No, an air purifier won’t cool a room — but it might still be worth using one this summer

They might be sleek, quiet, and promise to make your home feel fresher, but can an air purifier cool a room? It’s a question that crops up surprisingly often, especially as temperatures show no signs of dropping and we start to think more seriously about how to keep our homes cool in summer.

The answer? Not quite. While an air purifier might improve the feel of a room by filtering out pollen, dust and stale air, it won’t bring the temperature down. Knowing what an air purifier actually does – and what it doesn’t – can help you decide which appliances are really worth switching on when the heat sets in.

In this guide, we’ll unpack why so many homeowners confuse air purifiers with cooling appliances, and explore how combining them with an air conditioner or fan could give you the best of both worlds.

Can an air purifier cool a room?

“No, an air purifier can’t cool a room,” explains Nicholas Auckland, home energy expert at Trade Radiators. “An air purifier’s job is to clean the air, not cool it.”

Air purifiers work by drawing in air, passing it through internal filters that capture dust, pollen, pet dander and other particles, and then releasing that cleaned air back into the space. While this process might make a room feel fresher, it doesn’t have any impact on actual temperature.

“The movement of the air from its fan might create a very very slight breeze, but it doesn’t actually have any cooling mechanism,” Auckland adds. “In fact, the process of running the motor may even add a very minuscule amount of heat to the room.”

If you’ve seen products described as both air purifiers and coolers, it’s worth looking closely at the specifications. According to Auckland: “If a product is advertised as an ‘air purifier and cooler’, then it’s likely an air cooler (an evaporative cooler) that has a filter in it. Air coolers are not the same as air conditioners – they cool the air by evaporating water, which often tends to be less effective in the UK’s often humid climate and can actually make the room feel damp and moist.”

In short, while air purifiers contribute to comfort by cleaning the air, they don't provide relief from the heat, and confusing them with cooling appliances could leave you disappointed when temperatures rise.

Nicholas Auckland

Nicholas Auckland is a heating and energy expert with almost 20 years of experience in the industry, as well as the Managing Director of Trade Radiators.

Reasons to use an air purifier in summer

An air purifier might not bring the temperature down, but that doesn’t mean it won’t improve how your home feels when it’s hot outside. In summer, many of us keep windows closed to block out heat, noise or pollution, which can lead to stuffy, stale air indoors. This is where a purifier really earns its place.

“Air purifiers don’t cool a room down, but they do make it feel fresher,” explains Katie Lilywhite, air treatment expert at AO.com. “Your air purifier will clean the air and remove dust, pollen, smoke and any airborne nasties – this will go a long way to making your space feel less muggy during any heatwaves.”

If you have pets, live in a city or suffer from hayfever, summer can be especially challenging. As temperatures rise, so does pollen and pet shedding. An air purifier can help by removing allergens and airborne irritants from your home environment, meaning you can breathe easier without needing to rely on open windows.

Katie Lilywhite

Katie is one of the many experts at AO.com, covering a multitude of appliances including air quality products, health and beauty and homes and gardens.

What appliances actually cool a room down?

“To actually cool down a room, you need to remove the heat from it,” explains Nicholas Auckland. “Home air conditioning will do this by using a refrigerant cycle to absorb heat from the indoor air and transfer it outside.”

Some homeowners also turn to evaporative air coolers, which chill the air by passing it over water-saturated pads. These can work in drier climates, but are often less effective in the UK, where humidity levels are often higher. Auckland warns they can “actually make the room feel damp and moist” when used in the wrong conditions, which is the opposite of what you want during a heatwave.

Fans are another option to bring the heat down, though they don’t cool the air itself. Instead, they circulate it around the room to create a breeze that helps your body feel cooler. When paired with other appliances, they can still make a noticeable difference on warmer days though.

When to pair an air purifier with air conditioning

“You can combine an air purifier and air conditioning if you want to improve air quality and manage heat at the same time,” explains Chris Michael, CEO at Meaco. “The air conditioner controls temperature and humidity, while the purifier helps reduce allergens, dust, and other airborne particles.”

This combined approach is particularly useful in cities or during high pollen days when you want to keep your windows and doors closed.For the best results, it’s worth thinking about placement. “You need to position them in different parts of the room to promote better overall air circulation,” explains Nicholas Auckland. “The air conditioner cools and moves the air, and the purifier can then effectively capture any airborne particles.”

Chris Michael

Chris and his partner Michelle started Meaco in 1991. Meaco is now regarded internationally as a major player in the dehumidifier industry selling to 20+ countries throughout Europe, North America and South Africa.

Shop air purifiers and home cooling appliances

If you're weighing up an air purifier vs dehumidifier, it helps to know they do very different jobs. Purifiers clean the air by removing allergens and pollutants, while dehumidifiers tackle excess moisture to help prevent damp and mould.