I’d be lying if I said that setting up my first air purifier was a smooth experience.
At the start, I was pretty lost. While I understood the benefits of an air purifier, I simply didn’t know how to use one.
With my first air purifier, I clearly remember messing up the placement, settings, and other things you need to keep in mind when using an air purifier. But one thing that had me confused was whether or not I should sleep next to it.
Don’t worry; I knew that keeping my air purifier on while I slept was the best way to use the machine, but I wasn’t sure if sleeping next to it was okay.
That’s when I decided to dive into forums and message boards and ask people who regularly use their air purifiers for some guidance.
I was so curious because I remember my parents telling me not to sleep with the window open when I was growing up, so I assumed this would also apply to air purifiers.
After some research, I finally concluded that it would change how I used my air purifier at night.
And in this article, I want to get into more detail and share my thoughts (as well as the thoughts of other air purifier users and experts) as to whether or not you can sleep next to your air purifier.
I’ll also touch upon when you shouldn’t sleep next to your unit, address a big rumor that is going around, and give you my best advice on how to best sleep next to your air purifier for maximum effect.
Can I Sleep Next to My Air Purifier?
If you’re wondering whether or not you can sleep next to your air purifier, you have to ask yourself how you feel when you sit next to the air purifier when you’re awake. Most people don’t have a problem sitting next to an air purifier for a couple of hours.
And if you’re one of these people, you should have no worries sleeping next to your air purifier.
As mentioned earlier, keeping your air purifier on 24/7 is essential to ensure that you’re always breathing clean and healthy air. Modern air purifiers are designed to stay on for extended periods, so you should have no worries about leaving them on for that long. And don’t worry; these machines don’t use that much electricity, so air purifiers aren’t that expensive to run.
If you ask any expert, they will say that the best place to put an air purifier is where the breathing room is. This doesn’t mean you have to put it right next to your face, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep it closer to you than usual.
That way, you only breathe in clean and purified air, not unpurified and polluted air.
With that said, not everyone can sleep next to an air purifier comfortably. Many people feel outright uncomfortable sleeping next to an air purifier.
Why is this?
Well, there are quite a few reasons why.
In the next section, I’ll get into more detail about when you might want to avoid sleeping next to an air purifier.
When Should I Avoid Sleeping Next to an Air Purifier?
You don’t have to do it if you feel uncomfortable sleeping next to an air purifier.
It might even get in the way of a comfortable night’s sleep.
So, keeping the air purifier a bit further away might be best if you aren’t comfortable with it being so close.
One of the main reasons people are uncomfortable sleeping beside an air purifier is the noise.
Even if modern air purifiers are designed to be silent and operate with low noise levels, this isn’t completely true.
While you might not notice the noise during the day, it might become more prominent in the evening, when there’s less noise pollution.
Granted, tons of folks are comfortable with the air purifier’s hum, especially if they need white noise to fall asleep.
However, many people need the room to be as quiet as possible when sleeping, which is why sleeping next to an air purifier can be challenging.
On top of that, some people feel dry when they are near an air purifier.
If the air in the room is already dry, the air purifier further circulates the dry air. And if you’re sensitive to dryness, then that might spell some trouble for you.
If you feel like your nose and throat get dry when using an air purifier in the daytime, keeping it next to you while you sleep may not be the best idea.
In these scenarios, it’s best to find a balance in where you place your unit so you can make the most out of it without affecting your sleep.
It’s Unsafe to Sleep Next to Your Air Purifier: Addressing the Myth
In Asia, there’s a prominent myth that sleeping next to a fan at night is dangerous, especially in Korea.
There are many Asians that grow up hearing that sleeping next to a fan at night can get you sick.
This myth stretches to air purifiers because air purifiers are just fans with filters.
So, it would make sense for people to believe that sleeping with the air purifier can also be dangerous.
And while I have to reiterate that this is just a myth without any solid reports to back it up, there are some concerns to remember when sleeping next to an air purifier.
