Should You Run a Room Air Purifier or Ceiling Fan to Improve IAQ

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Should You Run a Room Air Purifier or Ceiling Fan to Improve IAQ?

October 13, 2021

An air purifier is used if you want to improve the quality of the air inside your home. A ceiling fan is used in various rooms for white noise while you sleep, cooling down your home, or circulating heat to the rest of the house. You might even use a fan in conjunction with your air purifier, but does using a fan help or hinder your air purifier? Let's find out!

Should You Run a Room Air Purifier or Ceiling Fan to Improve IAQ?

Can Ceiling Fans Help Air Purifiers Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Ceiling fans do not help air purifiers improve indoor air quality, even if you place a fan in such a way as to point potential particles toward the purifier. While that would cause the purifier to catch more dust and particulates, it stresses the purifier, causing increased wear and tear and can lead to the unit breaking down sooner.

Do Air Purifiers Work As Fans?

Some air purifiers do have fans that are built in, which creates a slight breeze. This small breeze from the air purifier fan doesn't do much to help cool a room when there's a heatwave, but it makes a tiny difference. The purpose of a ceiling fan in a purifier is to disturb pollution particulates and move them around to the point where they become trapped in the purifier, thereby improving your indoor air quality.

Difference Between An Air Purifier And A Ceiling Fan

Air purifiers and ceiling fans have distinctly separate functions. The sole function of a ceiling fan is to circulate air, not heat, cool, or purify air to improve indoor air quality. The sole function of an air purifier is to clean the surrounding air to remove dust and other particulates. A ceiling fan does not clean or scrub indoor air, and if you turn it up high enough, it sends more dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particulates into the air.

When you use a ceiling fan in tandem with an air purifier, you run the risk of overwhelming the air purifier. When you send more particulates towards the purifier, it causes the system to work harder than it would typically have to. In turn, it causes increased wear and tear, clogs up the air filters faster, and doesn't clean your air as effectively. Then you're left wondering why your indoor air quality isn't improving.

How To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Houseplants are one great way to improve indoor air quality as they are natural air purifiers. Make sure not to water your plants too often, as overwatering can kill the plant or lead to an increase in indoor humidity. Aloe plants, spider plants, and snake plants are a few houseplants that help indoor air quality, but if you have pets, make sure to find something that isn't toxic to the type of pet you have.

You don't have to suffer from poor air quality inside your home. Contact us today to see how our indoor air quality solutions can improve your home's air and see how clean air makes a difference in your life.

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