When the air in your home is damp or dry, it can lead to many health issues. These can include respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, asthma, sore throat, skin and eye irritation, and more.
At this point, you may wonder whether you need a dehumidifier or air purifier. An air purifier and a dehumidifier are two different electrical components with distinct functions.
The difference between a dehumidifier and an air purifier is that the former removes moisture from the air, and the latter helps clean the air. Although these appliances work differently, they will remove dust mites, mold, and other microbes from the air.
Contents
Can you use an air purifier and dehumidifier together?
You can use an air purifier and dehumidifier in the same room without any problem. Both devices can work together in tandem without inhibiting the performance of the other.
Placing the units in your home will kill and prevent mold, musty odors, and dust mites.
How an air purifier and dehumidifier work in the same room
When powered on, an air purifier works by eliminating dust, pollen, odors, pet dander, bacteria, and allergens from the house. It will circulate fresh air through filters and trap airborne contaminants. Once it removes harmful particulates from indoor air, it will purify and clean it.
At the same time, the dehumidifier will remove excess moisture from the air. It will prevent contaminants from surviving in the air. The device also helps stop the growth and spread of microorganisms. You will breathe comfortably without worrying about microbes causing asthma or allergies.
When can you use an air purifier and dehumidifier at the same time?
A classic example of when to use a dehumidifier air purifier combo is in the basement. Most homes have basements that feel less hospitable and have musty smells. The odors may be because of dampness, which can cause mold growth.
In this case, you can tackle the dampness, musty smell, and mold by using both an air purifier and dehumidifier. The dehumidifier will help to eliminate the excess moisture and control the spread of mold. It will also maintain the humidity in the room to around 40%.
If the moisture problem has been worse, or the mold problem has been ongoing for a long time, this is where you should run an air purifier. The unit will trap harmful pollutants causing the musty smell, including bacteria and mold spores.
Even if you decide to clean the mold, the act of removing it will dislodge its spores and send them into the air, hence the need for the air purifier to prevent them from floating from one room to another.
Understand that using both machines together at the same time will only work well if you are experiencing extreme dump and moisture issues.
If the climate is not humid, it will not cause moisture. There will be no need to use a dehumidifier in such a case. However, an air purifier will continue to clean the air.
What happens if you put a humidifier and a dehumidifier in the same room?
When you put a humidifier and dehumidifier in the same room, the humidity will reach the equilibrium of about 50%.
Essentially, the humidifier will work by emitting water vapor or steam to increase moisture levels in the air, also known as humidity.
The dehumidifier will work to remove the water from the air. As the relative humidity rises to 100%, the maximum output of the humidifier will drop.
Expect the humidifier to work faster in putting water into the room than the dehumidifier to draw it out. But since a humidifier needs more water, which the dehumidifier will eliminate from the air, its output will drop significantly. At this point, the dehumidifier will only work to maintain the ideal humidity level, which is around 50%.
While the above may seem like a simple explanation, it requires further experimentation. Also, it may take some time to reach equilibrium. That also assumes the dehumidifier has a drain hose.
Conclusion
You can use both an air purifier and dehumidifier in the same room and at the same time. The air purifier will help clean the air, while the dehumidifier will remove excess moisture from the air. As the units work together, they will eliminate dust mites, mold spores, and other microbes that can cause health issues.
You can also use a humidifier and dehumidifier simultaneously. That can happen if you feel your room does not have enough humidity and you want to add more and control it.