With today’s families spending 90% of their time indoors, clean, healthy indoor air is integral to health and well-being. Alone or as part of indoor air quality systems, humidifiers and air purifiers can help you safeguard the air quality within your home. Which do you need? A closer look at these systems will reveal that although both serve a similar purpose (namely upholding the air quality in your home) they each provide very different services.

Which Do You Need, An Air Purifier or a Humidifier?

Air Purifier

Air purifiers remove contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and smoke from indoor air. Models with the added feature of UV light further purify air, destroying bacteria and other microorganisms to further maintain indoor air quality. Both regular and UV air purifier can be installed within ductwork, or used via a standalone machine. Air purifiers are beneficial for: Allergy sufferers and those with asthma Reducing irritants in the air that can lead to allergy or asthma attacks. Immunocompromised individuals Removing contaminants and pollutants can safeguard against a range of illnesses. Homes with smoke odors Air purifiers can remove second-hand smoke from the air, eliminating not only annoying smells, but potentially harmful airborne compounds. Extremely dusty homes Air purifiers can help reduce dust building up on surfaces within your home.  

Humidifier

Whole house humidifiers add water to the air, distributing it via HVAC ductwork. Humidifiers are especially valuable in the wintertime, when air is devoid of moisture. What’s the ideal relative humidity (RH) level in the home? According to the EPA, 30-50% RH is best. Does my home need a humidifier? If you don’t have a hygrometer to measure indoor humidity levels, look for these signs you may need a humidifier…

• People suffering frequent illness
  Lubricated nasal passages, as opposed to cracked, bleeding sinuses, make the body less vulnerable to illness.
• Individuals with excessive sinus congestion
  Nasal membranes must be adequately moistened for proper drainage.
• Those with excessively dry skin, nose, eyes, and hair in the winter
  Frequent nosebleeds; chapped irritated skin; red, dry eyes; brittle hair; persistent coughs; and even frequent asthma flare-ups could indicate overly-dry air.
• Family members who snore excessively
  Humidifiers lessen nasal congestion and allergies from pollutants spread via dry air, reducing snoring.
• Homes with static electricity issues
  Painful and annoying, excessive ‘zaps’ from static electricity are a sure-sign humidity is too low.
• Homes with cracking furniture and structural components…
  Damaged by excessively dry air.

Still Not Sure Which is Best for Your Home?
The knowledgeable technicians at H & H Heating & Air Conditioning, your local HVAC repair service, can help you decide, testing the quality of your indoor air, measuring relative humidity levels in your home, and recommending the perfect solution for your home and family’s indoor air quality needs. Whether you need an air purifier, humidifier, dehumidifier – or an entirely new heating and air conditioning system, our A+ BBB-rated services have you covered. Contact us to schedule your indoor air quality evaluation, or to learn more about our wide range of indoor air quality systems today.