Getting clean, refreshing air at home has become increasingly challenging. In addition to the rise in air pollution levels, low humidity can also impact air quality and the level of comfort in your home. A great way to deal with these two air quality problems at home is to invest in an air purifier and humidifier combo to address the two air quality problems simultaneously.
In this article we dissect the best air purifier-humidifier combos and top these reviews with our buyer’s guide so that you can make an informed decision.
Top 5 Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo Products Comparison
Product | Features | Price |
---|---|---|
1. Sharp KC-860U Plasmacluster
|
Check price on amazon | |
2. Venta LW25 Airwasher 2-in-1
|
Check price on amazon | |
3. Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh 2-in-1
|
Check price on amazon | |
4. Envion FS200 Four Seasons
|
Check price on amazon | |
5. Dreval D-950
|
Check price on amazon |
Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo Review
1. Sharp KC-860U Plasmacluster
Sharp’s KC-860U Plasmacluster can humidify and purify the surrounding air in your room through its built-in evaporative humidifier and patented filtration system, respectively. It is equipped with a HEPA filter that traps up to 99% of common household allergens. The humidifier, on the other hand, goes into action to improve the air quality especially during the colder, drier months by releasing a cool, fine mist.
It also boasts Sharp’s Plasmacluster Ion Technology, which breaks down all allergens and odors, even those trapped in fabric and carpets, by dispersing both positive and negative ions throughout the entire space to eradicate them.
The KC860-U, unfortunately, isn’t for penny-pinchers looking to save some money as it does cost quite a bit. Furthermore, replacement filters can be difficult to find. Surprisingly, it is only backed by a 1-year warranty which, considering its price. Overall, however, you’re sure to get more bang for your buck with the KC860-U because of its bevy of unique features.
Pros
- Patented Plasmacluster Ion technology aids air purification
- Air purifier functions independently of the humidifier
- Operates quietly
- Energy Star rated
Cons
- Relatively pricey
- Short warranty
2. Venta LW25 Airwasher 2-in-1
Venta is one of the pioneers in the airwasher market and they didn’t disappoint with the LW25. Rated to cover up to 400 sq. ft. of space, the LW25 relies on the principle of cold evaporation to work. This means that dry, unpurified air gets pulled into the unit and passes through its rotating and moistened disc stacks. These airborne particles stick to these disc stacks, which are then dragged into the unit’s basin where they are left. Clean, moisturized air then leaves the unit.
One glaring problem with airwashers like the LW25, though, is that they just aren’t as good at removing certain types of air pollutants as standard air purifiers primarily because they lack actual filters to remove these air pollutants. This makes them less adept against odors, volatile organic compounds, bacteria, and viruses. Disadvantages aside, you will still get to enjoy the benefits of breathing fresher and more purified air with the LW25 at home. Aside from having useful features like water low indicator and automatic shut off, it’s backed by an industry-leading 10-year warranty. Furthermore, you can maximize long-term savings with the LW25 because it’s extremely low maintenance and doesn’t use any filters that need to be replaced.
Pros
- Operates with unique cold evaporation process to purify and moisturize air
- Better choice if humidifying is your primary concern
- Ideal for medium-sized rooms
- Long warranty
- No filters to replace
- Low maintenance
- Energy efficient
- Affordable to use and maintain long-term
Cons
- Relatively pricey (upfront)
- Loud
- Doesn’t do as good a job of air purifying as an actual air purifier
3. Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh 2-in-1
Oreck’s WK15500B is another model that can purify and humidify at the same time. Just like other Oreck air purifiers, it utilizes both HEPA and charcoal filters to take care of eradicating allergens and odor from the surrounding air, respectively. Its built-in ultrasonic humidifier also emits a cool mist in the air to add in moisture when you need it. They can run at the same time or independently of each other.
This unit is best used for small spaces no bigger than 115 sq. ft. Considering this drawback, we were also dismayed to find that the WK15500B is quite expensive and is backed by a short 1-year warranty. The WK15500B is nevertheless a good choice for anyone who needs air purification and humidification. It is perfect for use at night too, since the machine operates quietly as you sleep.
Pros
- Makes use of a two-stage filtration system to capture odors and allergens
- Equipped with night mode: operates quietly and dimly
- Smart features such as water level and filter change indicators
- Built with a cool mist ultrasonic humidifier to moisturize air
- Automatic adjustments on room’s humidity levels through unit’s humidistat
Cons
- Small coverage area
- Short warranty
- Expensive
4. Envion FS200 Four Seasons
The Envion FS200 Four Seasons is essentially a powerhouse machine, and it is proven by its extensive four-stage filtration system. All allergens and unwanted particles will go through its True HEPA filter, ceramic heater, powerful fan, and humidifier to leave no traces of smoke, mold, germs, and bacteria behind.
The heater in this unit also acts as a humidifier by generating moist heat that can be adjustable. This means that you will not have to worry about drying your skin or the air around you too much. It is able to hold 0.75 gallons of water and features a refill light to notify you once the tank begins to run low. The FS200 lacks in smart features, and the heater can be a problem for people sensitive to hot air. But it will save you some money with its four major functionalities all rolled into one functional machine.
Pros
- Allows you to choose to run the heater, humidifier and fan, or heater and humidifier independently
- Built-in heater acts as an air purifier
- Refill light to notify of low water levels
- Tower design allows it to fit anywhere
- Great for medium-sized rooms
Cons
- Very little smart features
- Heating function can be problematic to those sensitive to hot air
5. Dreval D-950
The Dreval D-950 is another popular air purifier with a built-in humidifier rated to cover rooms up to 430 sq. ft. What makes this unit stand out is that it has a whopping 7-stage air filtration system comprised of a cold catalyst filter, a carbon filter, a True HEPA filter, a UV light, an ionizer, and an ultrasonic humidifier. Needless to say the D-950 is fully decked-out to handle all sorts of air pollutants and relieve any low humidity symptoms.
