Breathing in the fresh air should be quite a straightforward affair, right? Judging from increased pollution, you’d be surprised to know that it isn’t that simple. Thanks to pollutants, you need to have a purifier and a humidifier to have a shot at breathing clean air.
If you were considering getting either of the two but couldn’t make up your mind about which one, then I am glad to inform you that you can have both. Enter the air purifier and humidifier combo. This device is capable of simultaneously purifying and humidifying the air in your living spaces.
Why a 2-in-1 is a Smart Investment?
Here are some of the reasons why buying a 2-in-1 might be the best choice for you;
Cost-Effectiveness
Since the individual devices have their own prices getting the two at once would be relatively more expensive than if you decided to go for the combo.
Dual Functionality
This goes without saying. With the 2-in-1 you can tackle two problems with the help of one device.
Convenience
The convenience of having a single device with dual functions cannot be understated. If you live in a house where your planning is constrained by little space, this would be a smart investment.
Reduced Energy Consumption
On average, the 2-in-1 consumes less energy than its respective standalone counterparts. It takes less energy to use several services on one device than when the services are accessed from two different devices.
Features to Look for While Choosing a Humidifier and Air Purifier Combo
There are various features that would distinguish the ideal humidifier-purifier combo from just any other device. This feature is what would enable you to choose the one that best suits you. These include room size, energy efficiency, great filtration system, and varying tank sizes to cater to small as well as large rooms.
Once I bought a standalone humidifier but setting it up realized its reach was only limited. It couldn’t get to some parts of my rather large living room. This is why you have to ensure you purchase a device with the ability to work even in your large living room. In addition to this, you need a system that consumes less power to save on energy costs. A good filtration system is another great feature you should consider. A device with a poor filtration system would allow potential allergens to escape back into the air. I wouldn’t want that if I were you.
And finally, you would need to consider the capacity of the water tank since this directly influences the coverage of the device. Smaller water tanks are better suited for smaller rooms while larger ones are a better fit for larger rooms.
How Different are Air Humidifiers from Air Purifiers?
Both of these devices do a commendable job of improving the quality of air circulating in a household. Though they might share this basic function, they have a few differences in the way they work and their make. The fundamental disparity would be in the way they work. Whereas the purifier filters any contaminants that might be present in the air, a humidifier adds moisture to the air to get rid of dry air that might be an irritant.
Also, while a purifier gets rid of pollutants such as dust, pollen, and allergens, the humidifier only gets rid of dry air. The purifier’s filters trap these contaminants and then emit clean air back into circulation.
Although made to perform entirely different functions, purifiers can be used together with humidifiers. They make very wonderful partners in a house with one purifying while the other adds moisture. This can even be in the same room as long as they aren’t that close to each other. For efficient operation, both the purifier and the humidifier need to be well maintained. I regularly clean my humidifier to ensure it is in perfect condition. The purifier on the other hand only needs regular switching of its filters.
How Do Air Purifiers and Humidifiers Affect Your Health?
Various air purifiers are specially designed to trap allergens from the air. These allergens might include, pollen, dust mites, or mold spores. In this way, purifiers help reduce exposure of either asthmatic or allergic people to these triggers that might lurk in the air. (Ed Grabianowski, Molekule 2019)
However, the wrong air purifier would have disastrous consequences for your health. It is advisable to avoid ozone generators if possible since they aren’t as efficient as their counterparts with HEPA filters.
Humidifiers don’t have a notable effect on the number of allergens present in the air. They only help alleviate the symptoms whenever your nasal passages are irritated or dry.
According to Svendsen, Gonzales & Commodore, humidifiers can exacerbate the risk of asthma and other allergies. Also, if a humidifier isn’t efficiently cleaned molds may infest it and pose a potential danger to the allergic members of your household.
What Are Some of The Disadvantages of Using A Purifier-Humidifier Combo?
In the beginning, I waxed lyrically about why the purifier-humidifier combo would be a wise investment. However, everyone knows that nothing is without a few demerits.
Firstly, by being a combination of two devices the combo loses out on some of the superior functions of the standalone devices. The fact that the standalone isn’t tasked with any extra work makes it a better performer at that specific task it was designed for.
