Are AC Air Purifiers Worth It?

Summer is probably my favorite season of the year. 

So, it didn’t surprise anyone when I decided to move to a city known for its warm, tropical climate. 

And while I love the area I live in now, I was not ready for how hot it could get during the summer months.

I never needed an AC unit before, but I figured there was no better time than now to invest in one. 

But while I was looking at my options, I stumbled across a pretty nifty device: an AC/Air Purifier combo.

Back in my old city, my air purifier was my best friend. 

It did a great job at eliminating the smog and pollution seeping into my home. 

Since I delayed getting one for the longest time, I thought it might be a good idea to try out these AC air purifiers.

The only thing was, these air purifiers were pretty expensive!

On top of that, I wasn’t entirely sure if these air purifiers were effective at cleaning and cooling the air simultaneously. 

So, I dove into different forums and message boards on the internet to see whether or not these appliances were worth the extra cost.

And I found a bunch of mixed answers. 

Some people swore this was the best investment ever made, while others thought it was a complete waste of money. 

That’s when I realized that these air purifiers aren’t for everybody. 

Still, they can be handy for the right people.

So today, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about AC air purifiers. 

I’ll discuss what they are and how they work, and I’ll even highlight some of the models on the market that stood out in my eyes.

By the end of this piece, you’ll know whether or not these air purifiers are the right pick for you and which ones might be the best fit for your home.

Read on to learn more.

What Is an AC Air Purifier?

An AC air purifier is what you think it is. 

This is a combo appliance that’s designed to clean and purify the air at the same time. 

Typically, these appliances come with a fan with adjustable speeds and cooling (and sometimes heating) technology.

It also has an advanced filtration system to capture particles and pollutants before they start circulating around your home.

Generally, that’s all that these appliances do. 

But to be honest, these are two handy functions that many people need. 

When I decided to get an AC purifier, I felt way more comfortable inside my home.

I already mentioned that I live in a tropical climate. 

But aside from that, the city I live in is pretty congested, so a lot of pollution is floating around the air. 

And no matter what I do, I can’t stop these pollutants from entering my home. 

So, having an air conditioner that filters out these pollutants are a huge help.

How Do They Work?

AC air purifiers, while they might sound like complex machines, are pretty simple. 

The AC unit simply sucks in hot air from the room, cools it down using various techniques, then pushes the air out. 

Then you add an air purifier to the equation.

All you need to do is put a filtration system in the unit to capture particles before the cool air is released into the room.

Most AC air purifiers use multi-stage filtration systems. 

This means that the air passes through multiple filters. 

Usually, it starts with a pre-filter to capture larger particles like pet fur and dander. 

It uses a carbon filter to capture harmful odors, VOCs, and floating gases. 

The air is pushed into the HEPA filter, which captures the tiny particles that could end up in your respiratory system.

While they might sound like complex machines, they are pretty easy to understand. 

However, keep in mind that while these machines are beneficial, they aren’t exactly for everyone. 

So, while an AC air purifier works great for my needs, it might not be the best option for everyone.

But don’t worry; I’ll explain why in the next section.

Is an AC Air Purifier Worth It?

Honestly, I found that my AC air purifier was one of my best investments. 

The model allows me to turn the cooling function on and off as I please. 

So, if I’m not feeling too hot in the room, I can turn on the air purifier function and breathe clean air without using the A/C function. 

But, once the temperatures rise, I can cool the room down with a button.

That said, remember that an AC air purifier isn’t for everyone. 

For example, if heat isn’t a problem in your room, an AC air purifier might be a needless investment. 

Instead, you might be better off with a regular air purifier that’s a bit more affordable and doesn’t have features that you might find unnecessary.

But an AC air purifier might be worth it if you live in a hot area and need a cooling system. 

This is especially true if you don’t have an AC unit or HVAC system in your home. 

If you already have an AC, then you won’t need an AC air purifier as the only thing AC air purifiers have over standard ones is that they can cool down a room.

Do I Need an Air Purifier if I Have an Air Conditioner?

If you have an AC unit, you don’t need to get an AC air purifier. 

However, you will still likely need to get an air purifier. Standard air conditioners aren’t made to capture particles and clean the air. 

Instead, these units are only designed to lower the room’s temperature by cooling down hot air and recirculating it.

More than likely, a lot of particles and contaminants are floating around the room to begin with. 

The air conditioner might circulate all these particles, which can be hazardous, especially for people with respiratory issues.

That’s why I’d recommend getting an air purifier if you have an AC unit. 

Buying an air purifier might mean you’ll have to spend again on another appliance.

An air purifier offers a lot of benefits and could be just what you need to take complete control of the air quality at home.

The Best AC Air Purifiers Available Today

An AC air purifier could be an excellent investment for the right people. 

But if you go on the market, you’ll find many different options for sale. 

These AC air purifiers are generally more expensive than standard purifiers, so it’s best to ensure that you’re spending your money on a high-quality product.

When I went to find my AC air purifier, I found many options. It took a while, but after some time, I could decide which one was the best fit for my home. 

Granted, I had to narrow down my options repeatedly until I found the right one. 

Still, all that effort was worth finding a suitable model for my home.

But you don’t have to have a hard time like I did if you think an AC air purifier is a good investment for your home. 

That’s why I made this quick list of three AC air purifiers that stood out to me on the market that could also be the right fit for your home! 

Dyson HP02 – The Best Overall Pick

Dyson is regularly hailed as one of the best brands on the market for people needing premium and modern appliances. 

So, it shouldn’t be surprising that their AC air purifier is at the top of my list. 

This model is sleek, has a unique design, and is packed with features that can significantly improve the air quality in your home.

