Air purifiers and humidifiers both have a significant impact on the indoor air you breathe, but each work in a unique way and have their own set of advantages. Whether you want to provide relief from allergies or dry air conditions or create a healthy work environment, you must know the differences between air purifiers and humidifiers.

In this article, we’ll go over how each device works, as well as the benefits they provide, to help you decide which one is right for your business. Continue reading below to discover how Design Mechanical can help you take the first step toward clean, healthy air in your commercial building.

How Does an Air Purifier Work?

Air purifiers remove pollutants and allergens from the air in your building and release clean, fresh air. Air purifiers trap everything floating around in the air, such as pet dander, dust mites, and mold spores, all of which cause various respiratory ailments, including asthma, allergies, sneezing, and stuffy noses. This is particularly crucial for people with severe allergies and those who live in cities with high pollution levels.

In contrast to a humidifier, an air purifier does not add moisture to the air in your building. Air purifiers utilize fans and air filters (like HEPA filters) to draw impurities out of your air and trap them. The air purifier pulls air from the surrounding environment through the filter, trapping undesired particles and pollutants before discharging clean air back into the room.

Filtering levels and types differ from model to model and brand to brand. Furthermore, the square footage that each model covers varies, meaning you will have to find the correct unit for your space. Some versions are compact enough to be transported from room to room as needed.

Benefits of Air Purifiers

An air purifier provides many advantages, particularly for people who suffer from severe asthma or allergies. Here are a couple of benefits that air purifiers can provide.

Eliminate Harmful Chemicals

Even if you don’t live in a major city with a lot of traffic, pollutants from cleaning products can lower your indoor air quality. Many common office cleaners have toxic compounds like ammonia, chlorine, and phthalates. While small doses of these chemicals may not be harmful, repeated exposure can cause health problems.

Air purifiers are designed to trap contaminants and recycle fresh air back into the workspace using a very porous form of carbon, removing chemical impurities and reducing the risk of health issues.

Reduce the Risk of Airborne Illnesses

Airborne infections like the common cold and flu are spread by microscopic bacteria floating through the air. If someone in your office has the flu, the air becomes contaminated with bacteria and viruses, putting the rest of your staff at risk of becoming ill, as well. Luckily, these bacteria and viruses are captured by air purifiers, allowing you to eliminate the source of airborne diseases and protect your staff and customers.

How Do Humidifiers Work?

If you work somewhere dry, your office’s air may become overly arid, especially in the winter. To compensate for the cold, office managers frequently increase the heat. However, increasing your heat dehydrates the air, which causes various side effects, such as dry skin and irritated nasal passages.

Similar to air purifiers, humidifiers are beneficial to those who suffer from chronic allergies and respiratory ailments. However, unlike air purifiers, humidifiers add moisture to your air by converting water into steam and emitting a slight, warm mist into the environment.

There are two types of humidifiers: cool-operating and warm-operating. Warm-operating humidifiers boil water to create steam, which then circulates through the air. Cool-running humidifiers use movement or vibrations to split water into droplets, which the humidifier then diffuses into the air without using heat.

Benefits of Humidifiers

Humidifiers can benefit your health and your office in a variety of ways. Here are a few of the benefits that humidifiers provide.

Prevent Dry Skin

Our bodies rely on water to function correctly. Dry conditions deplete moisture, resulting in dry skin, chapped lips, and bloodshot eyes. Our skin is typically the first place we see irritation when exposed to arid conditions. A humidifier can help keep your skin moisturized and prevent it from drying out.

Soothe Your Sinuses

Low humidity has a bad reputation for drying out your sinuses. When this happens, it’s a dreadful feeling that can lead to nasal irritation, sinus pressure, and migraines. When your nose is stuffy, a humidifier can help clear it out. Not only can having the right amount of humidity in the air calm your sinuses, but it can also help clear out excess mucous so that you can breathe more freely.

Get Started with Design Mechanical Today!

Humidifiers and air purifiers are two excellent options if you’re looking to improve the air quality in your workplace. We hope the information provided in this article helped you understand the differences between humidifiers and air purifiers so that you can make the best decision for your business.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward a cleaner, healthier work environment, Design Mechanical is here to help.

At Design Mechanical, our number one priority is ensuring that the air you, your employees, and your customers breathe is safe. We strive to deliver the best indoor air quality and purification services in the Kansas City region. Our team of air purification specialists is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that our customers receive consistent service all year round.

If you’re thinking about installing an air purification system in your commercial business but don’t know where to begin, give Design Mechanical a call today at (913) 281-7200 to set up a free consultation and learn more about how we can help!