What Are The Best Air Purifiers For Mold
Air purifiers help keep your house free of mold by filtering airborne mold spores out of the air, trapping them, and destroying them. For best results, the air purifier should be placed in areas where mold is typically found, like bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and rooms with carpet and upholstered furniture. The best air purifiers for mold also protect you from airborne irritants like dust, pet dander, pollution, and pollen in the process of filtering out the mold.
When youre shopping for the best air purifier for mold, consider the size of your space. Air purifiers work within a certain range of square feet, so the best air purifier for a bathroom may not also be the best air purifier for an open floor plan kitchen and living room.
Another consideration as you shop is the air purifiers user experience. Some air purifiers are controlled by apps on your phone or other smart devices like Amazon Alexa. These are perfect for tech-savvy smart home enthusiasts. Others are much simpler and have easy-to-use control panels.
Keep in mind that while a good air purifier can help to eliminate small mold buildup, you should always consult a specialist if you suspect that your house or space has a serious mold problem.
Weve rounded up the best air purifiers for mold that fit a variety of space and tech needs. Heres what to buy online.
Alen Breathesmart Air Purifier For Mold
The Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier comes with so many features that it firmly lands at the top of our list for the best air purifier for mold.
The BreatheSmart is a three-stage purifier that was particularly designed for environments that are subject to mold in the air. The first stage gives you a washable pre-filter to take out the larger contaminants.
In the second stage, the unique HEPA-Silver filter is where the rubber really meets the roador where mold meets its demise! The HEPA filter material is electrostatically charged to give an extra layer of attraction to those pesky mold particles. The Silver filter then takes mold reduction one step farther than many other purifiers with the inclusion of an antimicrobial compound to the filter itself. This helps to keep the mold from growing while trapped in the filter, keeping it from being reintroduced into the air.
The 3rd stage consists of an activated carbon element to help get rid of that musty smell that is common with damp environments. The excellent filtering stages are just one part of the whole package, though.
An integrated air quality indicator tells you in real-time what your rooms air is actually like. Too dirty? Not a problem! The BreatheSmart will automatically modify and adjust its cleaning power to give you the best air possible. It also has enough capacity to clean the air in 1,100 square feet in around 2 hours.
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Growth Requirements For Black Mold
Even though mold spores exist everywhere, both inside and outside, they only colonize in certain environments. Black mold spores require the following conditions to thrive:
- An extremely damp environment or water source
- High humidity, preferably more than 90%
- Cellulose-rich materials to consume
When black mold spores land on surfaces that fit this description, they grow. However, its important to note that black mold needs a constant source of moisture to keep growing. If a water source dries up, the mold colony will as well. Unfortunately, even dried-up mold retains its toxicity.
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Most Economic: Levoit Vital 100 H13 True Hepa Air Purifier
LEVOIT H13 could be the most economic option. The pre-filter that captures dust, lint and fur is washable so you can save on replacing it. Its followed by a more economic high-efficiency activated carbon filter before you arrive at the core of the unit, the HEPA filter. The purifier has a sensor that will notify you when its time to replace the filters, saving you money over time by extending how long you can use the system without guessing. The brand claims it costs only $1.66 per week to run the purifier 24/7.
Top 5 Air Purifiers For Mold
Before we move on to the list of the best air purifiers for mold, I would like to point out that it is very difficult for an air purifier to destroy pre-existing mold already attached to the wall.
In fact, an air purifier can trap mold spores in the air and thus prevent mold from forming in the home. It can also neutralize the very unpleasant odors caused by mold. Most importantly, an air purifier can definitely reduce the health symptoms caused by mold.
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Austin Air Healthmate Plus
Like the Amaircare 3000, the Austin Air Healthmate Plus combines carbon and HEPA filtration with 360-degree air intake for optimized purification. With this system, the Healthmate Plus covers up to 1,500 square feet and is a great option for getting rid of mold contaminants in your home air. This model is also constructed with a steel housing that makes it one of the most durable air purifiers youâll find on the market.
Most Stylish: Bissell Air320 Smart Air Purifier
Most of the best air purifiers for mold and mildew take up a significant amount of space. Bissells air320 is meant to be part of a rooms design by featuring Mid-Century Modern details such as rounded edges and walnut-hue legs. Besides its stylish design, its low maintenance. Replacing the filters is easy, thanks to front panel filter access. The purifiers smart design senses when air quality is lower and will increase fan speed automatically to clean the room faster with a CADR of 199 for spaces as large as 308 square feet.
