Should You Get a Compressor or Travel Type Nebulizer?

What are the pros and cons of a compressor versus a travel-type nebulizer?

1. Travel-type nebulizers are smaller and more compact.
2. Compressor nebulizers are heavier, more durable, and can be used at home.
3. Travel-type nebulizers make less or softer noise.
4. Compressor nebulizers have stronger airflow.
5. Travel-type nebulizers consume less power.

Nebulizers come in many shapes and sizes and vary in terms of strength as well as a few other characteristics. If you need one for your personal use, you might be considering either a compressor nebulizer or a travel-type nebulizer. While you might be torn between these two, we want to help you make the decision. Listed in this article are the pros and cons of owning a compressor vs a travel-type nebulizer. Keep reading to learn more!

What are nebulizers?

Before we get into the meat of comparing compressor and travel-type nebulizers, you might be wondering: what exactly is a nebulizer anyway, and do you need one?

A nebulizer is also called a small-volume nebulizer or SVN. As the name suggests, it delivers a small amount of medicine in the form of a mist that is inhaled. Nebulizers usually have at least one tube connected to them, which then leads to a mask or mouthpiece that dispenses the medicated mist from the appliance.

Nebulizers are often used by people who have asthma, but they can be utilized for other illnesses, too, like COPD or cystic fibrosis. Their main purpose is to turn liquid medicine into mist and dispense that mist such that it can be breathed into the lungs. That’s why it’s used to treat various respiratory illnesses.

There are various kinds of nebulizers, the most common being jet, compressor, tabletop, portable or travel-type, and vibrating mesh nebulizers. In this article, we’ll focus on and compare two of the most common: the compressor and the travel type. It should be noted that travel-type nebulizers are still a kind of compressor nebulizer, with a few added pros and cons.

Travel-type nebulizers are smaller and more compact.

As their name suggests, travel-type nebulizers are small enough to fit in a suitcase or big bag. It is light enough to be carried around and compact enough to hold in one hand. This gives them the automatic advantage of being portable; that is, you can bring them with you wherever you go.

Though they’re not quite as portable as an inhaler, which can fit snugly in a makeup kit, for example, they do dispense more medicine than an inhaler and are therefore more effective in terms of treating asthma or other respiratory illnesses.

Compressor nebulizers are bulkier and bigger, but more powerful than travel-type ones. That doesn’t mean they’re not portable—they are, but you’ll probably need to set aside more space and weight allowance for them in your suitcase.

Because of their added bulk, compressor nebulizers are harder to break and likely to last longer. They’re ideal for use in a room where you have the space and time to settle down.

Travel-type nebulizers make less or softer noise.

All nebulizers make some noise, but for as long as they are of good quality, travel-type ones emit less noise than bigger compressors. Among our products, the Promed PTNB100 Portable Travel Type Nebulizer reaches less than 58 dB at a 1-meter distance, while the Promed PCNB800 Portable Compressor Type Nebulizer reaches below 60 dB.

Expect more medicine and stronger airflow from a bigger machine, but don’t discount what a small machine can do, either. In the end, it comes down to how much medicine you need per dosage, and that’s something you should ask your doctor about. Just keep in mind that if your illness is strong, a small nebulizer might not be enough.

Travel-type nebulizers consume less power.

While the Promed PCNB800 Portable Compressor Type Nebulizer needs to be plugged in, the Promed PTNB100 Portable Travel Type Nebulizer only needs 4 AA-size alkaline batteries. Both can be plugged in, however, in which case the compressor type still needs more power to operate.

Key Takeaway

In this article, the pros and cons of a compressor vs a travel-type nebulizer were highlighted. The type you get boils down to what you will be using it for. If you need a machine on the go, especially for traveling, a travel-type nebulizer is the best choice. However, if it’s for home use, having a compressor is the better choice.

Regardless, if you’re looking for a nebulizer, consider either of our Promed options for a nebulizer with guaranteed high quality, a long life span, and excellent performance. Check out our shop here at Good Guys. We provide various medical appliances like nebulizers and noncontact infrared thermometers in the Philippines.