Health Effects Of Mold
Mold in the home may lead to many serious health problems, such as: asthma, allergic reactions, depression, and potentially permanent damage to the lungs.
Mold spores are so small and invisible, its hard to tell when theyre present. However, if you have been affected by mold you might start to notice certain symptoms. These include everything from a scratchy throat, itchy eyes, and sneezing to more severe cases of coughing and wheezing. In the case of wheezing, it is important to get checked out by your doctor as it could be a sign of asthma.
In addition to physiological problems, a 2007 study determined that scientists found a link between high levels of mold in the home and depression.
The Best Air Purifier For Mold In Your House
There are different types of air purifier, each using different technology, sometimes in combination. Some air purification technology is very effective at removing mold spores from the air, some are not and some could actually do more harm than good.
The final decision on what type of air purifier technology to use to remove mold spores from your house will depend on the specific need , and whether you would like to use it for the long or short term.
Given the ineffectiveness or risks of the other options, the only two acceptable options are HEPA or PECO. Both types of air purifier will remove mold spores from the air, though PECO will destroy them. The major drawback of a HEPA filter is that the filter must be changed rigorously or it can end up becoming a source of mold spores. HEPA filters may be a short-term solution for removing a lot of mold spores from the air, for instance, if you are in the middle of a mold remediation. PECO technology will not have this drawback as mold spores are destroyed, which is especially important for those with mold allergies.
What Is The Best Air Purifier For Mold Spores
The best air purifier to remove mold spores is the LEVOIT air purifier that has an H13 True HEPA filter that is cleanable and washable. It protects the homeowners from allergies, smokers, pet dander, mold, pollen, and dust. It is also noiseless when it is operational and removes a musty smell in the rooms.
Pros of LEVOITair purifier:
Performance: LEVOIT air purifier with a CADR of 130 CFM/ 221 m3/h gives a powerful performance. Easy-to-place: With a compact design, and top-facing vents, the air purifier can be moved around easily and situated wherever there is excessive dampness, like corners and against walls.Filters: The air purifier filters come with a 3-stage filtration process. There is a washable pre-filter to trap large particles, a high-efficiency actuated carbon filter to block toxic fumes and musty smells, and the HEPA filter to capture at least 99.9% of airborne particles. Comfort: The best air purifiers have noise levels of 23 decibels, allowing a peaceful and comfortable sleep. The display lights can also be turned off at bedtime. User-friendly: Air purifiers with a timer to set for 2, 4, and 8 hours make it user-friendly, as the check filter indicator alerts you when it is time to change the filter. Energy-efficient: The air purifier consumes less energy and can be operated through the day and night without any increase in utility bills.Ozone-free: Without using UV-C purification methods, the air purifier is safe and ozone-free.
Cons of LEVOITair purifier:
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Best Hepa Air Purifier For Mold In Large Rooms: Hathaspace Smart True Hepa Air Purifier 20
If you have a large basement or open living space with a mildew or mold issue, having the best HEPA air purifier for mold is essential. HATHASPACES MODEL uses medical-grade H13 HEPA filtration . Besides the premium HEPA filtration, your homes air travels through four other stages for a five-in-one process. Designed to be understated yet powerful, the Hathaspace 2.0 replaces all the air in a 1500 square-foot room in one hour, or faster if the space is smaller.
Quietest: Greenote Air Purifier
If youd like to control mold or mildew in an office space, nursery or other area where quiet is needed, Greenotes purifier may be the best option. Its small enough to sit on a night stand or desk and rated to clean a room of up to 430 square feet. The HEPA-based purifier has four modes and produces only 22dB of sound in Sleep mode, equivalent to the sound of rustling leaves.
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How To Choose An Air Purifier For Mold
To find a HEPA air purifier for mold spore removal, there are a few things to know. Ignore the marketing hype and avoid buying purifiers with add-ons such as ionizers and UV lights that can make your air worse. A HEPA filter is all that is needed for removing mold spores and other allergens from the air. There is also no correlation between an air purifiers price and effectiveness.
In addition, make sure the air purifier is strong enough for the room it will be used in.
Check out our four step guide on how to choose the best purifier for more information on finding the best air purifier.
For more information on mold removal and prevention for your home or basement, look into humidity control and removal methods.