The first is dryness.
One of the main purposes of an air purifier is to circulate the air and keep it moving. This is why the air can feel a bit cooler in rooms where there’s an air purifier.
However, keep in mind that moving air dries faster, so if you’re sensitive to dry air, this might cause some trouble.
The other issue, as mentioned earlier, is that many people prefer sleeping in complete silence and having an air purifier beside them can make it hard, if not impossible, to sleep.
So, there are no immediate dangers to sleeping next to an air purifier or a fan.
However, there are some people who may not be comfortable sleeping that close to an appliance. And if you don’t like the feeling of sleeping next to an air purifier, there’s nothing wrong with moving it to another area of the room.
Are There Dangers To Sleeping Next to an Air Purifier?
No, there’s no direct danger when sleeping next to an air purifier.
Sleeping next to an air purifier for allergies might be beneficial if you have allergies.
This is because the closer an air purifier is to you, the higher your chances of breathing more pure air with fewer particles that could trigger your symptoms.
So, don’t worry if you want to sleep next to an air purifier; doing so is no danger.
However, you don’t have to sleep next to the air purifier if it makes you uncomfortable.
You will still be able to reap the benefits of an air purifier, even if it’s a bit further away.
What’s important is that you make an effort to ensure that the air purifier is on during the evening.
Even if the air purifier isn’t right next to you, keeping it on is still a huge advantage.
The Best Way to Sleep Next to An Air Purifier
While sleeping next to an air purifier is completely fine, there are more than a few things to consider before doing it.
You don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night because the air purifier was too loud or making your sinuses dry.
So, here are some of the things you need to know before you try sleeping next to an air purifier.
Understand Your Needs
If you go on message boards and forums, you’ll get a mixed bag of Hey answers when you ask about sleeping next to an air purifier.
This is because while some people are comfortable and even enjoy sleeping next to an air purifier, others feel very uncomfortable sleeping next to one as well.
So, before you set up the air purifier next to your bed, I recommend considering your needs. Ask yourself how you feel when you’re next to the air purifier in the daytime.
Sleeping next to it may be hard if you feel uncomfortable with the noise or dryness when sitting too close to the air purifier.
But if you feel comfortable sitting next to an air purifier, you won’t need to worry about sleeping next to it all.
Put It on the Right Setting
When sleeping next to an air purifier, you need to place it on the right setting.
Some air purifiers on the market have a “night” mode. This allows the air purifier to function at a much lower noise level while still purifying the air inside your room. That way, you won’t have to risk waking up at night due to the loud sounds.
Additionally, you might want to lower the fan speed if you have a sensitive nose.
This way, the air doesn’t dry out too quickly, and you won’t have to worry about waking up because the air feels a bit too dry.
Placement Is Key
Lastly, you must figure out the best place for your air purifier.
And no, I am not talking about the best place where it can get the best airflow.
When the night comes, it’s best for you to find a place for your air purifier that you feel comfortable with. That way, you can still get a full night’s sleep while only inhaling healthy and purified air.
Everyone has their preferences regarding the placement of their air purifier.
So, it’s up to you to determine which placement is best for your needs and preferences.
It might take some trial and error, especially at the start, but you’ll figure it out soon enough.
For example, I own one of the best air purifiers for a small room and have my air purifier on my desk at night, where I usually sit and work during the day. That way, it’s somewhat close to me but not too close, so I have it humming in my ear all night long.
Conclusion
I had a hard time sleeping next to my air purifier when I first got it. This is because I was scared that something bad could happen if I slept too close or right next to my air purifier.
Luckily, I discovered this was just a myth, and I had nothing to worry about.
Sleeping next to your air purifier can have a lot of benefits.
But, it isn’t required to receive all the benefits of having an air purifier.
So, if you feel comfortable with the air purifier right next to you, feel free to do so.
If you don’t, there’s nothing wrong with moving it to the middle of the room instead.