Can A Humidifier Affect Air Purifier? Pros and Cons

Can a Humidifier affect air purifier? A humidifier essentially cannot affect an air purifier in any way. Still, some steps must be followed while using them together for good results and avoiding any problems.

Humidifiers and Air purifiers both serve different purposes. They can be used together for an even better indoor experience. Let’s look at some positive and negative effects of a humidifier on an air purifier.

4 Positive Effects Of A Humidifier On Air Purifier

Using a humidifier gives various health-related and other benefits. These benefits, combined with the help of an air purifier, can enhance your household. Here are four positive effects of humidifiers on air purifiers.

1. Humidifier Reduces The Severity Of Viruses:

2. Humidifier Helps Relieve Dry Cough:

Dry air can cause the mucus to be sticky and clog the airway, leading to irritation and coughing. This cough that is caused due to dry air is called dry cough. Dry cough differs from other types of coughs, and its treatment is different too.

A dry cough can be relieved with the use of a humidifier since a humidifier brings back the moisture in the air. this moisture would

3. Humdidifier Prevents Dry Skin:

Dry skin is something most people face during cold and dry weather. People with eczema suffer most since their skin gets worse during such a time. A humidifier helps maintain the ideal moisture in the air, which is between 30%-50%.

The ideal moisture level achieved by the humidifier prevents your skin from drying out,

4. Humidifier Protects The Wooden Furniture:

Another benefit of a humidifier is that it helps the wooden furniture or wooden flooring from drying and shrinking. Since the wood shrinks and warps under dry conditions leaving cracks behind, a humidifier can help prevent that by restoring humidity.

It is important to set the right moisture setting since too much moisture can cause mold to grow on wood. The right amount of humidity is best to maintain the quality of your wooden objects.

5 Negative Effects Of A Humidifier On Air Purifier

A humidifier also has some negative effects, which can arise from not taking proper care of your appliances. Although if you take care of your appliance and clean it regularly, those negative effects can be overcome.

1. Dampening The Filter Of The Air Purifier:

Too much moisture from the humidifier clogs and dampens the air purifier’s filter, which can reduce its functionality. Moisture levels above 90% can reduce the device’s efficiency resulting in negative effects.

It is important to monitor the humidity level of the humidifier so it does not affect air purifiers’ efficiency.

2. Enhancing The Growth Of Fungi Inside Air Purifier:

Too much moisture can also enhance the development of fungi in the air purifier’s filter. These fungi would eventually spread in the room through the air stream, causing diseases to spread.

Cleaning the device and changing the water regularly helps hinder the growth of fungi. Also, monitoring the moisture level is important so it does not exceed the right limit.

3. Effect On Carbon Filter:

The carbon filter in the air purifier occupies more water molecules due to weaker bonding, leaving less space for volatile organic compounds. Increased moisture from the humidifier can get stuck in the air purifier’s filter.

The damp filter can then not purify the air efficiently since there is no space for pollutants to be on the filter. This can reduce the efficiency of the activated carbon filter in removing harmful chemicals from the air.

4. Effect On Particle Sensors:

Humidifiers affect the particle sensors of the air purifier, altering the reading. The infrared sensors in the air purifiers detect the moisture in the air as increased particles. Hence it increases its speed in removing those particles which can clog its filter, dampening it.

5. Reducing The Air Quality:

Minerals from the tap water used in the humidifiers and the bacteria left behind after washing the water tank. These things help the growth of mold and fungi inside the humidifier, which eventually spread bad odor into the air.

The unhygienic conditions inside a humidifier can cause the air to be full of pollutants. It is better to take care of your device and to clean it regularly.

5 Ways To Effectively Use A Humidifier And Air Purifier Together

Humidifier serves the purpose of increasing the moisture in the air, especially during winters. On the other hand, a purifier cleans the air from bacteria or dust particles.

Using them together helps create a clean and moisturized environment. But some measures can be taken to enhance the function of both devices.

1. Keeping Them At A Distance:

Since the moisture from the humidifier can clog the air purifier’s filter, reducing the quality of its functionality. Putting both devices separately and farther away is advisable to function effectively.

2. Cleaning Both Devices:

Taking care of the hygiene of both devices is essential. The inside of a humidifier is an ideal atmosphere for mold and fungus to grow. This mold and fungus then spread into the air.

Therefore, it is essential to use distilled water and regularly clean the humidifier’s water tank. The filter of an air purifier can also get clogged with moisture and frequently leads to fungal growth. Changing its filter and cleaning the device helps in its efficient outcome.

3. Maintaining The Moisture Level Of The Humidifier:

Moisture levels above 90% can dampen the air purifier’s filter and lead to mold and bacteria in the room growing faster. So it is important to maintain that moisture. In summer, dehumidifying and winter humidifying the room helps in better results.

4. Using A Separate Air Sensor:

The sensor inside the air purifier is usually an infrared one that can detect even the moisture in the air released from the humidifier as pollutants.

So for better results and efficient usage, it is advisable to use a separate air sensor. That would help detect the number of contaminants and moisture separately and properly.

5. Best Weather Conditions To Use Both Devices Together In:

The best weather is to use a humidifier and air purifier together in winter. In winter, the moisture in the air reduces relatively, and the pollutants spread the viruses and infections faster.

A humidifier can help retain the water in the air while an air purifier removes all the pollutants. The best weather to use these appliances together in winter.

Conclusion:

A Humidifier and an Air purifier are good options to avoid dryness and infections, especially in winter. They can be used together in one room, placed at some distance from each other.

Can a humidifier affect air purifier? There are even devices that have both purifiers and humidifiers in them. It can be cost-efficient and avoids the hassle of monitoring two different devices.

A combo of humidifiers and air purifiers can be therapeutic and stress relieving. It is also great for patients with asthma or people prone to infections and dryness giving great health benefits.