Do Air Humidifiers Clean Indoor Air Pollution?

In today’s world, the idea of going somewhere to get “a breath of fresh air” is becoming more difficult to realize. With air pollution at all-time highs, it might seem like the only place you can go to breathe clean, fresh air is inside your Harrisburg home.

Unfortunately, indoor air can often be just as polluted as outdoor air, especially during the extreme weather months when you keep your house mostly closed-up. To maintain a clean and safe interior, it’s important to know how best to purify the air.

One common air treatment device is a humidifier. Since it works to improve air quality, you may wonder if a humidifier can remove some of the pollutants that degrade your indoor air quality. To help you understand how best to take care of your home’s air, here is an explanation of what humidifiers can and can’t do.

What Is an Air Humidifier?

An air humidifier, as the name suggests, is a device that adds humidity in the form of water vapor to the air. Humidifiers are available both as small, portable units you can move around your home and large whole-home units that can be installed by All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical.

Some air humidifiers, called steam vaporizer humidifiers, essentially serve as a miniaturized pot of boiling water, forming steam that is released into the air. Another type of humidifier, called an ultrasonic humidifier, vibrates the water in the reservoir until it forms microscopic droplets that are then released into the air. The goal of all types of humidifiers is to release enough water vapor to raise the relative humidity of the air in your home.

Can Air Humidifiers Remove Pollutants?

Thanks to continual improvement, air humidifiers are quite good at what they do. One of the things they can’t do, though, is to remove any indoor air pollutants. This is because no air is forced through the unit to humidify it, even in whole-home units. Instead, the water vapor is released into the air passively and then mixed in evenly thanks to thermodynamics.

While humidifiers can’t clean your air, they can certainly make it a lot more comfortable. That’s why we at All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical highly recommend them in many situations. They are especially helpful during the winter when you likely struggle with dry, cracked skin. Having extra moisture in the air is helpful as your skin will be able to absorb the moisture, resulting in rejuvenated skin.

It’s also important to understand that just because humidifiers can’t remove any pollutants doesn’t mean they can’t help you avoid illnesses. Humidity is a crucial factor in the health of your nasal passages. If you are constantly breathing dry air, your nasal passages could dry out, which makes it easier for germs to pass through. However, if your nasal passages are moisturized by a humidifier, you’ll be less susceptible to common illnesses.

What Device Does Clean the Air?

Even though a humidifier can’t remove indoor pollutants, there is a device that is fit for the job — an air purifier. This device cleans the air by forcing it through a filter that traps contaminants down to a microscopic level. Many models of air purifiers also release ozone, which can help neutralize pollutants and germs before they can harm your family.

As with humidifiers, air purifiers can be found as both portable and whole-home units. When utilizing a whole-home unit, it’s important to discuss the installation with a technician from All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical to ensure that you strike a good balance between system efficiency and purifying capability.

Additionally, you’ll want to be sure to replace your air purifier’s filter regularly. Most purifiers will have manufacturer-recommended intervals at which to replace the filter. Given the high level of contaminants that are removed by the filter, you’ll want to be sure to stick to this interval as closely as possible.

At All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical, we specialize in a variety of services to keep the air in your home comfortable and healthy. In addition to the typical HVAC repair and installation services, we provide expert assistance with air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, duct sealing/testing, ventilators, and even whole-home efficiency testing. If you want your home to be “a breath of fresh air,” then it’s a good idea to give us a call.

We pledge to exceed your expectations. For reliable and experienced service, contact All Temp Co., Inc Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical at your earliest convenience.

 

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