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Also Great: Winix Am90
May be out of stock
The Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto is another stellar purifier. Its from the same company that makes our large-space pick and uses the same technology, combining a non-HEPA filter with a system that imparts an electrical charge to any particles that pass through, helping them stick to the filter the next time aroundessentially through static cling. On high, it reduced a heavy load of 0.3-micron smoke particles by 99.9% in 30 minutes on medium, it reduced them by 94.2%. Both results indicate that its a highly efficient purifier, in the same league as the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty and our Winix picks. In a 350-square-foot room, it can deliver 5.3 air changes per hour based on its CADR measurements, nearly identical to the results from the Coway Mighty and slightly more than what the Winix models can achieve.
The Blue Pure 311 Auto also stands out for its energy efficiency, drawing just 5.9 watts on the medium setting we recommend for daily useeven less than the Mightys thrifty 8.1 watts. And its very quiet on that setting, emitting just 33 decibels at a distance of 6 feet. Thats almost inaudible.
Its an attractive machine, too, with its simple cylindrical form and tweedlike fabric covering . It comes standard with a gray covering, and several other colors inspired by the natural landscapes of Scandinavia are available for purchase separately.
Features For Selecting The Best Air Filters For Mold
- Filter types/ stages:
How effective an air purifier is able to remove condiments from the atmosphere, in this case, which is mold, is mainly down to the type of filter it possesses. Other things that count for a plus also involves the stages of filtration present and the type of filters used in those stages. Though several stages would always look like a plus, the two most important nonnegotiable filters to have included the HEPA and an activated carbon filter.
The ability of a HEPA filter to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns with 99.97% accuracy is unmatched, while the carbon filter deals with the musty odors that accompany mold-infested areas. Having a nano cold catalyst for further dealing with gaseous contaminants is also awesome to have.
The room where in the air cleaner would be used should be accurately captured as per dimensions, and comparisons made with the device before a purchase is made. It is important that the air purifier is able to do just what you need it for. To be on the safer side, we recommend you rather err on the side of purchasing a device with a slightly larger capacity than you would need, rather than one with a smaller capacity.
Clean air delivery rate is basically how quickly the unit can cycle the total amount of air in a recommend space within a certain period of time. Devices with high CADR have a faster impact on the atmosphere compared to lesser CADR devices, regardless of their recommended capacity .
- UV-C sanitizer:
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What Are The Disadvantages Of Air Purifier
The disadvantages of air purifiers are:
- You need to have the windows closed.
- Regular maintenance.
- Old filters worsen air quality.
- An air purifier needs free space around it.
- Air purifiers are not entirely quiet.
- Ozone production.
- It does not solve all indoor air quality problems.
- Many air purifiers do not remove odors.
How To Detect Mold In Air
Can you detect the presence of mold spores in the air? Yes. Research shows that over 70% of homes have mold. More than 50% of houses have mold issues in the U.S., and 28% of the American population carry genes that place them at risk of mold-related health issues.
One detection method is the MOLD ARMOR Do It Yourself Test Kit, which includes the following three testing methods:
- Indoor Air Quality Test
- Surface Sampling Test
- AC and Heating Sample Method
The test kit contains a petri dish swab, mold growth medium, and swab. It can test air quality for unseen mold in your home or business. To test for mold in the air, take the swab and dip it in the petri dish filled with mold growth medium. It’s a safe way to detect mold in the air, results are within 48 hours, and you can have a mail-in lab test identifying the type of mold.
You can also use the test kit above for a surface sampling test. Identify the surface you would like to test, such as wallpaper, drywall, carpet, or rugs. Take the swab, dip it in the mold growth medium, and dab it on a surface. Wait for 48 hours for the results. Alternatively, you can prepare diluted bleach . Dip the swab in diluted bleach and dab it on the selected surface. If the spot lightens, assume it’s mold.
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Cost Of An Air Purifier That Removes Mold
Often the most important consideration when selecting an air purifier for mold, its important not to make judgements solely on the units up-front cost, but rather its lifetime cost. Replacing air purifier filters can quickly become more expensive than the initial purchase price.
