Air conditioners and air purifiers might look similar and feel like they serve the same purpose, but these two machines are very different. It can be hard to understand how the two appliances differ if you’re not sure what’s going on inside your air conditioning unit or air purifier.
While both appliances are useful investments for our homes, they have different functions and features. Air conditioners regulate the temperature of your room by blowing air over cold coils. Air purifiers, on the other hand, take out harmful particles in the air, leaving it clean and safely breathable.
In this article, we explore the differences between the two to help you better understand how they function.
Air Conditioners Cool The Air While Air Purifiers Clean The Air
Performance-wise, air conditioners are designed to make you feel cool in hot weather. They don’t remove contaminants from the air, though their filters do trap some large particles, like dust and pollen.
On the other hand, air purifiers clear your home of contaminants that can be harmful to your health. While they can’t lower the temperature of a room, they can address many common indoor air pollutants like bacteria, mold spores, and smoke particles.
If you want to stay comfortable indoors during the sweltering summer months and breathe in cleaner air year-round, you can use an air purifier and your AC system or get an all-in-one unit that performs both functions.
Some air conditioning models include built-in filters that work similarly to those found in an air purifier, but these filters aren’t meant to replace a high-efficiency purifier. They’re designed to prevent larger particles like dirt and lint from entering the mechanism of your AC unit.
These filters require regular cleaning to function properly; otherwise, your AC will become less efficient over time and could break down completely.
Air Purifiers Are Great For People With Allergies And COPD
In the same vein, if you are among the roughly 25 million Americans who have asthma, air purifiers can also help you breathe easier. No matter what your allergy or respiratory condition is, whether it’s seasonal allergies, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or even a dust mite allergy, an air purifier can be a valuable solution.
On the other hand, an air conditioner can prove useful for people that suffer from respiratory disorders but cannot tolerate high humidity levels. If you’ve got an air conditioner in your home, consider getting an air purifier as well. However, because they work so differently and have different intents, make sure to choose one that best fits your needs and expectations.
Most Air Purifiers Have A Fan, While Most Air Conditioners Don’t
You can tell the difference between an air conditioner and a purifier by looking at whether or not they have a fan. Air conditioners don’t have fans because they rely on a compressor to cool the air.
The compressor is also responsible for removing humidity from the air, ensuring that most ACs don’t have fans. On the other hand, air purifiers use fans to circulate air through their filter. This helps capture airborne particles and make your home’s air safer to breathe.
Air Conditioners Are Great For Larger Spaces, While Air Purifiers Are Better For Smaller Spaces
When it comes to air purifiers and air conditioners, there’s a lot to consider in terms of performance, cost, and your overall needs. Air conditioners are better suited for larger spaces, while air purifiers are better for smaller spaces.
This is because air purifiers are more efficient at filtering out the pollutants that they’re designed to trap in a small space. For example, if you have an enclosed room or office that is in need of some cooling and cleaning, then an air purifier provides excellent results.
The downside of using an air purifier in a large room or home is that it can have trouble maintaining a clean atmosphere when the airflow demands increase beyond its capacity.
Essentially, the size of your room will dictate which appliance will work best for you.
Both Systems Require Regular Filter Cleaning Or Replacements
Both air purifiers and air conditioners require regular filter cleaning or replacements. For the most part, you will need a fresh set of filters once every few months.
The more often you use your AC or purifier, the more frequently you’ll need to replace the filters. However, if you use your unit often and make sure to have it clinically tested yearly, don’t worry: changing the filters is still less expensive than the cost of replacing an entire system.
It Costs More To Operate An Air Purifier Than It Does To Operate An Air Conditioner
The reason is simple; air conditioners are designed to cool. So they don’t need to filter the air in your home. And they don’t need to add humidity to dry out the air, which some models of air purifiers do.
Air purifiers are designed to remove tiny particles from the air and odors and gases like formaldehyde, which is found in many building materials. Some even use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms like bacteria and viruses on surfaces.
The amount of electricity required depends on how much air needs to be moved through the filter and what kinds of filters are used. The more powerful the fan is, the more power it uses.
In general, air purifiers cost more to operate than air conditioners. They use about 80% more electricity than a comparable air conditioner does. This is mainly because air purifiers do not have energy-saving features like fans. In addition, most people run their air purifiers for longer periods than they run their air conditioners.
If you are using an electric heater or space heater, it will probably cost less to operate an air purifier instead of an air conditioner.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, the difference between air conditioners and air purifiers is a matter of function than form. The air conditioner helps to maintain a constant temperature in the room. In contrast, the air purifier helps to maintain the ideal level of cleanliness and keeps pollutants from settling in a room.
Either can be used for their respective purposes, or a combination of both can provide the best solution for your problem. If your AC or purifier is not functioning as required, click here to get the high-quality repair, maintenance, and installation services for residents and businesses in Miami and surrounding areas.