Secondly, air purifier-humidifier combos cannot be easily tailor-made to fit your specifications. Standalone purifiers, on the other hand, can be easily designed to target specific pollutants in the air.
Lastly, when going for a purifier-humidifier combo, you are just constrained to only a few choices. There aren’t a variety of options to choose from since only a few are available. I wouldn’t say the same about the standalone devices. There is a plethora of standalone purifiers or humidifiers you are simply spoilt for choice.
Precautions to Take When Using an Air Purifier with A Humidifier
When using the purifier in concert with the humidifier, care should be taken to ensure they aren’t too close to each other. Placing them close to each other would impair the functioning of the purifier as the moisture might dampen the filters. A damp filter would be a habitat for bacteria and mold.
Therefore, the purifier would end up adding contaminants to the air instead of removing them. You wouldn’t want to risk that, would you?
I would advise you to use distilled water in ultrasonic humidifiers to avoid spreading mineral particles into the air. (Healthline) Such particles can be particularly detrimental to the lungs of infants and kids when inhaled.
The 5 Best Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo
1. Boneco Air Washer W200
Kicking off our list is the Boneco W200. Equipped with a special humidifier diffuser that enables you to fill the air with an assorted scents, this is a wonderful machine capable of both air purification and humidification.
It comes with dual operation modes. This is great because the night mode enables you to operate it with minimum noise at night while the day mode allows for maximum operation in the day. The smart automated shutoff whenever the tank is empty helps it conserve energy.
The W200 has a modern-day design capable of seamlessly fitting into an office or home setting. This is because the water base s directly filled. It is a suitable choice for allergic people as it employs the natural cleaning principle that doesn’t require any additives whatsoever.
Another great feature is the easy-to-use knob that enables you to shuttle between its two performance levels. Also, it is quite easy to wash since most of the parts can be easily cleaned either in a dishwasher or washing machine. This saves valuable time that would have otherwise been used in hand scrubbing.
It has a self-controlled evaporation mechanism that allows optimum humidity in the room since the air draws out most of the moisture at any given time. What’s more, it is equipped with an evaporator mat capable of using water to filter out impurities.
Pros
- Relatively easy to wash
- Convenient and slick design
- It comes with a fragrance container
- Can cover a large area
- It is easy to maintain
Cons
- It is quite loud when running in maximum mode
- It is quite heavy
- It is devoid of either the carbon filter or the HEPA filter
- Functionality is quite basic with only a few nobs present
2. Venta LW25 Airwasher
The Venta LW25 like all the other machines on our list can purify the air while simultaneously humidifying it. It has a wide coverage covering up to 400 square feet.
A feature I loved about this device is a 2-gallon water tank that can be automatically shut off once the tank empties. The tank also has an indicator that enables you to easily monitor the water level. It is filter-free which enables be a conscious energy-saving option. It also produces no ozone or ions, which makes it a safe alternative as compared to its ozone-producing counterparts.
It is designed for all kinds of places but would be right at home in living rooms or master bedrooms. It humidifies and purifies by getting rid of pet dander, dust, and other particles down to 0.3 microns.
Using this air washer helps you prevent avoidable afflictions such as the common cold and sinus congestion. It is a lightweight machine that eases the task of moving it from room to room.
You will also be glad to know that its fan is quiet enough to be used in bedrooms at night and offices where silence is necessary. By choosing the Venta, you will be guaranteed consistently exceptional performance due to its filter-free evaporative and air purifier.
Pros
- Relatively Lightweight
- 2-gallon water tank
- Wide coverage of up to 400 square feet
- Relatively quiet fan
Cons
- It lacks a humidity sensor
- Lacks the more efficient HEPA filter
- Doesn’t purify as well as a standalone purifier would
3. Sharp KC-850U Airwasher
This air washer comes with an exclusive patented Sharp cluster ion technology that makes it a better eliminator of microscopic pollutants its counterparts cannot eliminate. It cleans the air by producing positive and negative ions present in water vapor. The ions entrap all kinds of particles in the air preventing allergens from causing complications for you.
You will love the fact that this washer produces little amounts of ozone that wouldn’t be a threat to your health. Sharp uses its proprietary technology known as Plasmacluster in its purifiers that produces a two-fold effect to clean the air.
