Does Air Purifier Dry the Air?

By Membrane Solutions Apr 17, 2023

Are you considering purchasing an air purifier to improve the air quality in your home or office, but concerned about it might dry out the air? It's a valid concern, as many people believe that air purifiers can have a negative impact on humidity levels. In this article, we'll explore does air purifier dry the air, and how to maintain humidity in room when using an air purifier. If you're considering investing in an air purifier or already own one, keep reading to learn more about can air purifiers dry out the air.

So, Does an Air Purifier Dry out the Air?

Actually, your air purifier does not dry out the air. Instead, it improves air quality by removing substances that can dry out the air, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, without removing moisture.

It's important to point out that certain air purifiers come with activated carbon filters that can absorb unpleasant odors and harmful gases. Some people may worry that the activated charcoal in these filters can trap moisture in the air, which can cause the air to become dry. However, this effect is so negligible that it's hardly noticeable. Therefore, even if you use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, it won't significantly dry out the air.

While an air purifier won't dry out the air, it can make you feel drier than usual. If you're wondering why you feel dry when using an air purifier, it's related to how the air purifier operates. Let's start by discussing how an air purifier works and what it does to the air in your room.

How Does an Air Purifier Work?

Air purifiers work by using various filters and technologies to remove pollutants, allergens, and other harmful particles from the air.

The working principle of the air purifier is that the micro fan (also known as the ventilator) inside the machine circulates the indoor air, and the polluted air passes through the air filter inside the machine to remove or absorb various pollutants, and then release it from the other end to achieve the purpose of cleaning and purifying the air. There are some differences in how different air filters work:

Pre-filter: It is used to capture larger particles such as hair, dust, and pet fur, and also helps protect the HEPA filter and activated carbon filter.
True HEPA filter: It is used to capture 99.7% of small particles of 0.3 microns, such as pollen, smoke, and bacteria.
Activated carbon filter: It is used to remove formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and other odors and harmful gases.
Oil fume filter: It is especially suitable for removing kitchen smoke and cooking smell.

In conclusion, things that can be removed by an air purifier include cigarette smoke, pollen, pet dander, dust, mold spores, and some bacteria and viruses, while it does not add or remove moisture from the air. That being the case, why do you feel dry skin, dry nose, and sore throat when using an air purifier?

Why You Feel Dry When Using an Air Purifier - 5 Reasons

When using an air purifier, you may actually experience dryness in your nose, skin, and throat, but it's important to note that this isn't caused by the air purifier itself drying out the air. We're here to help you analyze why you're feeling dry while using an air purifier:

You're using an air purifier that's too big for your room: When the device blows filtered air back into the room, the cycle makes the room feel cooler, and cool air is drier than warm air. When you use an air purifier that is too large for the space it will increase this effect and make the air feel dryer.
The device is too close to you: Sitting near the device with air blowing on your face can dry out the nasal passages.
The filter was not replaced in time: The dirt left in the filter will build up over time, eventually causing the filter to clog and the purifier to no longer purify. The dirt accumulated on the filter will be blown into the air again with the operation of the fan. As your breath enters your body, it can irritate the lining of your airways, leaving you with a sore throat and dry nose.
Closed space: When people breathe, they exhale a large amount of carbon dioxide, which accumulates in a closed space. Combined with filter overload, polluted air pollutants can cause irritation to the upper respiratory tract.
The air purifier circulates cool air: Science has shown that warm air has a greater ability to hold moisture than cold air because warmer air can hold more moisture. So when the air is cooler, the air will feel drier if you circulate it through the room with an air purifier.

However, no matter how you feel about the air in your room, air purifiers can’t actually remove moisture from the air.

How to Maintain Humidity in Room When Using an Air Purifier - 7 Tips

Although the straightforward answer to the question that do air purifiers make the air dry is no, there are still specific precautions that must be taken when using an air purifier to avoid dryness feeling:

1. Use a humidifier

Adding a humidifier to the room can help balance the dryness caused by the air purifier. You can adjust the humidifier to your desired humidity level and let it run together with the air purifier.

2. Choose the right air purifier

You should choose the right air purifier according to your room size, if you have doubts about it, you can refer to: How to Choose Correct Sizes of Air Purifier to Different Rooms?

Generally speaking, the CADR value of the selected air purifier is two-thirds of the room area. We mentioned this in the article What is a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) Rating in Air Purifiers?

3. Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Not only does this help with dryness, but it can also improve your overall health. A moisturizer can also be applied to the skin to prevent dryness and keep the skin hydrated.

4. Monitor humidity levels and adjust air purifier settings

Place a hygrometer in the room and monitor humidity levels regularly. If the humidity drops below 30%, it can lead to dry skin, sore throats, and other health problems. Reduce the speed of the air purifier or adjust the settings to reduce the drying out of the room it may cause.

5. Mobile Air Purifier

Increasing the distance between the air purifier and the human body can reduce the feeling of dryness.

6. Replace the filter element on time

When the filter element of the air purifier is overloaded and blocked, you need to replace the filter element in time to prevent pollutants from re-entering the air and irritating your respiratory system.

7. When it’s cold, close the space

Your home will feel drier due to cold air circulation. So in the cold winter, you need to seal your space to reduce the dryness in the room.

After exploring the question of does air purifier dry out air, it is clear that investing in an air purifier is a viable option for improving the quality of your indoor air. By choosing the right air purifier, as a HEPA air purifier, you can effectively remove harmful pollutants like dust, pollen, and pet dander, which can cause allergies and aggravate respiratory issues like asthma. With improved air quality, you'll not only breathe easier but also experience a healthier home environment.

Air Purifiers for Different Room Sizes

MSB5 Small Room Air Purifier - 215 ft²

Colorful and adjustable RGB light for creating a warm ambiance
Effective particle filtration with a HEPA filter
3-stage filtration design with Pre-Filter, H13 TRUE HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter
Efficient air circulation in rooms up to 215 ft² / 20 m² Low-decibel operation in sleep mode for a peaceful environment
Air quality display and multiple fan modes for customized purification

MS18 Medium Room Air Purifier - 825 ft²

Powerful air purification with dual centrifugal fans
Compact size suitable for various rooms
Efficient 4-stage filtration system
H13 True HEPA filter for capturing particles and pollutants
User-friendly features including control panel, night light, filter indicator, timer, and sleep mode
Ideal for rooms up to 825ft², such as bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, offices, and more.

MSA3 Large Room Air Purifier - 1590 ft²

Genuine MSA3 filters for optimal performance
Removes pet dander, dust, pollen, smoke, odor, and mold
3-stage filtration with upgraded OdallerPure technology
Filters out 99.97% of particles as small as 0.01 microns
Suitable for large rooms up to 1590ft²
Low-noise operation at 22dB in sleep mode
Certified safe and 100% ozone-free (ETL, FCC, CE, RoHS)

MS601 Extra Large Room Air Purifier - 3270 ft²

Purify large area up to 3,027 sq ft with the top-performing air purifier
App smart controlled, also compatible with voice assistant
PM2.5 Air quality detection, display with real-time air quality readings
Automatically match fan speed according to air quality
Sleep mode, noise as low as 21dB
100% Ozone-Free
The Air Filter is Pre-installed, MS601 Replacement Air Filter
Its high-performance 4-stage filter purifies air particles as small as 0.1 microns, including smoke, pet hair, dander, dust, pollen, odors, and cooking smells.

MS601 Extra Large Room Air Purifier For Allergen Remover

MS601 Extra Large Room Air Purifier - 3270 ft²

$399.99

Invest Membrane Solutions HEPA Air Purifier To Improve Your Home Air Quality

Membrane Solutions HEPA air purifiers are an effective solution for improving indoor air quality. These purifiers use advanced filters that can capture microscopic pollutants like allergens, pet dander, and even viruses, with true HEPA filters capable of capturing up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This makes them ideal for people who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems, as well as anyone who wants to breathe cleaner air. Additionally, HEPA air purifiers are typically low-maintenance and easy to use. Investing in a HEPA air purifier can help to create a healthier living environment for you and your family.