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Published: Dec 03, 2024

Air Purifier or Humidifier: Which Does Your Home Really Need?

When it comes to improving your home's air quality, you might find yourself weighing the benefits of an air purifier against a humidifier. While both devices can enhance your indoor environment, they serve distinctly different purposes. Let's break down what each device does and help you determine which one (or whether both) might be right for your home.

 

What Air Purifiers Do

Air purifiers are designed to remove airborne contaminants from your indoor environment. They work by pulling air through a sophisticated filtration system that captures:

Air purifiers like the Airmega use advanced filtration technology, including True HEPA filters that can capture an impressive 99.999%1 of particles as small as 0.01 microns. This level of filtration is particularly important for anyone with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory concerns.

Want to tackle specific air quality challenges? Our Custom Filters are designed to address your unique needs. Whether you're dealing with pet dander, seasonal allergies, or smoke concerns, our specialized filters provide targeted solutions. From the Pet Filter's enhanced dander capture and odor control to the Allergy Filter's ultra-fine particle technology, we've got your air quality needs covered.

 

What Humidifiers Do

Humidifiers, on the other hand, serve a single primary purpose: adding moisture to the air. They help maintain humidity levels in your home, typically between 30-50%. While they don't clean the air, they can help with:

  • Dry skin and lips
  • Scratchy throats
  • Static electricity
  • Wood furniture preservation
  • Plant health
  • Reducing certain airborne virus transmission

When You Need an Air Purifier

You’ll benefit most from an air purifier if:

  1. You Have Allergies or Asthma: Air purifiers excel at removing common allergens from your indoor air. The Airmega series, for instance, uses a multi-stage filtration system including pre-filters for larger particles and True HEPA filters for microscopic allergens.
  2. You Live in a Polluted Area: Urban environments, areas near construction, or regions prone to wildfires can benefit greatly from air purification. The Airmega's real-time air quality monitoring can detect changes in air quality and adjust filtration accordingly.
  3. You Have Pets: Pet dander and odors are effectively captured by air purifiers. Coway's advanced carbon filters are particularly effective at eliminating pet-related odors while the HEPA filters capture dander.
  4. You're Concerned About Indoor Air Quality (We All Should Be!): Our modern homes can trap various pollutants indoors. Air purifiers help maintain healthy indoor air quality by continuously filtering out harmful particles.

 

When You Need a Humidifier

A humidifier might be the right choice if:

  1. You Live in a Very Dry Climate: Areas with naturally low humidity can benefit from added moisture in the air.
  2. Your Home Uses Forced Air Heating: Heating systems can significantly dry out indoor air, especially during winter months.
  3. You Experience Frequent Dry Skin: Low humidity can cause various physical discomforts that adding moisture to the air can help alleviate.
  4. You Have Wooden Furniture or Musical Instruments: Proper humidity levels help prevent wood from cracking or warping.

 

Why You Probably Need Both

Using both devices offers a multitude of advantages for your indoor environment. Air purifiers and humidifiers work in harmony, with purifiers removing harmful particles while humidifiers maintain optimal moisture levels—two distinct but complementary functions. Your needs may change with the seasons, requiring more air purification during high-allergy periods and increased humidification during dry winter months. 

Together, they create a complete air quality solution that addresses both air cleanliness and moisture content, ensuring your home's atmosphere is both clean and comfortable year-round.

 

Making the Right Choice

When deciding which device to prioritize, consider these factors:

Your Primary Concern:

  1. If it's allergens, pollutants, or odors → Air Purifier
  2. If it's dry air and its effects → Humidifier

Your Environment:

  1. Urban setting with pollution concerns → Air Purifier
  2. Dry climate or heavy heating use → Humidifier

Health Considerations:

  1. Allergies or asthma → Air Purifier
  2. Frequent dry skin or respiratory irritation → Humidifier

 

What About Budget and Maintenance?

Looking for a long-term investment in your home's air quality? The Airmega series of air purifiers offer exceptional value through advanced technology and thoughtful design. While the initial cost may be higher than basic purifiers, their efficient operation, durable construction, and comprehensive filtration system make them a smart investment in your family's health. 

Airmega maintenance is also straightforward. Just vacuum the pre-filter regularly and replace filters when indicated, typically once a year. Plus, with features like real-time air quality monitoring and automatic mode adjustment, your Airmega works smarter, not harder.

When you consider the long-term benefits of cleaner air, reduced allergies, and better sleep, an Airmega air purifier proves to be a worthwhile investment in your home's health and comfort.



 

The Airmega Advantage

If you're leaning toward an air purifier, Coway's Airmega series offers several advantages:

  1. Advanced Filtration: Our HyperCaptive™ filtration system removes 99.999%1 of particles down to 0.01 microns.
  2. Smart Technology: Selected models like the Airmega 250S and 400S include real-time air quality monitoring and automatic adjustment.
  3. Energy Efficiency: All models are energy efficient, with Smart models offering additional optimization through Smart Mode
  4. Quiet Operation: Most models are as low as 22dB in Sleep Mode, and the Airmega 100 is as quiet as a whisper at 20dB.
  5. Coverage Options: Models available for rooms of all sizes, from 492 to 4,253 square feet
  6. Award-Winning Design: Our Airmega Icon combines functionality with aesthetic excellence, winning six international design awards. It features a water and stain-resistant fabric cover, wireless charging capabilities, and can purify spaces up to 1,298 square feet. At just 21.4 inches tall, it's designed to blend seamlessly into your home's decor while delivering powerful air purification.

 

 
 
 

Take Control of Your Home's Air Quality

While both air purifiers and humidifiers can improve your indoor environment, they serve different purposes. For comprehensive air quality improvement, an air purifier is often the more crucial investment, as it actively removes harmful particles from your air. If you're specifically dealing with dry air issues, a humidifier might be your priority. And remember: you don't always have to choose. Using both devices can create the optimal indoor environment for your health and comfort.

Ready to improve your indoor air quality? Explore our range of air purifiers to find the perfect model for your home.

Shop our full line of Airmega air purifiers here.

 

 

Sources:

Sleep Foundation - Humidity and Sleep

 

Disclaimers

1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX

299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.

All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.

- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes

3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.

4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S

5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.

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