Pure air is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to creating a healthy home. The best air purifier for a given space will remove contaminants, odors, and almost anything else. However, an air purifier alone cannot maintain humidity by either adding, or removing moisture. In the desert you’ll still have arid, nosebleed inducing dry air. In humid places like Seattle, San Francisco, New York, or London… you’ll have to keep humidity in check to prevent mold or other moisture-related issues.
It would be great to have a all-in-one machine that purifies, humidifies, and removes moisture at the same time. Unfortunately, those features have not been successfully combined; yet. So, you’ll have to choose based on your climate and desired in-home conditions. Looking for pure, humidified air in your Phoenix home? Get a purifier humidifier combo. Looking for clean air, with less humidity? Get a purifier dehumidifier combo.
In this guide we’ll cover some of our favorite humidifier and purifier combinations. So sit back and prepare yourself for an action-packed thrill ride through the world of the air purifier and humidifier combo.
Top Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo Machines
Venta Airwasher 2-in-1
Venta makes a variety of filterless 2-in-1 air purifier and humidifier machines. Each offers incredible humidification and air purification for rooms as small as 200 square feet. From there the models offered climb in capacity… 800 square feet being the largest.
In the largest model you will find the ability to hold three gallons of water for ongoing humidification. But, the cool thing is that the purifier does not use a filter. It uses water to trap dust and pollen; similar to a high-end automotive or aerospace paint booth. Inside the machine are a series of discs that pull pollen, allergens, and dust from the air. As they rotate, the water cleans the discs and traps the pollutants. But, don’t worry; since the humidification process relies on evaporation the nasty stuff won’t escape back into your home’s freshly scrubbed air.
Key Features:
- Low maintenance
- Air purifier and humidifier in one 8.5 pound package
- Low water indicator
- Auto shut off
- Easy to clean
- Three speed fan
- Fairly quiet
What we don’t like…
These air purifier humidifier combos lack a humidity control function. In the desert, that’s not a problem. However, if you’re looking for precise control. Look elsewhere. But , even with that shortfall… these are still some of the top machines available.
Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifiers
Sharp is a well-known name in electronics. They’re also great producers of in-home air purifiers. When we were searching for the best air purifier and humidifier combo, Sharp’s Plasmacluster line came up again and again. We did a deep dive on the stats and found that the HEPA filters in these machines are top notch.
Sharp’s filters out perform those found in many higher-priced air purifiers on the market. But, when Sharp set out with this product line they added a bonus feature for those of us with dry skin, nosebleeds, and chapped lips. They added a humidification feature.
While it’s not the most powerful humidifier available, we think it does a great job adding just a bit of humidity to counteract seasonal and HVAC-related dry air. If you’re in the desert, you might want to try a stand alone humidifier into the mix.
Overall we love this lineup of humidifiers. From this model to the smaller FPF60UW Plasmacluster and the slightly larger FPA80UW; we think any Plasmacluster is a solid buy.
Key Features:
- Automatic Air Quality Monitor
- True HEPA Filter
- Very quiet machine
- Energy Star Rating
- AHAM Certified
- Excellent CADR Rating (Circulation)
- 2-5 Year Filter Life
What we dislike….
In a perfect world, this unit would be a bit better at humidification. But, it’s not a perfect world and adding a huge reservoir would kill the functionality of the Plasmacluster. It would also create a much bulkier machine. At the end of the day we’re willing to sacrifice the reduced humidification power for something that knocks purification out of the park while adding a little moisture along the way. But, then again our story might be different if we were located down in Arizona or Nevada.
Air Purifier vs Humidifier vs Combination
Stand Alone Air Purifier Benefits
The big advantage to a stand alone air purifier is the value. You can get a lot of purifying power for the money you’d spend on a purifier/humidifier combo unit. For example, for the a little more than you’d spend on the Venta LW45 we mentioned above you can get an AirMega, Rabbit Air, or Alen. For the about the price of a Sharp Plasmacluster, you can get an awesome Coway, Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0, or a matching pair of Honeywell 50250-s‘. And, all of those examples will get you at least twice the area coverage, a way higher CADR, and easier (less-frequent) maintenance.
If you’re suffering from allergies, asthma, or the terrible smell of a litter box. A standalone purifier is definitely the way to go.
Stand Alone Humidifier Benefits
So we said that a stand alone purifier will trounce a combination unit in performance. For the most part a humidifier will as well. The exception is the Venta line. They have huge reservoirs. And, since they’re evaporative… you won’t need to refill as frequently. The downside is that it costs a lot more to purchase.
Speaking of reservoirs, on units like the Plasma Cluster or the Dreval D-950 the water capacity is pretty minimal. In drier climates you might need to refill the unit daily (or multiple times a day).
The huge benefit of a standalone humidifier is the price. You can get an excellent humidifier (with a huge reservoir) for a very, very low price.
Air Purifier and Humidifier Combination Benefits
So where would you benefit from a purifier and humidifier combo? First, if space is limited. These are great in a small condo, loft, or studio. If space is limited, and you need both humidity and purification… your best bet is something like the Sharp Plasmacluster. The combo is also a great choice if your just below the optimal relative humidity… say in the high 30 – low 40 percent range. While these units are generally weak on humidification, they’re adequate when all you need is a ten percent boost.
On the other hand… if you’re in a larger home and want a more consistent increase in humidity a combo like the Venta is a great pick. It covers a large area, requires infrequent refills, and it does help purify the air. We would definitely recommend one of these in the largest area of your home, coupled with a few smaller purifiers elsewhere.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for an all in one solution, and you don’t need a machine for heavy duty air purifier and humidifier use… an all-in-one machine will serve you well. However, if you’re dealing with heavy smoke or want a feature-rich humidifier we would look for other standalone options. Finding a combination air purifier and humidifier combo that can outperform its stand alone counterparts is a very tall order.
