“Do air purifiers dry the air?” you might wonder. We commonly hear from homeowners who believe that an air purifier will dry out their air, but it’s simply not true. Air purifiers do not take moisture out of the air, so they cannot dry it out.
A dehumidifier can dry out the air, and if you need to bring down the humidity levels in your home, we recommend one of those appliances. However, if you want to eliminate airborne contaminants and keep your air clean because of allergy issues, then you want a whole house air purifier. This is the best way to maintain a comfortable and healthy environment.
What Causes Dry Air in Homes?
There are a lot of reasons why dry air can occur in homes. If you are experiencing dry lips, dry skin, a stuffy nose, or a headache, then you may be suffering from dry air. This tends to happen in the colder months because humidity levels are low and the air doesn’t have enough moisture.
Low humidity levels outside often mean low humidity levels inside unless you have a home humidifier that is putting moisture back into the environment. If you struggle with dry air at home, we recommend adding a humidifier to keep those moisture levels in a comfortable range.

Signs of Dry Air at Home?
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Breathing Trouble
If you have trouble breathing and feel like your throat is dry, you may have dry air at home. Check how you feel in the morning. If you are waking up with a dry, itchy nose or throat, then you most likely have dry air in your home. -
Dry Skin And Lips
Another sign of dry air at home is having dry skin and dry lips. If your lips are chapped and cracked, this is a sign. If your skin is cracking and sometimes even bleeding because it is so dry, then this can be another sign of dry air. -
Warping Wood, Cracking Paint
If you notice that the wood in your home is warped or the paint on your walls is cracking, this is a sign that your home doesn’t have enough moisture. Hardwood floors and paint need normal moisture levels to avoid this problem. -
Getting Zapped
If you frequently find yourself “zapped” when you touch clothing or furniture, then your home has excess amounts of static electricity. Why does that happen? Dry air creates static electricity buildup.

Do Air Purifiers Make the Indoor Air Dry?
Air purifiers can help you maintain clean air in your home and limit allergies. Dry air is typically caused by colder weather because it limits the amount of moisture in the air. However, dry air can also be caused by heating devices.
If you use a furnace or heater, the chances are that the air is being dried out by these appliances. If you live in a cold weather area, we recommend purchasing a humidifier so that you can add moisture back into the air to make it more comfortable for you and your family.
Humidifiers add moisture to the air, whereas air purifiers remove airborne pollutants. Dry air can lead to numerous health problems.
Other tips and tricks to solve the dry air problem include boiling water over your stove to allow moisture to seep back into the air, leaving damp clothes to dry out, letting wet sponges dry out in rooms, and adding plants to dry rooms (also spray these plants daily with water).
The easiest and most effective way to add moisture back into your home, however, is to purchase a humidifier.
Health Risks of Indoor Dry Air
Dry air can create several health risks. These health risks occur because our bodies need to have an appropriate level of water. We can get this water through drinking and eating, but we are also at our best when we get some of our moisture through the air.
Our body brings moisture in via our respiratory system, for example, and without enough moisture in the air, this can’t happen. If you notice that your nose is always itchy or dry, your sinuses are worse, and your lips are chapped, you may not be getting enough moisture through the air.
The following list showcases some of the health risks of indoor air:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness Of Breath
- Chest Tightness
- Skin Problems
- Nose Bleeds
- Chills
- Worsened Cold & Flu Symptoms
- Increased Chances Of Contracting Respiratory Illnesses
- Increased Spread Of Influenza
People Also Ask (FAQ)
How do you increase moisture in a room?
The best way to increase moisture in a room is to purchase a humidifier. A humidifier adds moisture directly back into the room. You can also add plants (that you spray with water daily), let your wet laundry air dry in rooms with dry air, and boil water on the stove (leaving the top off so that the water will bring moisture back into the air).
How do you sleep with dry air?
If you are having trouble sleeping with dry air due to respiratory conditions, we recommend purchasing a small personal humidifier for your bedroom or nursery if you have a baby. This is the best way to ensure that you are breathing in healthy air.
Will a bowl/bucket of water help dry air & cool rooms?
This may help to cool the air, but not by much. It may add a little bit of humidity back into the air, but it is unlikely to be enough to make a significant difference in your home’s humidity level.
Conclusion
Air purifiers do not dry out the air but instead help to limit air pollutants and allergens in the air. For those with dry air, we recommend purchasing a humidifier to maintain proper moisture levels in your home.
This will help keep you comfortable. With comfortable moisture levels from your humidifier and no airborne allergens because of your air purifier, you can sit back and relax in your home.
Last Updated on July 16, 2021
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