Air Purifier vs. Humidifier vs. Diffuser: Comparison Guide

Maintaining excellent indoor air quality is vital to keeping a beautiful, happy, and healthy home, especially in hot and humid places like Singapore.

It’s no secret that pollutants and other indoor elements and conditions can affect your health and decrease your comfort. Aside from keeping your home clean and well-maintained, getting some help from reliable appliances is one great way to maintain the quality and comfort of your home.

Air purifiers, humidifiers, and diffusers are some reliable appliances that enhance the quality of your indoor air. But what’s the difference between these devices? Which one do you need for your home? Read on to this guide before making your appliance buying decision.

What is an Air Purifier?

An air purifier removes pollutants, some allergens, and other dangerous airborne particles from the air through filtration. The industry standard True HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter air purifier tackles 99.97% of indoor air pollutants that are as small as 0.3 microns.

How Does it Work?

An air purifier consists of filters that remove small particles and circulate cleaner air into the area. Some air purifiers with ionisers create a static charge around air particles, like bacteria and viruses, that allows them to fall on surfaces instead of circulating in the air. This can stop the growth of these viruses. However, since they only allow the particles to fall on surfaces, you will still need to properly clean your area to prevent resurfacing. 

 

Pros of Using an Air Purifier

• Efficient air purifiers tackle small air particles like dust, dust mites, pollen, smoke, mould, pet dander, and other elements that may cause harm to the health.
• Air purifiers help reduce allergy symptoms.
• Air purifiers can help remove foul odours.
• True HEPA air purifiers help eliminate airborne diseases.

An Air Purifier Is Best For: Homeowners who want extra protection from indoor air contaminants.

 

What is a Humidifier?

Based on its name, a humidifier is a device that adds humidity or moisture levels to an area. While the air purifier that we talked about earlier improves indoor air quality by removing harmful particles, a humidifier increases the moisture level to remove the dry and uncomfortable air quality. It may also help eliminate some particles by reaching certain humidity levels. Another familiar device that does the opposite of this is a dehumidifier, which basically decreases the humidity of the air.

How Does it Work?

Humidity is the amount of water or moisture in the air. The term relative humidity pertains to the amount of air moisture vs. the amount of moisture the air can hold. A relative humidity that is lower than 30% means that the air is dry, while a relative humidity of 100% is hotter. To maintain the right humidity levels of 30% to 50%, many homeowners use a humidifier by releasing water vapour or steam into the dry air.

Pros of Using a Humidifier

• A humidifier can help people with dry skin, throat dryness, eye irritation, allergies, and many more conditions caused by dry air. However, use humidifiers with caution because too much humidity can be uncomfortable.
• By achieving 40% humidity levels, humidifiers may aid in the deactivation of virus particles.
• The use of a humidifier may help reduce snoring by keeping air passages moist.
• Humidifying can also help the skin and hair stay moisturised.

A Humidifier is Best For: Places where the weather is usually hot and dry or cold and dry. They can also be used to alleviate some symptoms related to the dryness of the air. 

What is a Diffuser?

If you love some relaxing aroma in your room, a diffuser or an oil diffuser is an amazing choice. Aside from the pleasant and relaxing scents, essential oils offer many health and wellness claims, like supporting healthy sleep, alleviating stress, and soothing headaches.

How Does it Work?

Diffusers break down and release essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. This essential oil concentration in the air has a calming and relaxing effect. Different types of diffusers do this process in different ways and can be beneficial based on your preferences. 

Pros of Using a Diffuser

• Diffusers spread essential oils and their calming properties throughout the area within a short time. One important thing to note about using a diffuser is to maintain a well-ventilated area to keep the fragrance at a comfortable level. Also, some oils may cause allergy symptoms for some users, so make sure to check with your physician first to avoid discomfort. 
• A diffuser allows you to change your aromatherapy oil based on your preferences. With the vast variety of essential oils available, you can receive various health benefits while enjoying the refreshing scents in the comfort of your home. 
• Using a diffuser can help you achieve better sleep quality.

 

A Diffuser is Best For: Homeowners who want to create a warm and relaxing ambiance in their spaces.

 

Air Purifier vs. Air Humidifier vs. Diffuser: What are the Differences?

In summary, air purifiers filter harmful particles from the air, humidifiers increase the air moisture, and diffusers break down and release essential oils into the area. 

Air Purifier vs. Air Humidifier

What's the difference between an air purifier and a humidifier? An air purifier filters harmful substances out of your air, while a humidifier increases the air moisture. These different devices can both be used to keep the air clean while maintaining a comfortable moisture level.

