs the air flow, and the main differences lie precisely in the filter compartment.

Based on the method of air purification, systems are divided into dry and water. Next, let's look at their features in more detail.

Option #1 - water purification system

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

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

Often such models are called air washes, which is quite true: the air really seems to be washed with water, getting rid of dirt.

A bonus of such sinks is the manufacturer’s desire to protect their own appliance from mold and mildew, 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 washing tanks and the exhaust air. But you should use humidifiers regularly clean from plaque and mold.

Option #2 - dry air purification system

Dry type air purifiers are represented by a wider range of models and perform their functions by directing air flow through special filters.

Dry-type air purifiers are louder than their water-based counterparts. This is due to aerodynamic noise produced by air flows passing through filters

There are several types of air filters:

1. Coarse filter captures large pollutants, for example, wool, cobwebs, large dust balls. The membrane is made of mesh or porous material and performs its functions quite well.
2. Fine filter effective against small dust particles and allergens. It has an accordion-shaped shape, which is quite easy to obtain thanks to a woven or paper material that has many pores. Folding the material and stacking the ribs on top of each other allows you to increase the number of pores through which air can pass. Therefore, with such filtration, most allergens and dust deposits are removed.
3. HEPA filter is one of the most effective barriers, trapping even waste products of dust mites. Like a 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 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 effective.

The picture 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, as they most effectively trap small dirt particles

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

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

Choosing the optimal model for your home

When 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 would be air washing, which effectively humidifies the indoor atmosphere and removes major pollutants. However, the functioning of such a gadget may not be enough for the special needs of household members, for example, to remove the most popular allergens

When purchasing, you can use a kind of cheat sheet that will prevent you from getting confused in the abundance of models offered by manufacturers.

When purchasing a dry type purifier, you should pay attention to the filtration system: the more filters the gadget contains, the better the removal of unwanted impurities. The performance of the device is also affected by the fan rotation speed: the higher it is, the faster the masses will be cleaned.

Additional options, for example, air ionization or neutralization of microbes using a UV lamp, will not be superfluous. We have provided detailed recommendations for choosing a cleaner in this material.

When 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 volume of air. We recommend that you read the detailed humidifier selection criteria for home and apartment.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

This video presents the TOP 5 inexpensive models of air humidifiers that are ideal for use in an apartment:

The following video shows testing of air purifiers:

A specialist in the selection of climate control equipment talks about how to choose an effective air cleaner:

Purifying the air and maintaining an optimal level of relative humidity in the room is the basis for a healthy indoor microclimate. Thanks to a responsible approach to choosing an air purifier or humidifier, the apartment owner will save himself and his loved ones from regular respiratory diseases and reduce the risk relapse of allergies and will even preserve wall decoration and furniture, which may 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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