It is equipped with a triple filtering system that entraps all particles present in the air. The activated carbon in the machine ensures undesirable odors that get through the filter. Its True HEPA filter gets rid of up to 99.97% of air particles that pass through the filter. The HEPA filter reduces the chances of trapped particles escaping and getting back into circulation.
The long-lasting HEPA filters lower the maintenance costs of this machine. They require replacing after a period of about 2 to 5 years, unlike other air washers which last for less time. It is worth noting that the filter life is directly dependent on your environment. In its quick clean mode, the machine releases high-density cluster ions that quickly get rid of dust particles in the air. The fan can also be set to a low speed that produces an easily tolerable 26-decibel sound. This makes it suitable for areas that require silence.
Pros
- Relatively quiet
- Efficient HEPA filtration system
- Low maintenance costs
- Has sensors that detect the humidity of the air
Cons
- Produces some ozone
4. Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh
This is yet another 2-in-1 that is equipped with a True HEPA media filter that traps up to 99% of dust particles in the air. The two-stage filtration makes it a highly efficient machine. Once all the particles in the air have been trapped, they pass the 2nd stage of charcoal filters that get rid of undesirable odors in the air.
The product also has ultrasonic humidification that emits a cool mist that safely adds moisture to dry air without making use of steam. This air washer is suitable for small rooms such as nurseries, bedrooms, or dens.it is also a relatively quiet air washer. This makes it suitable for use in bedrooms or offices where noise should be avoided.
It has an in-built humidistat that is capable of sensing a room’s relative humidity and switching on or off. This makes sure the desired humidity level is maintained all through.
Arguably, the coolest thing about this air washer is the fact that it has a special indicator that enables see a snapshot of the filter’s life and informs you when it’s time to replace it. Isn’t that cool?
There is also an indicator for the water tank that lets you know when the water level is low and turns off the humidifier. The sleep mode enables you to switch the machine to a less noisy operation at night when quiet is necessary. This also switches the machine over to low-speed operation.
Pros
- Quiet night operation
- Filter life and water tank indicator
- 2-stage filtration system
- Has an inbuilt humidistat
- Charcoal filters get rid of odors in filtered air
- Easily adjustable
Cons
- Limited coverage
- Limited filter lifespan
- Slightly pricier given its limitations
5. Klarstein Monaco Ultrasonic Humidifier & Air Ionizer
Equipped with an impressive four-stage filter, this air washer is ideal for allergic and asthmatic people. It has both the HEPA filter and the carbon filter that ensure clean indoor air.
This product has a powerful fan that produces a strong cleaning performance while producing less than 40 decibels of sound. This is great because you don’t have to put up with a lot of noise. Furthermore, its switchable ionizer function gets rid of odors from food and cigarettes. It is equipped with a modern ionizer that ensures only minimal amounts of ozone are emitted. Also, the charcoal filter ensures odor from the air is removed for fresh and safe air.
Another great attribute I loved about this device is that it is quite simple to operate. All settings can be accessed on the control panel that is at the front of the machine. It also gives you the option of remote control. The Klarstein is a compact and sizeable machine capable of fitting in smaller areas such as bathrooms, children’s rooms, and kitchens.
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Lightweight and portable
- Four-stage filtration system
- Charcoal filter gets rid of odors
- Remote controlled
Cons
- Relatively less quiet
- Lesser coverage
Conclusion
The Sharp KC-850U Airwasher narrowly edges out the Oreck as a result of it having a longer-lasting filter. They both are relatively quiet and are equipped with an efficient HEPA media filter. The Oreck may charm its way into your heart with the filter and water tank indicators. I, however, noted that the filter indicator is only present because you will have to be replacing it regularly. That was a close one!
Both air washers can detect the humidity level of a room and respond accordingly. Sharp won it with its triple-stage long-lasting filter equipped with a carbon filter that gets rid of odors.
The Klarstein Monaco Ultrasonic gets an honorable mention for the remote control. The limited coverage and noise level worked against it. Well, if you were a little bit conflicted about the air washer to go for, I hope this review helps you make a swifter decision.