To start, let’s look at the bladeless fan design. No other air purifiers on the market look like this unless you’re shopping for a Dyson model. 

And while the fan has no blades and a unique design, it does a great job at cooling the air.

In fact, this is a Hot + Cold model. So, you aren’t just able to cool the air, but you can also heat it. 

So, this could still be a good investment if you live in a colder area because of its heating capabilities.

And when it comes to purification, this model does a great job. 

It has a multi-stage filtration system with a True HEPA filter.

A HEPA filter should always be a high priority if you’re shopping for a high-quality air purifier, so it’s great that this Dyson model has this.

While this is my favorite pick on the market, I have to admit that it has its flaws. 

To start, it is pretty expensive. And while premium appliances usually have a price to match, this is still a pricey model considering the space it can handle.

Let’s say you have a little money to spare and a medium-sized space with the air. 

If you want to clean and cool down simultaneously, there aren’t too many options that compete with the Dyson HP02.

Pros:

  • It comes with cooling and heating options
  • Sleek and modern design
  • It has an excellent filtration system
  • Wi-fi enabled with Smart features
  • Receive real-time air quality reports on your phone from the purifier

Cons:

  • Relatively expensive for the size

Dyson HP04 – The Best Premium Option

When it comes to AC air purifier combos, there aren’t any brands that do it much better than Dyson. 

I chose to feature two of their models on this list. 

And the only real difference between this one and the previous entry is the price and the size.

This is the most expensive option and the most costly Hot + Cold air purifier that Dyson offers. But don’t worry; the extra cost comes with more functionality than the HP02 model.

This Dyson model is larger than the HP02. 

So, it can handle larger spaces. This is great if you want an air purifier for a large living room, bedroom, or office.

But don’t worry; you still get the premium features that came with the previous entry. 

This model still has a HEPA filter, heating and cooling abilities, and intelligent features.

To get the most out of your air purifier, it’s usually best to leave it on constantly. With this model, it’s much easier to do that as it comes with intelligent functionality. 

So, it connects to your phone, where you can control many different parameters. 

You can also receive reports on your air quality to get a complete picture of whether or not the air at home is clean.

There is a downside to this model, though. 

While it’s expensive, the biggest complaint I had with this model is the noise. 

This isn’t exactly a loud air purifier, but for the price, it would have been nice if it had an even more silent operation.

Pros:

  • It has a bunch of innovative modern features
  • It’s straightforward to use
  • It has a top-tier filtration system
  • It effectively heats and cools the air as needed
  • Sports the modern signature designs of Dyson fans

Cons:

  • It can be pretty loud
  • Fairly expensive

Costway Evaporative Cooler – The Best Budget Pick

While those two Dyson models are great, they are also pretty expensive. 

And if you’re going to buy an AC air purifier combo, you don’t exactly have to bust the bank. 

For those on a budget, this is arguably one of the best AC air purifiers for the price on the market today.

This is a multi-functional appliance. Aside from cooling and purifying the air, it can also serve as a humidifier if you live in a dry area. 

That said, this doesn’t have the most sophisticated cooling system.

This is an evaporative cooler, so you have to add ice cubes to the fan for it to cool the air like an air conditioner. 

This is a bit of a hassle, but it’s one of the things you have to accept when shopping for a combo appliance on a budget.

On top of that, this model’s filtration system isn’t the best. 

This model only comes with a washable filter, which can take out large particles like dust and pet dander but doesn’t do that great job with the finer particles.

But for the price, there aren’t too many air purifiers that can compete with it, which is why I still decided to highlight this model on the list.

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • It works as a humidifier as well
  • Creative and cost-effective cooling system
  • Built-in timer
  • Silent operation

Cons:

  • The cooling system could be better
  • It doesn’t come with the best filtration system

How to Find the Best AC Air Purifier

Here are some of the ways that you can make it easier to narrow down your search for a top-tier AC air purifier.

Measure Your Indoor Space & Air Volume

The first thing to do is measure your indoor space. 

Ideally, you want to get the exact square foot measurements so that it’s easier to find an air purifier that can handle the area. 

And for even more accuracy, you can measure the entire air volume of your home.

To do this, you must multiply the square footage by the height of the ceiling. 

For example, if your house is 100 square feet with a 10-foot high ceiling, the air volume would be 10,000 cubic feet.

Getting the air volume of your home will make it much easier to find air purifiers that can handle the space.

Compare the Measurements to the Air Purifier

Once you have the measurements of your home, you can look for air purifiers and air conditioner combos designed for that amount of space. 

Most air purifiers list the size of the areas they can cleanse, which can be a great way to determine if you have the right air purifier for the job.

Check Out the Cooling System

The Dyson models use a sophisticated fan to cool the air effectively. 

This is the method I recommend going for as it’s the most practical and effective way to combine the functionality of an air conditioner and an air purifier. 

However, this technology is expensive, and if you’re shopping on a budget, you might want to consider other cooling systems.

For example, the Costway Evaporative Cooler uniquely cools the air. 

You can add ice cubes to the machine to cool the air that it blows out of the fan, which is a creative and cost-effective way of cooling the air. 

Remember that these methods may not be as effective as the Dyson options.

Are AC Air Purifiers Worth It? Conclusion

AC air purifiers are beneficial. 

However, they are only a worthwhile investment if you don’t have a proper air conditioning system at home. 

If you already have an air conditioner at home, you might not need to invest in an AC air purifier combo. 

Instead, it might be better for you to get a simple air purifier instead.

But these combos can be an excellent investment if you’re like me and don’t have an air conditioner at home. 

These air purifiers won’t cool down the room as efficiently as an HVAC unit. 

Still, they will do much better than a regular fan while effectively cleansing the room’s air.

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