No, air purifiers do not remove humidity from the indoor air. An air purifier removes airborne contaminants like dust mites, mold spores, and other allergens from the indoor space.
If you believe they dry out the air, the claim has been extensively tested, and unless you’re using a dehumidifier, the moisture in the air should not be affected.
The list of indoor contaminants is long; different air purifiers use varying technologies to filter them out.
Suppose you’re wondering whether an air purifier removes humidity because of the fan’s wind or the appliance’s heat. In that case, you don’t need to worry about that, as the evaporation from the purifier’s wind adds to the humidity rather than removing anything.
It isn’t active addition, though; the water needs to be on some surface already for the ambient heat or wind from the air purifier to evaporate it. So, the answer is no; an air purifier does not remove humidity from the indoor space.
So, air purifiers don’t remove the humidity, but do they add to it? We’ll come to that in a second.
Does An Air Purifier Help With Dry Air?
No, air purifiers neither remove humidity nor dry out the air. Air purifier work by pulling in the air in your home and forcing it through filters.
Air purifiers can filter indoor air, but expecting it to reduce the moisture levels or add to them would be absurd. If your indoor air is very dry, the best way forward is to opt for a humidifier that adds a thin layer of water vapors.
Humidifiers make the indoor air more comfortable, and you can turn them on/off as required. Air conditioners produce a different effect as the condenser in an AC causes the water vapor to condense on the surface and lead the collected water away through a pipe.
Why Does the Air Feel Dry?
Air purifiers circulate the indoor air multiple times an hour; this can be why you feel the indoor air dryer than before, as the humidity factor is spread around evenly.
This regulation of air does not remove any moisture from the air. Still, because moisture content was concentrated in the lower indoor space before, it can feel less humid after an air purifier works for a few minutes.
In addition, the air circulation around the room also evens out the temperature, which can cause the indoor air to feel less humid than before. Warmer air feels more humid as it can hold more moisture.
Cold air, on the other hand, will always feel less humid and can even feel drier.
Causes of Dry Air
The most popular factor that leads to dry air is cold. Cold winter air does not have the same capacity to hold humidity as warm air. Hence, cold air can feel dryer, and as it can dry up the airways, it can also cause allergy flare-ups.
Ventilating the indoor space in winter can lead to fresh dry air replacing the damp one indoors. To minimize this effect, keep your windows and doors closed and use an air purifier if you’re looking for cleaner air.
What is The Ideal Indoor Humidity Level?
United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests maintaining the relative humidity (indoor humidity levels) between thirty and sixty percent. The window is even tighter for people with sensitivities, as they need between 45% and 55% humidity in their indoor space to breathe properly.
This allows for comfortable breathing while also helping to keep mold spores and other such humidity problems away.
Moisture from the air can also aggravate certain respiratory conditions. Dust mites, alongside other microbes, also multiply more quickly in favorable moisture conditions.
Which Dehumidifier is Best For You?
1. Best Dehumidifier if You Already Have an Air Purifier
Frigidaire FFAP5033W1 is one of its kinds of dehumidifier that has made our top recommendations based on our 6-month use and its evolvement over its predecessor FFAD7033R1 in terms of a larger tank and simple drainage (no use of the adapter).
The circular window made it easy for us to keep an eye on the water level, but the hose attachment for continuous drainage was a relief when we weren’t home. Thanks to its portability, its movement was smooth and breeze because of its solid build, sturdy wheels, hooks, and side handle.
When we tested in a 1200 square feet room, the dehumidifier handled 50 pints of water before we had to empty it. Not to forget the added convenience washable filter offers.
If frequent trips to keep an eye on the water level are not your thing, get your hands on a likewise similar Frigidaire Gallery FGAC5044W1 model. We tested it and found its water level updates by Wi-Fi connection with both Alexa and Google Assistant smooth and right on time.
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2. Best Combo Unit if You Don’t Have An Air Purifier
Even though we have already discussed the best combo units you can buy, Tenergy Sorbi is the one you can rely on if you are short on time. Tenergy Sorbi, with a 1000 milliliter capacity, could extract up to 70 ml of water from our surroundings in the sweltering summers.
If a dehumidifier was not in need, we used the unit alone as an air purifier to keep the surrounding air clean and comfortable. Equipped with HEPA filters that last up to six months and trap particles up to 0.3 microns.
When the summers peaked at almost 118°F and 80 to 90 percent humidity, causing water to run off on glass windows, Tenergy Sorbi compact unit became a lifesaver. We did not have to run after every few hours to check the water level, thanks to the water level indicator that turns red when full. Even at its highest setting, the noise is unnoticeable.
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3. Best Humidifier for Low Humidity
Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier is undoubtedly the best overall, thanks to its robust design and intelligent features. Unlike other ultrasonic humidifiers, Levoit Classic 300S does not cause over-humidification. It is equipped with an advanced humidistat that helps us reach an optimal humidity level in the room and then maintain it with its auto setting.
Along with its excellent performance, the unit offers user-friendly accessible features like cleaning reminders, connects with Alexa and Google to give voice commands in memory, and programmed daily operations. It immediately helped us with dry cough within a few hours of its use.
The mere setting of the unit took only a few minutes; no complicated or extra steps. With a tank capacity of 1.5 gallons, we only had to fill it once to run it for the whole day. The minimal footprint and sleek look make it the best choice for bedrooms and its quiet operation.
As we did, you can also add the aroma pads in the aromatherapy tray to level up your game (it can’t be added while the unit is running). Try not to use hard water as it can leave a trail of particles on furniture; however, that’s nothing to worry about as it can be cleaned easily.
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Takeaways
Air purifiers remove airborne contaminants without affecting the humidity levels in your indoor space. If you want help with dry air or remove some humidity, some excellent humidifiers and dehumidifiers will help fix humidity issues.
Depending on the air issues you’re facing at your home, you can use an air purifier or a humidifier. You can see what each brings to the table here.
If your indoor space is suffering from higher-than-normal humidity, alongside other air quality issues, an air purifier-dehumidifier combo will be a better choice.
You can read more here: 5 Best Dehumidifier Air Purifier Combo in 2022