Fastest Air Purifier For Mold: Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier
LEVOIT is one of the top-selling air purifier manufacturers. The Core 300 is a quiet HEPA filter with low-level noise of 24db . Its a good solution when you need to clear the air in a space in a hurry. A high CADR means the air in a room up to 219 square feet can be purified in just 12 minutes. The quiet operation means you can let the purifier run day or night without being disturbed. LEVOITs VortexAir Technology and the round design of the unit allows the device to take in air from all sides, purifying a room completely up to five times per hour.
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Pure Enrichment Purezone Elite 4
$150
With four stages of purification, this air purifier from Pure Enrichment works to clean and sanitize the air in your room from 99.97 percent of allergens, including mold, dust, pollen, smoke, and bacteria. Stage 1 utilizes an activated carbon prefilter stage 2 uses a HEPA filter stage 3 utilizes a UVC light and photocatalyst filter and stage 4 ionizes, or emits negative ions in the air to clean it. This air purifier is ideal for someone looking to stay energy efficient, as it features three automatic timer settings and allows you to choose one of three speeds for the fan.
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Best Ways To Prevent Mold Important Tips
In order to stop the growth of mold from altogether happening in your homes, you should definitely take some precautions. There are many ways in which mold can be prevented, some of them are:
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Other Things You Can Do To Prevent Mold
Outside of getting an air purifier, you want to make sure the mold does not return. So I have put together some ways to help make sure this doesnt happen again.
- Get A Moisture Catcher: I personally put Damp Rids all over my condo. This works great for bathrooms and laundry rooms where there can be moisture around those darker corners and nooks!
- Get a Dehumidifer: This will help keep the humidity in your house low. I personally live in Florida the most humid state in the US, so a dehumidifier is a must for me. This also applies to places in the country where there is a chance where the environment is cold, wet, and dark.
- Get Annual Roof Checks for Leaks: A leaky roof can be the beginning of a very expensive mold removal. Make sure to have your roof checked if you have frequent inclement weather like I do!
- Dont Let Clothes or Towels Get Musty: Weve all been there. We are so busy that we forgot that we left a load of laundry in too long. That dreading feeling that you know your clothes or towels are going to smell mildewy is the worst. Also make sure you get the right drying rack if you are hang drying anything. No more putting towels on doors.
Where Do You Find Mold
Mold grows on host surfaces and can be found virtually anywhere in your home. Molds live off any organic matter and thrive in humid, warm environments. This includes places like basements, bathroom walls, ceilings, window sills, and on food. One type of mold that we often see in our homes is mildew, which thrives in places like the shower or tiles around a kitchen sink. Mold can also grow in places we dont normally think of, such as in our clothing and shoes, on our pets, or even on our own bodies.
There are many ways to check for mold and several ways you can help combat the problem, most notably with the use of mold air purifiers that kill airborne mold spores.
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Best Air Purifiers For Black Mold
A high-quality air purifier can help you avoid the potentially dangerous health effects of black mold. However, not all air purifiers are equally capable of removing black mold from the air. If you want the best air purifier for mold, look no further than Air Oasis.
Our superior air purifiers are expertly built, rigorously tested and used in offices, clinics, research facilities, businesses and homes all over the world. They draw their power from a multi-tiered purification process. Many air purifiers only use one method of cleaning the air, which is generally filtration. Although air filters are a great way to trap certain contaminants, they dont catch everything.
In contrast, Air Oasis air purifiers utilize the top five purification technologies: true HEPA and activated carbon filtration, bi-polar and cold plasma ionization and ultraviolet light. This gives our air purifiers a unique advantage when it comes to reducing tiny airborne particles like mold spores and mVOCs, as well as the ability to eliminate some contaminants from surfaces.
At Air Oasis, we understand how important it is to substantiate a products claims with proof. Thats why we encourage you to read the scientific studies that demonstrate our purifiers ability to reduce airborne mold.
Questions? Wed love to chat with you! Contact us online or give us a call at .
How To Remove Airborne Mold
Whether youve tested for black mold, seen it growing or just suspect it in your home, its important to protect yourself and family. Although black mold is insidious and frequently reappears, there are several effective ways to drastically reduce its presence.
The best way to reduce black mold from the air is to remove the conditions for growth in your home. Before attempting mold remediation, its critical to follow protocol outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency . Jumping into the process without the appropriate gear and game plan could put you and your loved ones at risk for exposure.
