Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier: What Best Suits You
One key difference between air scrubber and dehumidifiers is what they remove from indoor air. An air purifier filters out pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, pollens, dead skin, allergens, smoke, and other debris from the air, whereas dehumidifiers take out the extra moisture from the air.
Let's find out more about what makes them different and which is best for you.
What is an Air Purifier?
An air purifier is an electric device that removes pollutants like pollen, dust mites, smoke, and pet dander. It uses an internal filter and fan to draw in and trap unwanted particles from the air from a specific indoor area. The cleaned air is then released back into that specific indoor area. This process repeats several times an hour. Doing so boosts the indoor air quality.
You can use air purifiers to purify the air in your home office or other spaces. They come in various types. Each serves best for different purposes. If you live in a space where people smoke a lot, you can use an air purifier for smoke smell or air purifiers for smokers. Similarly, commercial air purifiers are ideal for workspace uses.
What is a Dehumidifier?
Dehumidifiers are electric devices that reduce the moisture level from the air in your home. It draws in the moist air from its surroundings or room, cools it down to dense the moisture into the water, and then releases the dehumidified air back into the room.
Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier: What Are the Key Differences?
When choosing air scrubbers and dehumidifiers, it’s important to consider their distinct features and benefits.
An air scrubber for home is engineered to reduce airborne contaminants with the help of components like activated carbon filters, HEPA filters, ionizers, and UV light. There are different types of air filters. HEPA filters are effective for mold mildew. Whereas, ionic air filters are best at removing odors from the air. Others like UV air purifiers are specially designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
An air scrubber filter is ideal for people with asthma and allergies and those who live in polluted areas.
These units need regular maintenance and they can be a little noisy sometimes.
On the other hand, dehumidifiers lower the humidity levels in the air. The components of a dehumidifier include a condenser, a fan, a water tank, and refrigerant coils. These devices are beneficial for removing mold, mildew, and moisture in high-humidity areas. They can also be noisy and require maintenance. For instance, you’ll need to empty the water tank regularly.
Both purifiers and dehumidifiers have their specific uses. Air scrubbers, particularly an air purifier for pets or a large room air purifier, are best for homes with pets or smokers, and areas with high pollution.
Whereas dehumidifiers best suit bathrooms, basements, and also homes in humid climates.
Each appliance has unique functions, features, benefits, and maintenance needs. You can choose to use one or both, depending on your specific needs.
Comparison Table: Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier
|
Features |
Air Purifier |
Dehumidifier |
|
Main Function |
Remove pollutants from indoor air |
Reduces air moisture level |
|
Components |
Carbon Filters, HEPA Filters, UV light |
Fan, coil, water tank |
|
Suitable for |
Allergies, smoke, smell |
Mold, humidity |
|
Energy Use |
Higher models use less energy |
Energy efficient |
|
Typical Locations |
Bedroom, living room, office |
Bathrooms, basements |
|
Maintenance |
Filter cleaning and replacement |
Drainage maintenance |
Choosing one depends on your home conditions and requirements. So, you can buy a purifier or humidifier whichever best fits your needs. Or you can buy both of them for best results.
At AlorairScrubber, we use advanced technology to produce top-quality air scrubbers and dehumidifiers. Our mold air purifiers and scrubbers leverage UV light to neutralize harmful microorganisms effectively. These powerful UV air purifiers ensure these organisms are either killed or rendered incapable of replication.
Explore our website if you want to know more about our products. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier: Which is Better for Allergies?
The quality of home air significantly impacts the quality of life you enjoy especially when you spend more time indoors. Air purifier scrubbers and dehumidifiers serve different purposes in improving indoor air quality. Both can be installed as parts of your HVAC system or you can use portable units for specific rooms.
The two appliances are commonly used to reduce indoor allergic symptoms. Which device works best for allergies? This depends on the type of allergy you have and the types of air contaminants in your home.
An air purifier can be the right choice if:
- You or any member of your family have asthma or allergies.
- Your home has low humidity.
- Your eyes and lungs feel unforgettable due to irritants like smoke and pet odors.
And a dehumidifier might fit well if:
Remember you can always choose both for the best results.
Related Reading: Would An Air Purifier Help With Dust?
Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier: Which Works Best in Your Region?
Which works best in your area—air scrubber or dehumidifier? The right choices depend on where you live. If you live in a dusty region such as a place near a highway or industrial area, it would be more beneficial if you consider buying an air purifier.
However, if your house is located near a coast or a damp, humid area, a dehumidifier can be a more suitable option. To keep your dehumidifier effective you need to clean it and change the water tank regularly.
FAQs
Are air purifiers better than dehumidifiers?
Both are different and serve different purposes. So, neither is fundamentally better. The right choice depends on your needs. Air purifiers are the better choice if you want to remove air contaminants like dust, debris, pollens, and allergens. And dehumidifiers serve better if you want to control the humidity in the air.
Do air purifiers dry out the air?
No, they don’t dry out the air. The main function of air scrubbers or purifiers is to reduce the dust particles from the air and they don’t affect the moisture level in the air. Dehumidifiers are used to control the moisture level in the air.
Should you run an air purifier all night?
Yes, it’s a safe practice to run an air purifier or scrubber all night especially if your purifier doesn’t produce ozone and it isn’t an ionizer air purifier. The benefits include reduced respiratory risks, improved air quality, and better sleep.
Who needs an air purifier the most?
Those who need air scrubber purifiers the most include people with asthma, allergies, and respiratory conditions. Those living in highly polluted areas, households with pets and kids, and elderly members also have strong needs for such appliances.
Conclusion
Air scrubber purifiers and dehumidifiers seem to share some common features but they serve different purposes.
Air purifiers are best at removing dust, debris, and pollen from the indoor air. Whereas, the main focus of a dehumidifier is to take out the excess moisture from the air. Both help improve the indoor air quality.
As we already discussed above, choosing a purifier, dehumidifier or both depends on the specific needs and preferences. If you use them together, it can produce cleaner and more comfortable air to breathe.
