While they both have their merits, a good air purifier is the better solution when it comes to allergies. Humidifiers can alleviate symptoms and help your body cope during allergy season. Air purifiers, on the other hand, can actively remove allergens from the air you breathe at home.
Though an air purifier cannot help an existing cold, it might ease your symptoms by removing other respiratory irritants from the air. According to the NIH, a humidifier may help relieve a stuffy nose and the discomfort of colds or flu. The right level of humidity may also provide a protective benefit from viruses.
Increased humidity may ease breathing in children and adults who have asthma or allergies, especially during a respiratory infection such as a cold. But mist from a dirty humidifier or increased growth of allergens caused by high humidity can trigger or worsen asthma and allergy symptoms.
Humidifiers increase moisture levels in a home. Much like air purifiers, humidifiers are beneficial to those of us with asthmatic conditions. But unlike humidifiers, air purifiers provide the most benefit to those whose respiratory issues are worsened due to dry air.
Both systems help reduce ailments like chest congestion, allergies, and asthma. For example, a dehumidifier can help treat asthma that is triggered by humid air. Or, if you are suffering from a cold that has caused nasal passage blockage or sinus congestion, using a humidifier will help break that up.
For people with allergies, scientific studies have shown that air filtration reduces these airborne allergens and may provide some relief. Experts recommend two types of filtration: For a single room, look for an air cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.
In short, high humidity over about 50% requires a dehumidifier, and low humidity under about 30% requires a humidifier. Spending too long outside the ideal humidity range could lead to discomfort, health effects, and structural and cosmetic problems in your home.
Air purifiers are not dehumidifiers. Indeed, they can reduce humidity since they increase air circulation. However, the amount of humidity reduced by an air purifier is almost wholly neglectable. Therefore, air purifiers do not dry out sinuses under normal conditions.
The short answer: yes. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recommends an air purifier during bedtime to promote better breathing while you sleep.
What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.
While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.
The duration to run a humidifier varies, but typically, it's beneficial to run it for about 12 hours daily, usually overnight. Factors such as room size, current humidity levels, and personal health needs can influence the duration. Ensure the room's humidity stays between 30% and 50% to maintain a healthy environment.
In addition to reducing clutter, an all-in-one humidifier and air purifier can free up room if you live in a small space. DeVries further explained that some features of all-in-one air purifiers and humidifiers can minimize the risk of fungus growth.
Air Purifier Placement Tips and Takeaways
Keep your device away from heat sources. Keep your device away from moisture or areas with high humidity. Place your device at least 6 inches from walls, furniture, or other items while in use. Place your air purifier near the most likely source of indoor air pollution.
Humidifiers release moisture into the air, which keeps the nasal and upper respiratory passages from getting too dry. This can help you breathe easier when you have a runny nose, chest congestion, cough, or sore throat.
The best place to put an air purifier is somewhere in your breathing zone. The closer the unit is to your head, the shorter distance clean air has to travel before it reaches you. In the bedroom, this usually translates to putting the air purifier on a nightstand or small table close to the bed.
The best place for a humidifier in your bedroom is the center. Preferably, it should be 3 feet away from your bed. You can also use a hygrometer to measure the humidity levels in different spots in your room and then place it where the numbers are quite low.
Overall, humidifiers are safe to keep overnight when you're asleep. It's beneficial and helpful in many ways. It'll help your skin, lowers infection risk, and you'll sleep better at night.
An air purifier can be a great investment for allergy and sinus sufferers. If you are looking for relief from allergy symptoms or sinus pressure, an air purifier may be able to help. Additionally, an air purifier can also improve your breathing and reduce your risk of getting sick.
Sinusitis experts agree that adding humidity to the air with a humidifier is generally good for sinus health. "Humidifiers can help nasal congestion in that they provide for more moisture and humidity within the nose," says Mark A.
In some cases, the use of an air purifier can cause your allergies to become worse instead of better. In most cases, this is due to ionizer units that increase the number of allergens and dust in the air.
Using a hygrometer is the easiest way to measure the humidity in your home. The device measures humidity and temperature and is easy to use as a simple thermometer.
Using a humidifier in the home can help relieve a stuffy nose and can help break up mucus so you can cough it up. Humidified air can relieve the discomfort of colds and the flu.
So, does a humidifier stop and get rid of mould? The short answer is – it does not. But since mould loves to grow in damp areas, a dehumidifier plays an important role in preventing mould growth by reducing humidity and removing excess moisture.