Can I Use an Air Purifier Along With An Air Conditioner

I went a long time living in my air-conditioned apartment without an air purifier.

I didn’t think much of it until I eventually started to realize that just because my room was cooled down, that didn’t automatically mean the air inside my home was clean.

Since it’s pretty hot where I live, especially during the summer months, it got me thinking if I can use an air purifier while still taking full advantage of my air conditioner.

At that point, I started doing quite a bit of research just to make sure that I’m not making both of these energy-consuming units work against each other.

Shortly after, I had my answer. So, if your home is air conditioned and you want to invest your hard-earned money in an air purifier, keep on reading as in this article, I will answer this popular question.

Using an Air Purifier Along with an Air Conditioner

There is no issue using your air purifier alongside your air conditioner.

Both of the devices serve completely different purposes so they will not be working against each other.

In fact, if you live in a warm climate and you want to cool down your room using an air conditioner but you’d also like to breathe in clean air, I’d recommend that you have both an air purifier and an air conditioner.

That’s what I have and it’s been working out great.

Do Air Conditioners Function As Air Purifiers?

This is a myth that I even believed for some time. Many people out there claim they don’t need an air purifier because they already have an air conditioner.

However, it’s very important to keep in mind that an air conditioner is not an air purifier and won’t do you that much good when it comes to air quality.

The only thing an air conditioner does is cool down the air in the room.

So, if there are lots of particles and dust floating around in the air, all the air conditioner will do is keep those same particles in the air, which is why people with air conditioners still need air purifiers.

Air conditioners and air purifiers serve two completely different purposes, and it’s important to understand the use of these machines before buying either.

So, always remember that an air conditioner is only built to cool down the air, but if you want to improve the overall air quality in a room, you’re going to need an air purifier.

What Do Air Purifiers Do?

While they may seem like complex machines with tons of different components, air purifiers aren’t complicated at all. In fact, if you strip them down to the basics, air purifiers are just fans with filters in front of them.

The main components of an air purifier are the motor, fan, and filtration system.

The process starts with the motor, which powers the fan, causing it to suck in air from the room. The fan blows the air through the complex filtration system to capture as many particles as possible before blowing it out the other way.

When the air leaves the filtration system, up to 99.97% of the solid particles will have been filtered out.

Now, the types of particles the air purifier can capture largely depends on the type of air purifier you buy, which is why it’s important to get an air purifier with a good filter.

To start, you need to make sure that the air purifier has a HEPA filter.

These filters are capable of capturing tiny dust particles and pollen that can cause allergies and irritate the lungs. On top of that, it may be beneficial to get an air purifier that has an activated carbon filter so it can also absorb harmful gasses, VOCs, and foul odors from the air.

At the end of the day, air purifiers are there to do one thing: purify the air. They aren’t meant to cool you down, heat up, or do anything else aside from capturing particles and allowing you to breathe cleaner air.

Health Benefits of Having an Air Purifier On Top of An Air Conditioner

Okay, you may be asking yourself why you need an air purifier in the first place.

After all, all I’ve talked about in this article is whether or not you can use an air purification unit in combination with an air conditioner. But don’t worry, I didn’t forget.

Here are some of the key benefits to owning an air purifier.

Fewer Allergies

First of all, the moment you turn that air purifier on, you will instantly see a difference in your seasonal and pet allergies.

For me personally, this is the biggest benefit of owning an air purifier as I suffer from allegies far more than the average person.

The reason I no longer have allergies when inside my home is because the filter will be able to capture most of the common allergens in the air that irritate my lungs such as pet hair, mites, pollen, and dust

It’s worth mentioning that you don’t need just any air purifier to help you deal with your allergies but one with a good true HEPA filtration system as these are the only filters that will be able to consistently trap the particles that are causing you issues.

In my opinion, an air purifier is essential for anyone who suffers from COPD, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.

I truly understand how annoying allergies can get, especially when you’re just trying to have a normal day.

But once you turn on your air purifier, you will notice a difference which will make it hard for you to imagine what life was like before you got your air purifier.

Less VOCs

One of my major concerns is Volatile Organic Compounds, which is also known as VOCs.

These compounds float around the air and can cause major damage to the lungs over time. And sadly, most of these compounds are present in modern structures because of the materials used to build them.

Most of the time, you won’t notice the presence of VOCs, as they won’t affect your health right away.

However, VOCs can have drastic effects on a person’s body. And if you have VOCs at home, it’s something you need to take care of as soon as possible.

So, how do you get rid of VOCs?

Well, an air purifier can do the trick. But the only air purifiers that will be able to absorb VOCs from the air are ones with activated carbon filters. So, if you want to get rid of VOCs and allergens, I always recommend getting an air purifier with a multi-stage filtration system that contains both a HEPA and an activated carbon filter.

That’s what I have and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. That being said, such air purifiers are a little more expensive so if you’re on a budget, go for one with a HEPA filter.

Better Skin

Another advantage that you may not know about when it comes to air purifiers is that they can lead to better skin. One of the reasons people have breakouts on their skin is because of dirt. Whenever there’s dust and dirt floating in the air, it could get caught in your skin and pores, which results in pimples and other blemishes.

Air purifiers help your skin because they remove dirt from the air.

So, they are more of a preventative solution rather than helping you get clear skin like a good skincare routine would.

There are many great air purifiers for dust out on the market so make sure to do your research before stopping on the one you like.

Better Sleep

Getting good quality sleep is one of the most important things you need to get right in order to have a productive day ahead.

I personally have a hard time sleeping during the spring season because of my allergies.

There were countless times I stayed up until the early hours of the morning just because I was sneezing all night and the meds weren’t taking effect.

Some people get irritated by the pollution in their area.

When this happens, it can be hard to get a proper night’s rest, which can affect your productivity and mood the next day.

If you can relate to any of the above, an air purifier would be a great idea for you.

And if I’m being honest, I didn’t know that I would sleep better with an air purifier. I found this to be one of the best extra perks of owning one that you may not realize until you get one yourself.

Conclusion

Air purifiers are great devices. They can make it much easier to sleep, breathe, and function during the day.

And if you’re worried that your air purifier may affect the way your air conditioner works and vice versa, you don’t have to.

Air purifiers can work just fine with air conditioners, and it’s actually recommended in hot climates.

So, if your air conditioner has been holding you back from getting an air purifier, it doesn’t have to anymore.

You can leave your air purifier on at the same time as your air conditioner and get a cool flow of air and a clean one.