Considering how feature-packed this device is, it’s no surprise that it is expensive. The expenses persist long-term, too, because of the several filters that will inevitably need to be replaced. This makes it an incredibly high maintenance device, and with so many different features and buttons the D-950 makes for a not-so-user-friendly device. Overall, however, the D-950 is undeniably one of the most reliable air purifier-humidifier combos available on the market today. Its features allow you to set it and forget it, without having to worry about making any adjustments manually. You can trust it to make your home a more comfortable place to live in.
Pros
- Medium to large room coverage
- Automatic fan speed adjustment depending on current air quality
- Automatic humidity adjustment depending on current humidity level
- Targets a wide array of air pollutants
- Remote control
- Several useful features
Cons
- Expensive (upfront and long-term)
- Large and bulky
- Bright LED lights
- Small humidifier tank
- High maintenance
- Not user friendly
Buyer’s Guide:
Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo
Air Purifier-Humidifier Combo Benefits
The benefit of having a machine that can perform two functionalities at once is pretty straightforward: it is cost and space efficient. An air purifier may be enough to purify the air in your room or space, but the humidifier can help further enhance the quality of your air at home by adding comfortable moisture. An air purifier and humidifier combo machine may be a little more expensive than a device that is dedicated to just one of the two functions, but it will turn out to be a worthy investment once you feel the health benefits that it brings, including:
-
Superior Indoor Air Quality
An air purifier and humidifier combo can both rid the air of potentially harmful air pollutants and add much needed moisture at the same time. Having one at home helps ensure that you are breathing in clean, refreshing air at all times so that you and your family breathing more comfortably.
-
Less Maintenance Work
Having separate machines to do the purifying and humidifying can be costly and difficult to maintain, but having a device that can do both cuts maintenance work in half. In addition, most of these air purifier and humidifier combos come with washable filters, which also curbs the added expenses for future filter replacements.
-
Saving Space
Similarly, having one device that performs multiple actions is a space saver compared to having two or more separate machines to get the job done. The great thing about these combo machines is that they come in sleek modern designs that also add to the aesthetics of the room.
Disadvantages of using an Air Purifier and Humidifier Combo
-
Limited Performance
When compared to separate devices dedicated to one function only (either humidification or air purification), an air purifier-humidifier combo will not perform as well in comparison. This is particularly true for the air purifiers with built-in humidifiers. Because their water tank is normally very small, you can’t expect it to do a very good job of humidifying large rooms. Conversely, with airwashers like the Venta LW25, you can’t expect superior air purification considering their lack of air filters.
-
Less Customizable
Air purifier-humidifier combos often cannot be customized or tailored to your needs. In contrast, some dedicated air purifiers are able to target specific problems such as odors, allergens, or toxins. One great example of this is the Alen BreatheSmart FIT50 which allows you to choose filters that specifically target different air pollutants. If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, you can check out our different air purifier reviews for pet owners, smokers, and allergy-sufferers.
-
Fewer Options Available
There aren’t many air purifier-humidifier combos available so you’re only limited to a few options. While we hope that more models will come to market in the years to come, this is a relatively new type of device and not many companies have developed high quality air purifier-humidifier combos yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the humidification function help?
The presence of a built-in humidifier within an air purifier helps increase its efficiency because it addresses two air quality problems at the same time: air pollution and low humidity. Because of this, air purifier-humidifier combos can provide not only clean but also comfortably moisturized air to everyone at home.
Is the combo product more efficient than using two devices separately?
It definitely is. Using two products separately for air purification and humidification can be more costly, take up more space, and can be more difficult to maintain. As previously mentioned, though, you will have to sacrifice two characteristics when it comes to purchasing an air purifier-humidifier combo: performance and customization.
Is there any way to tell if the device is energy efficient or not?
The best way to determine a machine’s energy efficiency (in this case for an air purifier and humidifier combo) is the Energy Star rating. This certification not only denotes that a device is 10 to 20 percent more energy efficient, but it signifies environment-friendliness as well. In this review, only the Sharp KC860-U is Energy Star rated.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to air quality, there are several factors that come into play. The two biggest problems, however, that need to be addressed are air pollution and low humidity. Both these problems bring about a whole host of negative effects both on your health and your quality of living at home. One of the best ways to prevent these problems is to have an air purifier and humidifier combo at home.
After much consideration, we’ve decided that the best air purifier and humidifier combo machine is easily the Sharp KC860-U. Its features and performance just really sets it apart from the rest of the competition and you can rest assured it’ll be able to tackle all sorts of air quality problems you may be facing at home. For those on a budget, one of the less pricier ones on this list is the Envion FS200 Four Seasons. You may have to sacrifice room size, but you are covered by a lifetime warranty.
I actually own the Dreval D-850 HEPA and I recommend it to others as well. It keeps the house smelling great, my son’s allergies haven’t acted up since I bought it, and it maintains perfect humidity levels.
The Sharp KC-850U Plasmacluster really caught my eye! I think it will be perfect for my dry bedroom, and I hope that it will help relieve my allergies as well.
We’re glad that our article helped you reached a decision. Regardless of what model you go with, it will surely serve you well!
Amazon.com: Envion Four Seasons FS200 Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter