What is the difference between air purifier and HVAC?

Author: Evangeline Sporer  |  Last update: Friday, November 7, 2025

Air conditioners are designed to cool the air in your home and help you maintain a specific indoor temperature. Airpurifiers are made to improve indoor air quality — they have no control over the temperature in your home. Unlike air conditioners, air purifiers are made to be on twenty-four hours a day.

Is an air purifier the same as an HVAC system?

Once more, HVAC systems are meant to control the indoor climate's temperature and humidity levels, whereas air purifiers are dedicated to removing contaminants from the air. The level of filtration provided by standard HVAC systems alone doesn't touch the efficiency provided by HEPA purifiers.

Which is better, an air purifier or an air conditioner?

  • Air Conditioner: Best for cooling your home and controlling humidity. It also offers some air filtration but primarily focuses on temperature control.
  • Air Purifier: Best for improving indoor air quality by removing pollutants, allergens, and other particles from the air. It doesn't affect the temperature.

Are air purifiers in HVAC worth it?

Enhanced Respiratory Health. Chronic exposure to airborne allergens can contribute to respiratory issues, exacerbating conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. Whole house air purifiers can enhance respiratory health by significantly reducing the inhalation of irritants.

What are the disadvantages of an air purifier?

What are the downsides of air purifiers? There aren't a lot of downsides to having an air purifier in your home aside from the financial investment. Many ionizers, especially older models, can generate ozone when they are operating, which is known to exacerbate asthma.

Air Purifier VS Air Conditioner (Difference Between Air Purifiers and Air Conditioners)

What is the dark side of air purifiers?

Ozone-Generating Air Cleaners

One mechanism of damage results from ozone-olefin reactions, and another from ozone reacting with electron donors (such as glutathione). Inhalation of relatively small amounts of ozone can cause coughing, chest pain, throat irritation, and shortness of breath.

What do doctors say about air purifiers?

Medical professionals suggest prioritizing maintaining a clean home and frequently sanitizing frequently used surfaces. Air purifiers should just be an accessory to your cleaning routine, not a priority.

How much does it cost to add an air purifier to HVAC?

Whole-house air purifier costs range from $419 to $4,962, with an average of $2,610 depending on house size and filter type. Installing a whole-house air purifier costs $419 to $12,000, though most homeowners spend an average of $2,610.

Will one air purifier do the whole-house?

In general, yes—one air purifier can work for multiple rooms. However, it's important that the unit's capacity fits the layout of your home and is specific to the type of air pollutants you're targeting.

Can I add an air purifier to a HVAC system?

In most cases, it is possible to add an air purifier to an existing HVAC system.

Can I use an AC and air purifier together?

You can absolutely use these two devices together, and you can even use them in the same room without fear of their functionalities impacting one another.

Should you sleep with an air purifier on?

While breathing cleaner air can be helpful for your overall health and wellbeing, the benefits of an air purifier in the bedroom extend to better sleep for many.

Does an air purifier remove dust?

When used correctly, air purifiers with HEPA filters can effectively reduce dust and other allergens in the air. They may be particularly useful if you're allergic to dust mites or pollen or if allergens trigger your asthma. You can choose from many types of air purifiers.

Do I need an air purifier if I have AC?

False. Air conditioners cannot and do not purify air. The air filter located near the return air duct or air handler does filter dust, pollen and other allergens. But it's a misconception that the air filter is a part of the air conditioner itself, rather air filters are a part of the entire HVAC system.

What is the best air purifier for your home?

At the top of our list are Dyson Air Purifier Cool TP07 and Dyson Purifier Humidifier+Cool Formaldehyde TP09, highly recommended and rated by many experts.

Do air purifiers also cool the air?

An air purifier will have no effect on room temperature (and neither will a fan). They do not “cool the room” but rather lower a person's temperature through the “wind-chill” effect. However, this process is very effective at improving comfort in warm conditions.

Should you leave air purifier on all day?

However, in general, the duration of use required depends on the size of your space and the amount of indoor pollution (which varies throughout the year). This is why most manufacturers will recommend you to leave your air purifier running all day, especially if it comes equipped with an automatic setting.

Where is the best place to put an air purifier?

Air purifiers work by circulating air, and they need space to do it. Air purifiers should be at least 6 inches away from walls, doors, or furniture. Running the device in tight spaces or with other items nearby reduces the amount of airflow the device can generate with its intake fan.

Do air purifiers use a lot of electricity?

Room air cleaners are portable, electric appliances that remove fine particles, such as dust and pollen, from indoor air. A standard room air cleaner, operating continuously, uses approximately 450 kWh per year in electricity. This is more than the energy used by some new refrigerators!

How much should I spend on an air purifier?

the price of the air purifier

If it's extremely expensive, it may be outside your budget but more importantly, it needs to offer quite a bit for it to be a good value. Top rated units fall in the $120 to $200 range.

Why do people often install air purifiers in their homes?

Air purifiers remove dust, smoke, bad smells, harmful chemicals, viruses, pollen, and pet dander. They provide fresh and clean air, which is essential considering the rise of pollution in the world. They're not just used at home.

Can too many air purifiers be bad?

If you have more air purifiers than is necessary, you do stand the chance of over-purifying the air in your home and using more energy than necessary.

What are the side effects of air purifiers?

Specific effects may include throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as an increased risk of respiratory infections. Some ozone air purifiers are made with an ion generator, sometimes called an ionizer, in the same unit. You can also buy ionizers as separate units.

Do air purifiers remove mold?

While air filtration can help reduce airborne mold spores, an air purifier will not eliminate indoor mold growing on or beneath surfaces like walls and floors. Dr. Fineman emphasizes that effective indoor mold control requires managing moisture and humidity to prevent conditions that promote mold growth.

Is it healthy to sleep with air purifier?

Recent research by researchers from the University of Reading and the University of Sussex, commissioned by Dyson, has found that using an air purifier can have a positive impact on sleep outcomes.

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