Do you live in a humongous city where smog is an ongoing problem? Are dust allergies or pollen a concern for you? If left untreated, unwanted organic molecules can wreak havoc on your body.
A UV air sanitizer or air purifier is an excellent option for those who wish for cleaner and healthier indoor air. Both appliances function year-round to keep the air in your house free of contaminants.
If you stand confused in the air sanitizer vs. air purifier debate, this guide will explain what each device is, how they work, and what benefits they provide to your indoor space, so make sure you read until the end.
What Is an Air Sanitizer?
An air sanitizer, also known as a UV air sanitizing system, is installed in your home’s ducts and emits UV light to purify the air passing through your vents. Air sanitizers are a great way to enjoy a pollutant-free indoor environment.
These devices require the least maintenance since they do not use filters. Furthermore, they will last you a long time without influencing your home’s moisture level. You can think of them as your germ defender, not to mention that they also protect you from mold that may have otherwise harmed your health.
Types of Air Sanitizers
Let’s look into the three different types of air sanitizers:
Aerosol Air Sanitizers
These sanitizers come in a spray bottle or an aerosol can and include a sanitizing chemical that can be sprayed into the air or directly on a surface. The purification takes place outside the sanitizer’s body and is extremely effective against airborne infections.
UV Air Cleaners
UV air cleaners work by directing air into a UV-C light chamber, where the microbial DNA is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation. These air cleaners use a fan to force air into an enclosed container. UV air cleaners efficiently eliminate bacteria, mold, viruses, and germs.
Ionic Air Sanitizers
Ionizer air sanitizers also employ negative ions to eliminate germs and viruses in the air. These devices emit charged particles that bind to contaminants in the atmosphere. Since the ions make the particles heavier, they fall to the ground, where you can then vacuum them.
Pros
- Works wonders in humid situations for reducing mildew and mold growth
- Eliminates foul odors from indoor air
- Makes the air cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable to breathe, promoting greater sleep quality
- Incredibly cost-effective and requires less maintenance since filter replacements aren’t required
- Highly effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing organisms
Cons
- A larger sanitizing machine may necessitate an electrical update
- Not as good at eliminating airborne pollutants
- Emit ozone, which is damaging to your health
What Is an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers clean by using filtration principles, commonly employed to remove contaminants from the air. An air purifier uses numerous filters to purify the air inside your home and remove impurities, including dust, pet dander, mold spores, cooking odors, VOCs, and microorganisms. The air is drawn into the machine by a fan and passed through a filter where it’s cleaned and released into the environment.
Types of Air Purifiers
The different types of air purifiers include:
HEPA Filters
A HEPA air purifier removes particles from the air using a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA). A HEPA filter can capture 99.97% of particles, even those smaller than 0.03 microns. These filters effectively remove particulate matter and are an ideal solution for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Pre-Filter Carbon Filter
A synthetic or nylon mesh-based pre-filter is placed in the air passage before reaching the more expensive filters. These pre-filters capture large particles such as fur, hair, and dust specks. Pre-filters are often dirty and are generally washable. Moreover, they are usually made of cloth or fabric, while other components in the machine are more or less spongy.
Activated Carbon Filter
This type of air purifier employs activated carbon to absorb pollutants and odors. These filters are charcoal or activated carbon “beds,” which have a high capacity for collecting moisture and gaseous contaminants. An activated carbon filter or a plain carbon filter effectively neutralizes most typical odors, such as household odors, cooking, pet, and volatile organic compounds.
Pros
- Purifies the air by removing dangerous pollutants from indoor spaces
- Eliminates smells, allergies, dust mites, smoke, toxic gasses, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Reduce the risk of diseases transmitted through the air
- Relatively affordable to run
- Improve quality of sleep
- Help alleviate asthma symptoms
Cons
- Can make a lot of noise
- You need to update their filters regularly
- Won’t destroy mold or mildew, but air purifiers can help get rid of the spores in the air for better health
Air Sanitizer vs. Air Purifier
Wondering which one comes out on top in a head-to-head comparison? Well, there’s no clear winner. An air purifier is your best bet if you’re searching for something to eliminate allergens, smoke, dust mites, and other pollutants from the air.
On the other hand, an air sanitizer is a better solution for reducing disease-causing agents like bacteria and viruses. It ensures cleaner air free of micro-pollutants.
Air purifiers use numerous filtering stages to absorb particulate matter in indoor air. In contrast, air sanitizers use UV-C light or aerosol vapors to destroy microorganisms but are inefficient against big particles.
Air sterilizers are relatively quiet, but air purifiers can be loud. Also, the latter’s filters require replacement regularly, but an air sanitizer’s UV light or ionizer requires little to no maintenance.
Air sanitizers are excellent for sensitive areas like hospitals with high microbiological content. Still, they’re not the best choice for the average household air, where an air purifier provides far better protection.
In the end, the choice between an air purifier and an air sterilizer comes down to your own needs and tastes and, most importantly, the area where you reside and its air quality.
Endnote
We hope you’re better equipped to choose the best solution — an air sanitizer vs. air purifier — for your needs now that you fully understand their differences and function. Simply put, both of them are almost equally effective in improving air quality, but they have distinct advantages.
For example, an air purifier removes the more easily perceivable dangers in the air, like smoke and dirt, whereas an air sanitizer will allow you to breathe in air free of micro-pollutants and UV rays, amongst other contaminants.
