Air purifiers and dehumidifiers are both handy appliances that help us regulate the air in our home for our comfort, health and well-being. However, which one of these is better? Do you need an air purifier, a dehumidifier or both? Keep reading to find out.
Air Purifier vs Dehumidifier
Air purifiers, as the name suggests, function by purifying the air. They do so by filtering and sanitizing various particles in the air such as pollen, dust, toxins and allergens.
Though pollution is often seen as being limited to the outdoors, the air inside our homes has a lot of particles in it, which amounts to pollution too. The presence of these particles can be harmful to us.
Depending on the kind of air purifier you have, the appliance either filters out the particles first or directly neutralizes them.
On the other hand, dehumidifiers reduce the humidity in the air. Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. The humidity level can result from the climate of the region or the function of your space.
Dehumidifiers make use of the process of condensation to remove the humidity in the air. The air is fed through cold coils inside the humidifier, causing the water vapor in the air to condense and collect below. The air that is left is much drier and cooler.
Which Is Better: Dehumidifier or Air Purifier?
Whether a dehumidifier is better for you or an air purifier will depend on your personal needs as they are both valuable appliances that serve different functions.
A dehumidifier removes excess humidity from the air, which can be especially crucial for your wellbeing and comfort if you live in a region with extremely high humidity levels, such as a coastal area or an area that experiences high rainfall.
Besides being uncomfortable, high humidity levels can lead to the growth of various pests in your home including dust mites.
A constant humidity in the air can lead to the growth of mold and dampness in your walls and belongings, leading to an increase in pests such as spiders, silverfish, cockroaches and so on.
Mold can damage the walls of your home and increase your risk of respiratory diseases as well.
High levels of humidity can also exacerbate symptoms of allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues.
On the other hand, air purifiers cannot help with humidity but can help with pollutants in the air.
If you struggle with a high amount of dust particles or pet hair in your home, an air purifier can help you filter and neutralize these particles so that you are less prone to allergies.
An air purifier can also help remove toxins from the air if you are using your space for industrial processes like chemical disinfecting, painting or pest control.
Is There a Dehumidifier and Air Purifier Combo?
If you decide that you need to both dehumidify and purify the air in your home, then you might be wondering if there is a solution for this.
A popular option is to buy both an air purifier and a dehumidifier as two separate appliances. You can safely use both the appliances in your home to get sanitized and dehumidified air.
However, there is no need to buy two separate appliances. There are many options in the market for a two-in-one combined device that can function as both an air purifier and a dehumidifier.
It is entirely possible to have a dehumidifier and air purifier combo though they have only recently become widely available.
The essential components of an air purifier are the various filters through which the air is passed in order to remove and neutralize the particles in it.
The essential component of a dehumidifier is the coil through which the air is passed to reduce its temperature and a container to collect the water particles that condense from the air.
The main issue with dehumidifier and air purifier combos is that though it might be simple to combine these components, it is difficult to create a compact and portable design that will fit both.
Reasons to Get an Air Purifier and Dehumidifier Combo
Though air purifiers and dehumidifiers have different functions, they go very well together to provide a much better experience for you.
Excessive humidity in the air makes it easier for contaminants to stay and grow in the atmosphere of your home. If you live in a highly humid area, not only is the humidity causing discomfort for you but it is also likely increasing the contaminants in the air.
Your air purifier will remove the contaminants in your air and sanitize it from any particles, toxins or allergens. Meanwhile, your dehumidifier will reduce the humidity and make it harder for contaminants to grow.
Together, they form a great solution to a host of home and health issues. If you are someone who struggles with allergies or asthma, an air purifier and dehumidifier combo is a solution that will significantly improve your quality of life.
Similarly, this combo will also help with the other benefits of each appliance, such as protecting your home from mold, removing toxins and reducing the growth of pests.
In recent times, particles in the air have become a significant source of concern, especially indoors, as they can lead to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. During this pandemic, the benefits of this combo are even more apparent.
An air purifier and dehumidifier combo can help you significantly reduce the risk of transmission of the virus in your home.
An air purifier and dehumidifier combo will be much less of a strain on your budget than getting two separate appliances. Not only will you save on the cost of purchasing the appliances but you will also reduce energy costs and hence make long-term savings.
An air purifier and dehumidifier combo will also help you reduce the strain on your circuit since using two heavy appliances at the same time and often in the same room can cause a strain on the system.
Factors to Consider When Getting an Air Purifier and Dehumidifier Combo
The following factors are essential to consider when getting an air purifier and dehumidifier combo.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most significant benefits of getting an air purifier and dehumidifier combo is that it can help you reduce energy consumption.
However, certain models may be inefficient when it comes to energy usage and hence defeat the point of buying a combo.
When getting an air purifier and dehumidifier combo, it is imperative to check the energy efficiency of the model.
Size
Fitting in the components of both the air purifier and dehumidifier in one appliance often leads to machines that are very large.
While this is not necessarily a problem, prepare yourself for the size of the model you are buying and ensure that you have enough space to spare or make sure to look for a portable model.
Capacity
A dehumidifier functions by cooling the air around it so that the water vapor in the air can get condensed. The dehumidifier hence needs to collect the condensed water vapor somewhere.
Make sure that the dehumidifier you are buying has the suitable capacity to collect water based on your needs. The capacity of the dehumidifier will dictate how long it can be used before the container needs to be emptied.
Best Air Purifier and Dehumidifier Combo
The Tenergy Sorbi dehumidifier with an included air purifying function is the best air purifier and dehumidifier combo in the market. It combines the most outstanding features of the two appliances without compromising on convenience.
The appliance has a high-quality true High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filter that captures the air’s most minute contaminants to give you thoroughly sanitized air so that you don’t need to worry about what you are breathing in:
The tank of the dehumidifier has a capacity of 1 liter and can remove 750 ml of moisture from the air in a day. To avoid the tank from overflowing, it has convenient features such as a water fullness indicator and an automatic switch-off function.
This air purifier and dehumidifier combo packs all of these functions at a highly convenient and compact size and weighs just seven pounds.
FAQ’s
Where Should an Air Purifier Be Placed in a Room?
The air purifier needs to be placed in any of those parts of the room from where new air enters the room, such as doors and windows, a few feet above the floor. This is so that the air purifier can get direct access to the air.
It can also be placed near a particular source of contaminants if there is any. For instance, if you have a newly varnished or painted area, you can place the air purifier nearby to neutralize the toxins coming out from there.
What’s Better for Mold Air Purifier or Dehumidifier?
The most enabling circumstance for the growth of mold is the presence of moisture. Mold can grow on any surface where moisture can be found.
Hence, though an air purifier can remove and sanitize mold particles from the air, a dehumidifier gets to the root cause of mold by removing moisture. Therefore, a dehumidifier is better for mold.
Do Air Purifiers Help with Condensation?
Condensation essentially points to high levels of humidity in the air. When the humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces, the water vapor condenses to form water particles.
Air purifiers cannot help with condensation as they use either a filter or charged ions to remove or neutralize particles in the air, such as dust, allergens, pollen, toxins, etc.
Bottom Line
Air purifiers and dehumidifiers can both be beneficial in your life depending on your needs based on your location, health issues and personal preferences. If you need both appliances, then don’t hesitate to get an air purifier and dehumidifier combo which can give you the best of both worlds.
