According to the American Lung Association, the average human breathes in just over 2,000 gallons of air daily. With this amount of air entering our lungs, taking steps to ensure our spaces have clean, high-quality air and filtering out dirt, dust and debris is essential. Installing purifiers or humidifiers in our homes can help.

What is the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier? Both these devices are designed to improve indoor air quality. However, they do so in very different ways. In a nutshell, air purifiers eliminate contaminants from the air, while air humidifiers add moisture.

To decide which to choose, you need clarity on how each device works and the benefits it can bring to your home. Below, we've created a detailed air purifier versus air humidifier comparison guide to help you make the best decision for you and your needs.

What Is an Air Purifier?

An air purifier cleans the air in a room by removing harmful pollutants and particles. It uses an air filtration system that traps dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke and other microscopic pollutants and prevents them from circulating throughout your space. As a result, air purifiers can improve a room's overall indoor air quality (IAQ).

IAQ refers to the quality of the air within and around buildings and how it relates to people's health and comfort. Many sources can affect the quality of our indoor air, including:

Inadequate ventilation.
Tobacco products.
Household cleaning products.
High temperatures.
Outdoor air pollution.

It can be challenging to control some of these factors that affect IAQ. For example, we have no control over outdoor air pollution and the high temperatures that often come with summer months. However, using an air purifier can be an effective way to eliminate potentially harmful particles from your indoor air.

Types of Air Purifiers

There are many different types of air purifiers. The most common and effective are high-efficacy particle air (HEPA) filters, which can capture 99.97% of pollutants from the air and any airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. These filters release purified air back into the room, leaving the air fresher and cleaner. These can be ideal for spaces where people have allergies or asthma.

Other popular types of air purifiers include:

Portable air purifiers: These are small, compact, and easy to move around. They are ideal for small to medium-sized rooms.
Central air purifiers: These options are installed in the ductwork of the central heating and cooling system and are ideal for larger buildings.
Activated carbon air purifiers: This type purifies the air and is ideal for indoor settings with strong pollutants or odors.
Whole-house air purifiers: These are often installed as part of a home or building's HVAC system and can cover a large area.
UV-C light air purifiers: This model uses UV-C light to purify the air. They are ideal for spaces with a higher risk of spreading viruses or germs.
Two-pole active (TPA) air purifiers: A TPA purifier generates a high-voltage electric field to destroy harmful air particles and leave the air cleaner and fresher.

Air Purifier Benefits

Do you need an air purifier? If you or your family has pets, allergies or compromised immunity, the answer is likely yes.

Air purifiers benefit homes where family members have allergies or asthma as they work to purify the air and remove the particles that aggravate these health challenges. In households with pets, they're also great for removing dander and odors that dogs and cats can often bring inside. Air purifiers are also great for eliminating flu viruses and bacteria.

What Is an Air Humidifier?

An air humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air in your home. It is ideally used in dry climates or in winter when the air becomes very dry.

Especially dry air can affect your health in different ways, often contributing to the following:

Asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory challenges
Eye irritation
Nose bleeds
Dehydration
Sore throat
Dry skin
High-stress levels
Increased risk of infections

Since humidifiers release water vapor into the air, they can increase the moisture levels in the home, help make breathing easier and reduce aggravating the above-mentioned health challenges.

Similar to air purifiers, air humidifiers can also improve the overall IAQ. They achieve this by protecting you from the adverse effects of dry air and supporting optimal humidity levels in your home.

Types of Air Humidifiers

Like purifiers, there are several types of humidifiers, including:

Evaporative humidifiers: These are the most common. They use a fan to blow air through a moistened wick or filter, adding cool mist to the air.
Ultrasonic humidifiers: These models use ultrasonic vibrations to create a fine mist. They operate with little to no noise and are energy-efficient.
Steam vaporizers: This type boils water to produce a warm mist. They can be great for relieving cold and flu symptoms.
Impeller humidifiers: Impeller options release a cool mist using a rotating disk. They’re also typically child-friendly because they carry no risk for burns.
Central humidifiers: These are installed directly into the HVAC system and humidify your entire home. This makes them effective for large spaces.

Air Humidifier Benefits

Dry air can make it easier for germs and viruses to circulate, and a humidifier can help keep them from spreading by adding moisture to the air.

If any family members suffer from cold and flu symptoms, a humidifier can also be great for them because the moisture can relieve nasal congestion and other related ailments.

Humidifier vs. Purifier: Key Differences

Understanding the difference between air purifiers and humidifiers can help you make the right choice for your needs.

Function

Air purifiers are designed to remove pollutants and harmful bacteria from the air. They can be ideal for people with allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues. Air purifiers use filters or other technologies to trap or neutralize airborne particles.

Air humidifiers add moisture to the air, improving comfort levels and preventing problems caused by dry air. They use water to create a mist and increase the humidity levels in a room.

Usage

Purifiers are suitable throughout the year, especially in polluted or allergen-heavy environments. On the other hand, humidifiers are typically used in dry climates or seasons or when indoor heating causes low humidity levels.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between an Air Purifier or a Humidifier

So, which is better, an air purifier or a humidifier? There is no “better” option. It all depends on your unique needs. If you’re still unsure of whether a purifier or humidifier is right for your home, here are a few key factors to think about.

Room Size and Layout

Understanding the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for air purifiers is essential. In a nutshell, this measures how quickly the purifier can filter the pollutants in a room. A high CADR means the purifier can handle larger spaces or higher pollution levels.

Check the CADR rating to ensure the purifier matches your room's square footage. If the space is too big, the purifier may struggle to clean the air.

On the other hand, humidifiers need to be the right size to avoid over-humidifying, which can lead to dampness or mold and mildew growth. For example, tabletop humidifiers can be ideal for small bedrooms, while large living rooms may need a console model.

The room's layout is also essential. Open spaces or odd corners can affect how healthy air circulates, making it more challenging for either device to perform optimally.

Specific Health Concerns

You and your family's specific health concerns should also guide your choice. If allergies or asthma are your main challenges, an air purifier is likely the better option.

However, if dry air is causing issues like irritated sinuses, a persistent cough or dry skin, then a humidifier may be the best choice.

Maintenance Requirements

Air purifier maintenance mainly involves replacing the filter. If you choose this option, you should know that HEPA filters usually need replacing every six to 12 months, depending on usage. Other types of purifiers require cleaning or swapping out more frequently.

Humidifiers typically require regular cleaning to prevent mold, bacteria and mineral buildup. Most need their water tanks emptied, washed and dried after every use. Following the manufacturer's servicing and maintenance instructions is important to supporting peak performance. For humidifiers that are permanently installed, you'll need a professional to service them regularly.

Cost Considerations

Air purifiers typically have a higher upfront cost, especially if you opt for a model with advanced features like smart controls. Depending on the model, you'll also need to budget for replacing filters once or twice a year.

Humidifiers often have a lower upfront cost. Both purifiers and humidifiers use electricity, but energy-efficient models can help keep these costs down.

Energy Efficiency

Air purifiers, especially those with high CADR ratings and HEPA filters, are designed to run continuously to maintain air quality. While many modern purifiers are energy-efficient, their constant operation can still add up. So, if you're going this route, choose models with the Energy Star certification to help minimize energy consumption.

Humidifiers typically consume less energy since they're often used seasonally or intermittently. This means that if your budget is limited, an air humidifier might perfectly suit your needs.

Noise Levels

So far, our primary focus has been health and costs, but noise levels can make a big difference in your comfort, especially if you plan to use your purifier and humidifier in quiet spaces like bedrooms or home offices.

Air purifiers often generate a consistent hum, but the noise levels vary depending on the fan speed. Many modern models can include a sleep mode or quieter operation at lower settings, making them suitable for nighttime use. However, at higher speeds, some purifiers may get noticeably louder.

Humidifier noise levels vary depending on the type of humidifier you choose. Generally speaking, the ultrasonic models tend to be quiet and are barely noticeable. Since central humidifiers are integrated into your HVAC system, they blend in with the system's operation, and the noise levels are often unnoticeable.

In a nutshell, you can choose an air purifier if your main priority is to:

Eliminate or reduce allergens and pet dander.
Get rid of household odors that often come from pets, cooking and mold.
Reduce indoor dust particles that often accumulate and may affect people's health.
Reduce the chances of triggering respiratory conditions like asthma.

You can also choose an air humidifier if your main priority is to:

Overcome dry environments.
Reduce the nosebleeds, sinus pressures and other respiratory conditions caused by dry air.
Improve your home's moisture levels.
Get relief from dry skin or other skin conditions such as eczema.

Boss Mechanical Solutions to Meet Your Needs

If cleaning your home's air is a top priority, our heat recovery ventilation (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV) may be the best choice. These are energy-efficient and help to keep the air clean as you heat and cool your home.

Boss Mechanical also offers top-quality humidifiers to keep your home comfortable and air quality healthy. Whether you're having challenges with dry winter air or year-round low humidity, our humidifiers provide just the right amount of moisture to help soothe your skin, relieve dry sinuses and protect your home from the effects of overly dry air.

Our humidifiers come in different sizes to suit your various needs. For example, the AprilAire Model 600 Large Bypass Evaporative Humidifier is suited for small home spaces of less than 5,000 square feet. It adds dampness as it travels through the moisture-laden water panel to enhance proper humidity levels in your space.

Our AprilAire Model 700 Fan-Powered Evaporative Humidifier is fan-powered. It pulls air from your house's furnace and moisturizes it, then returns it to the air ducts and circulates throughout your space.

The AprilAire Model 800 Steam Humidifier adds moisture by propelling steam through a tube attached to your home's ducts. The steam is created by first heating the water in an internal canister.

There are many more humidifier options available. Understanding your unique needs will help you make the best decision for you and your family.

Let Boss Mechanical Help You Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Both air purifiers and air humidifiers can help improve a home's overall IAQ. Choosing between these two really depends on your environment and your needs. In a nutshell, if you live in a dry climate, a humidifier can help add much-needed moisture to your air while purifiers remove air pollutants.

Boss Mechanical offers high-performing HVAC systems to clean and purify the air circulating in your home. We also offer humidifiers, which can help balance the humidity levels of your entire home. These devices help you stay healthier and more comfortable by protecting you from many airborne issues.

Contact Boss Mechanical today if you're ready for healthier air in your home.

Air Purifier vs. Air Humidifier: Which Is the Right Option for Your Home?