I will say that keeping a moderate climate inside your home is sometimes a little hard to do.
That’s why you should know that too much moisture has its problems, just the same way little moisture has its own. In that case, finding the right device to help either situation can be confusing.
That’s why this article answers the question “do air purifiers make the air dry?”
Let’s dive in.
Do Air Purifiers Make the Air Dry?
Air purifiers do not make the air dry. They only remove the pollutants from the air like dust spores, allergens, etc. This means they do not have the mechanism to make the air dry.
Their functions are to clean the air in your room but they can’t add or remove humidity. Air purifiers are used more in the winter period, in place of ventilators.
Moreover, you should understand that cold winter air is dry, meaning you can’t say that air purifiers can cause drier air. For a better understanding of why air purifiers don’t make air dry, we will discuss the following;
Can Air Purifiers Remove Humidity?
The simple answer is no. Air purifiers are not designed to remove moisture content from the air.
Appliances specifically designed to do this are called dehumidifiers. They actively remove moisture in the air with a water tank that fills over time.
But air purifiers don’t have water tanks or any means of extracting moisture from your room. That’s why when any moisture gets into its filters, they are released back into the air.
So if you plan to increase the humidity of your home, then a dehumidifier is the perfect appliance for it.
The Air Feels Dry While Running The Air Purifier?
I know you feel that the air is dry when the air purifier is running. It’s that way because it’s designed to circulate the air in the room, the same way a fan does, making the air feel drier.
Furthermore, warm air makes us feel that the air is more humid, which is made based on the fact that warm air holds more moisture.
And when there’s cool air, the air purifier circulates air making you feel drier air. Although this might sound true, which is not because air purifiers are designed to circulate air.
They only pulled air into the device causing the airflow speed to be reduced by the filters.
So any time you feel the airflow is contributing to a feeling of dry air, know that your air purifier is on a fan speed, which is too high for your comfort.
Moreover, your room could be too small for the air purifier, which was originally designed for bigger rooms.
So it doesn’t matter how the air in your room feels, one you have to know is that the air purifier didn’t remove the moisture from the air.
What Do Air Purifiers Do?
Air purifiers do lots of things but what they don’t do is remove the moisture content from the air.
Making the air safe and clear to breathe, which shows that air purifiers can improve your health and minimize asthmatic symptoms and allergies.
Air purifiers are not a necessity unless:
- You don’t have the option to ventilate your home regularly
- You have a poor quality of air despite ventilating your home
- Opening windows and cleaning your home is not sufficient
So if you are the type that is sensitive to indoor air pollutants, suffers from asthma, or has allergic reactions, then an air purifier will become a necessity.
Ventilation is another reason why you need an air purifier for quality air. Before getting an air purifier check if you could improve your home ventilation by;
- Cleaning your ventilation system, grilles, and vents regularly
- Leave your internal doors open to increase airflow
- Regularly open windows to air out your home
- Installation of extra ventilation equipment in your home
Having good ventilation in your home shouldn’t stop you from getting long-lasting battery purifiers. You need them when the outdoor air is polluted heavily with smog, dust, or other airborne particles.
What to Do if You Have Dry Air?
Here are a few steps to take if you have dry air in your home and body;
Use a humidifier
Using a humidifier will help add moisture to dry air in your home. This moisture will help keep your mouth, skin, and nose lubricated, and also prevent any nasty static shocks.
The goal is to make your home comfortable with a humidity level of 30% to 50%. Moreover, the humidifier shouldn’t be turned up higher than that, or you could develop problems like fungi, dust mites, mold, and tiny critters.b
So make sure your humidifier is always clean to avoid spreading germs and dust in your home.
Seal your home
Always seal your home to prevent dry air from coming in. Your home should be protected, so you don’t need to turn up the heat.
Also, all leaks in your windows and doors should be closed. This will save money spent on heating bills because the indoor atmosphere will always be warm and cozy, enabling you to turn down your thermostat a little.
Hydrate regularly
Drink water always to keep your mouth and skin moist. Probably you don’t like drinking, so you can add a little tea and drink.
Shorten the showers
Got, long showers might be perfect on winter mornings, but understand that steam and heat can dry out your skin. To regulate the water temperature to warm and use a gentle soap to bathe.
Moisturize
Frequently apply an oil-based moisturizer on your skin daily after taking your bath. The oil will help lock moisture into your skin to prevent drying out.
So using ointments will give your skin the perfect skin protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Air Purifiers Dry Out Your Throat?
No, usually, air purifiers do not affect your throat in any way.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters won’t dry out your throat. In fact, HEPA filters remove bacteria, mold, and other allergens from the air and help prevent sore throats. The scenario is quite similar to a water-based air purifier.
Although air purifiers are designed to clean the air, they may cause problems with respiratory conditions. Ionic air purifiers, a.k.a. “air ionizers,” may cause throat irritation if you have asthma or other chronic respiratory issues.
Do Air Purifiers Dehydrate You?
Air purifiers can neither add nor remove moisture from the air in your home. They only purify the surrounding air, so there isn’t much chance to dehydrate you.
However, if you plan to leave the purifier ON during sleeping, keep the device a few feet away and not direct it towards your body or face. This is because the running air from air purifiers may make your lips a bit dry.
What Happens If The Air Is Too Dry?
There are no permanent or prominent issues if you breathe dry air. People still freely roam in the deepest ice caves of Antarctica where the humidity can be as low as 1%. So, there are temporary inconveniences, but nothing harmful.
You may face respiratory ailments such as sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and nosebleeds if the air you’re breathing is too dry. Dry air may also cause dehydration as it affects respiration and body fluids to deplete.
Does NEPA Filter Dry Air?
Yes. HEPA air purifier filters have nothing to do with the humidity level inside a room. Hepa filters only remove pathogens, dust, mites, and other airborne particles. So, it doesn’t necessarily matter if the air is dry or humid.
Can Dry Air Make You Sick?
Dry air can cause respiratory ailments and, in some cases, can lead to common cold, nosebleeds, asthma, bronchitis, and flu. It may also lead to dehydration, though not severe, as the body fluids start to deplete. Dry air is actually more irritating than harmful and more common than serious.
What Are The Side Effects Of Air Purifiers?
There are no side effects, except you are using ozone air purifiers, which can cause throat irritations, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Ozone gas also leaves a long trace of harmful byproducts. It is not only harmful to humans and animals but also the environment.
Moreover, Ionic air purifiers may cause throat irritation if you have underlying chronic respiratory problems such as asthma.
Conclusion
We have learned that air purifiers clean the air we breathe. Their major benefit is minimizing making the air clean from any irritants in our homes. Now you have gotten answers to your question, “do air purifiers make the air?” Try giving it a try by buying it today, and see the difference it brings to your home.