After youve found and removed the black mold growth, its important to also remove anything its touched. Black mold cant grow in the absence of excess moisture, so its essential to find the source of the water, replacing seals and fixing leaks if necessary. Running a dehumidifier can help keep frequently damp spaces like basements and bathrooms dry.
Remember black mold spores, particles and mycotoxins are most likely to enter the air when the colony is disturbed. Thats why its essential to run an air purifier when you suspect mold, during the mold remediation process and after the mold has been removed.
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First Lets Answer The Question
The simple answer to this question is yes, an air purifier can filter mold spores out of the air. With that said, not all air purifiers are equipped to do this. To remove spores, an air purifier needs to have a HEPA filter, which is a type of filter used to remove solid particles from the air. On average, a mold spore is between 10 and 30 microns in diameter. A HEPA filter, meanwhile, must be able to remove particles as small as 0.3 microns at an efficiency of at least 99.97 percent. Because of this requirement, air purifiers with HEPA filters can actually remove mold spores quite easily.
Some air purifiers, however, arent equipped with filters meant to capture solid particles. Generally, these purifiers are specialized units meant to focus exclusively on gases or VOCs in the air. While most general-use air purifiers do have a HEPA filter, its important to keep in mind that not every air purifier on the market will have the ability to remove mold spores. Many air purifiers also combine HEPA filters with gas-focused filtration. These combination air purifiers can be very useful for dealing with mold, since they can help to remove airborne mold toxins as well as spores.
Do Humidifiers Help Reduce Dust
Humidifiers add water to the air and therefore increase the relative humidity of the air in your room. Moisture is a key ingredient to dust mite activity so you will want to have lower humidity levels to have less dust.
Since humidifiers increase moisture levels, in general they are not a good solution. You should strive to keep your humidity between 35-50%. If you go much above 50% you are opening yourself up for mold and dust growth.
If your humidity levels are high then a dehumidifier or air conditioner is your best choice.
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Clean Air Delivery Rate
The CADR is a measure of an air purifier’s ability to remove specific contaminants from the air. It’s expressed in cubic feet per minute . For example, a CADR of 250 for smoke means that the air purifier can clean the air in a 250-square-foot room of smoke in one hour.
The three main contaminants that the CADR measures are:
- Smoke: the measure of an air purifier’s ability to remove smoke from the air
- Pollen: the measure of an air purifier’s ability to remove pollen from the air
- Dust: the measure of an air purifier’s ability to remove dust from the air
The higher the CADR rating, the better the air purifier is at removing contaminants from the air.
Is Hepa Good For Mold
Molds are microscopic fungi that can be found not just outdoors but also inside our homes. They thrive in any place that has a moist environment. If you see black, orange, green, or white spots on certain portions of your house, especially those located in damp and humid areas, chances are there’s mold growth inside your home.
The thing is, these molds can cause difficulty in breathing, stuffy nose, eye, and skin irritations, especially for those with allergies, asthma, and compromised immune systems. Long-term exposure to their byproducts called mycotoxins can even cause poisoning and lung problems.
Mold can also damage upholstery, linens, and furniture. It is unsightly and can destroy the materials that that it clings to. In short, nothing good comes out of it, so might as well get rid of it ASAP!
That’s why many homeowners are looking into using HEPA or High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance filters in their air purifiers. These filters are also found in some vacuums.
HEPA filters are made of a tight weave of sticky and minuscule fiberglass fibers, hundreds of thousands in number. They can trap particles in the air that are at least 0.3 microns in size. This is how they are able to capture 99.97% of indoor air contaminants, including mold spores, so that they won’t continue floating around in the air.
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How Big Is A Mold Spore
Mold spores range in size from 3 to 30 microns in diameter. A micron is short for micrometer. A micron is one millionth of a meter. So, it is quite small. Too small to see unless there are hundreds or thousands of spores clump together. In comparison a human hair is 100-150 microns in diameter. This small size and weight allows a mold spore to stay suspended in the air and float throughout your home.
In the marketing of air purifiers, you will see a variety of names for pleated filters. The best are called true HEPA filters. Others are referred to as HEPA-type filters, or have HEPA and some other marketing term added. In most cases, the HEPA-type filter and related filters do not meet the HEPA standard. At the high end are commercial grade medical filters.
If you want to learn more about HEPA filter air purifiers check out this article on what a HEPA filter is . It’s fairly technical and explains why should should buy a true HEPA air purifier or better for airborne particles like mold.
