Understanding the differences between an air sanitizer vs a purifier will help you make an essential decision for your home and health. Unwanted organic compounds can wreak havoc on your body if left unchecked. Doing research is crucial when the purchase price of these machines has been rising steadily as technology advances. So, if you’re ready to invest in your health, you’ll also want to know what the best air purifier is for the job.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Health experts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggest both systems to those suffering from allergies or asthma to better their health.
- Different air filters will have varying results in lowering unwanted particle levels, so make sure you look for a true HEPA filter to be safe.
- Air purifiers are better for dust and pollen, whereas air sanitizers clean viruses, mold, and bacteria.
Comparing Air Sanitizers with Air Purifiers
When comparing an air sanitizer vs. an air purifier, looking at individual product performance becomes crucial. Improving indoor air quality by cleaning out unwanted airborne particles should be a priority. If you’re like many Americans and suffer from asthma attacks or allergies, it could be a decision that changes your life. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America strongly suggests using a personal air cleaner for a healthier lifestyle. You may also be interested in reading about the differences between air washers vs air purifiers, rooms vs whole-house air purifiers, and duct cleaning vs air purifiers.
Explaining Air Sanitizers
An air sanitizing system typically refers to a UV air sanitizer. These are installed in the ducts of your home and emit UV light to clean air as it flows through your vents. You can consider them your germ guardian, but they also protect against mold, which can also cause health issues. For different models, read our info articles covering Trane CleanEffect vs Infinity air purifiers, and 2IQAire Machine vs NK100 Tower air purifiers. If you have a mold allergy, it’s important to know whether air sanitizer or air purifier is more effective against mold.
Benefits of an Air Sanitizer Machine
Here are a few benefits you can look forward to with an air sanitation system:
- Excellent at killing bacteria, viruses, and mold spores
- Helps keep dust from building up on HVAC equipment
- Higher air exchanges per hour due to whole-house coverage
Drawbacks of an Air Sanitizer Machine
While product performance can greatly differ, every machine will have a few drawbacks:
- Not as effective at cleaning dust and pollen
- It can be expensive and difficult to install
Insider Tip
For those with severe respiratory conditions or health issues, investing in both systems will work far better than using one by itself.
Explaining Air Purifiers
The most popular models are normally portable air cleaners, which you can move from room to room as desired. More expensive, high-quality air purifiers work best for mold, and are capable of lowering indoor pollutants for multiple rooms at once. This depends on the square feet of the area, however.
Benefits of an Air Purifier
There are quite a few reasons why air purifying machines are so popular:
- Several filter types are available, such as a HEPA or charcoal filter
- Excellent at keeping dust and pollen levels low
- Portable products available for easier storage and use
Drawbacks of an Air Purifier
On the other hand, they do have some disadvantages:
- Doesn’t protect against some harmful germs
- Portable air cleaners have lower clean air exchanges per hour
Which Option is Better?
The most significant difference between the two machines is what they’re good at doing. An air purifier for home usage will primarily filter out dust and pollen, whereas an air sanitizer machine will focus on mold, bacteria, and viruses. Both of these are excellent methods for helping allergy sufferers and keeping asthma symptoms under control. Your budget and overall needs will pinpoint which direction you should go.
Warning
Some air purifiers might generate ozone and end up causing health problems rather than solving them.
F.A.Q.
What are air purifiers supposed to filter out, and do they do it?
Air purifiers are supposed to filter out a certain percentage of particles, depending mainly on what brand and model you have. The type of filter used makes a huge difference, as well. They filter out things like:
- Mold Spores
- Dust Particles
- Pet Hair
- Odors from Pets
Do air purifiers prevent coronavirus?
In short, no. But air purifiers can certainly lower airborne transmission rates. It is recommended that you have one in your home as an added protection.
What should I consider when shopping for an air purifier?
There are a few things to consider, such as what air purifier brands you’re most interested in buying and what pollutants you want to be removed. If budget isn’t an issue, try looking into a Dyson purifier. They offer incredible results.
What should I look for in an air purifier?
Your lifestyle and budget will determine what you should prioritize most. A Dyson purifier is excellent, for example, but it can be costly. Regardless of budget, a few things everyone should think about are:
- Deciding between carbon filters or charcoal filters
- The overall cost of replacement filters
- Whether you want replacement filters or reusable filters
- What pollutant sources they are best at handling
STAT: One in five Americans has been diagnosed with allergies, and two out of every three asthma patients also have environmentally triggered allergies. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.aafa.org/media/2933/aafa-2021-allergy-capitals-report.pdf
- https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-an-Air-Purifier-for-Allergies
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergenr
- http://www.rses.org/assets/serviceapplicationmanual/630-156.pdf
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316472615_A_review_of_air_filtration_technologies_for_sustainable_and_healthy_building_ventilation
- https://courses.washington.edu/cive494/HEPA.pdf