Air Purifier vs. Essential Oil Diffuser

A diffuser releases oil-scented particles into the air to provide a relaxing feel in your space. On the other hand, an air purifier works to reduce air particles. Although they work differently, you may use them both to circulate the fragrance while the clean air is released.

Humidifier vs. Diffuser

A diffuser may introduce some water molecules into the air while releasing the fragrance. However, unlike humidifiers, they do not add enough moisture to the air, which many prefer. If you need both the fragrance from a diffuser and the right amount of moisture from a humidifier, opt for a humidifier with the features of a diffuser.

 

Air Purifier vs. Air Humidifier vs. Diffuser: FAQs

How do these devices differ in terms of functionality?

Air purifiers focus on removing contaminants from the air, while air humidifiers add moisture, and diffusers disperse fragrances or essential oils.

Are humidifiers and diffusers the same?

Humidifiers and diffusers are not the same.

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which helps alleviate dryness and improves breathing comfort. They are commonly used in dry environments or during the winter when indoor air tends to be dry.

Diffusers, on the other hand, disperse essential oils or fragrances into the air. They are often used for aromatherapy purposes or to create a pleasant scent in a room. Diffusers do not add moisture to the air like humidifiers do.

What is the difference between an air purifier and a humidifier?

Is an air purifier the same as a humidifier? No. An air purifier is not the same as a humidifier.

An air purifier removes contaminants and pollutants from the air, such as dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander, to improve indoor air quality.

A humidifier, on the other hand, adds moisture to the air, increasing humidity levels to alleviate dryness and improve breathing comfort, especially in dry environments or during the winter months.

Can one device serve multiple purposes?

Some devices, known as combination units, may integrate features of air purifiers, humidifiers, and diffusers, offering versatility in improving indoor air quality and atmosphere.

What is an aromatic air purifier?

An aromatic air purifier is a type of air purifier that not only cleans the air of contaminants but also incorporates a feature to disperse pleasant fragrances or essential oils into the surrounding environment. This combination allows the device to not only improve indoor air quality but also enhance the overall atmosphere by creating a more pleasant and refreshing scent in the room.

What is a dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier is a household appliance designed to reduce the level of humidity in the air. It works by drawing moisture from the air and collecting it in a reservoir or draining it away. Dehumidifiers are commonly used in damp or humid environments to prevent mould and mildew growth, reduce musty odours, and create a more comfortable indoor environment.

Dehumidifier vs. diffuser: What's the difference?

A dehumidifier and a diffuser serve different purposes:

1. Dehumidifier:

   • Function: Removes excess moisture from the air.
   • Purpose: Reduces humidity levels to prevent issues like mould, mildew, and musty odours.
   • Outcome: Creates a drier and more comfortable indoor environment.

2. Diffuser:

   • Function: Disperses essential oils or fragrances into the air.
   • Purpose: Enhances the atmosphere with pleasant scents, often used for aromatherapy or creating a desired ambiance.
   • Outcome: Does not affect humidity levels; primarily focuses on providing a pleasant fragrance.

What are air purifiers with humidifiers?

Air purifiers with humidifiers are hybrid devices that combine the functionalities of both air purifiers and humidifiers into a single unit. These devices feature filters and purification mechanisms to remove airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander, thereby improving indoor air quality. They also add moisture to the air to alleviate dryness and improve breathing comfort.

Humidifier air purifier benefits:

1. Improved Air Quality. A humidifier purifier effectively removes airborne pollutants, allergens, and contaminants, enhancing indoor air quality.

2. Increased Humidity. By adding moisture to the air, humidifier air purifiers alleviate dryness, which can help reduce respiratory discomfort, dry skin, and irritated nasal passages.

3. Reduced Allergens. Humidifier air purifier can help reduce allergens such as dust mites and pollen, providing relief to allergy sufferers.

4. Odour Elimination. Some models can also help eliminate unpleasant odours, creating a fresher indoor environment.

5. Multi-functionality. Combining the functions of both a humidifier and an air purifier into one device saves space and offers convenience.

6. Health Benefits. Maintaining optimal humidity levels and clean air can contribute to overall health and well-being, especially for those with respiratory issues or sensitive skin.

Conclusion

Enhance your indoor air quality and comfort with these efficient devices. Air purifiers, humidifiers, and diffusers offer various notable benefits that you’ll surely want to experience in your home. Whether you choose the best one that fits your needs or combine the benefits of multiple appliances, you’ll surely be one step closer to a healthier and more relaxing space.