Usually, an air purifier filter should be replaced at least annually, if not every six months. Some models, however, may require even more frequent replacement. The cost of replacement filters can also vary greatly, ranging from $20 to $200.
In addition, energy efficiency is a very important factor as air purifiers should run 24/7 for maximum effect. Looking for models that bear the Energy Star certification can significantly reduce costs long-term.
What Is Mold And How Does It Grow
Mold is a type of fungus made up of microscopic organisms that grows in places that are warm, damp, and dark. In nature, mold acts as a decomposition agent and is crucial for the breakdown of dead organic matter such as plants. However, when mold is found indoors it can be dangerous to the areas inhabitants.
Like all living things, mold needs water, food, and oxygen to live and grow. Areas with high humidity or exposure to water leaks are ideal for mold because they provide plenty of moisture. To get the nutrients it needs to grow, mold will feed off of the surface it grows on resulting in decay. Certain surfaces provide ideal growing conditions for mold such as paper and wood, but it can also grow on fabric, plastic, and glass surfaces as well. In fact, different types of mold thrive well on different surfaces. For example, cladosporium is a type that commonly grows on carpets, while alternaria is typically found in showers or bathtubs.
The EPA notes that Spores may remain able to grow for years after they are produced. In addition, whether or not the spores are alive, the allergens in and on them may remain allergenic for years.
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Best Overall Air Purifier For Mold: Austin Air Healthmate
The Austin Air HealthMate has been a top-selling air purifier for years and for good reason. With medical-grade HEPA filtration capable of filtering mold spores and other particulates down to 0.1 microns, this filter removes viruses, bacteria, dust, and allergens. On top of that, the carbon filter removes chemicals, gasses, and odors. The filter has 15 lbs of carbon and zeolite, so it is sure to filter everything out of the air. The filters also last five years and are covered under a pro-rated filter warranty. The purifier itself is also backed with a five-year warranty. That said, this purifier does consume more energy than the other alternatives, is a bit louder, and the filters are more expensive. The extra filtration comes with an added cost!
Germguardian True Hepa Filter
The lightweight Germ Guardian true HEPA filter air purifier features the classic airflow method that relies on receiving the air intake from the back and delivering the purified fresh air through the front grill.
The unique addition in this Germ Guardian air purifier is the UV C light bulb which is to reduce airborne bacteria, mold spores and other microbes. Of course, the True HEPA manages to kill mold spores and 0.3-micron allergens, and the pre filter catches larger air particles. However, it utilizes an activated carbon filters for removing mold odors and VOCs.
I think of this filtration process as a 4-in-1 since you get an additional mold filter instead of an independent carbon filter. It provides 3 fan speeds. At first glance, I thought its going to be quiet. Yet, the fan is 40dB loud at the lowest setting, which is acceptable, but at the highest setting, it starts to get noisy.
This effective air purifier for mold gets the job done in rooms up to 167 square feet with an AHAM-verified CADR of 125 cfm for pollen and an ACH of 4x. Id say its decent for offices and small rooms. The control panel houses a fan speed switch, a button for UV C light, and a filter replacement LED.
If I had anything to complain of, itd be the loud fan speed at night. I wouldnt recommend sleeping while its turned on. Also, Id have appreciated an air quality indicator.
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Nuwave Oxypure Smart Air Filter For Mold Mildew & Allergies
Nuwave Air purifier has taken the best parts of its award-winning Ozone Plus Advanced and perfected it into an advanced HEPA filter with the addition of the patented Nuwave Air Purification Technology. This breakthrough technology uses a series of ceramic filters and high-efficiency HEPA media to remove 99.9% of airborne particles 0.3 microns or larger.
The NuWave OxyPure air purifier Features Anti-mold and odor control and can kill up to 50 million microorganisms per hour. It also removes dust, dirt, pollen, odors, formaldehyde, and so much more. Easy-to-use controls and options which lets you choose how much filtration you want and when. Plus a Built-in humidity sensor to adjust airflow automatically. This purifier also happens to be one of our top recommended quiet air purifiers.
Budget Pick: Levoit Core 300
Our budget pick, the Levoit Core 300, is meant for smaller bedrooms or offices about 200 square feet in size. In such spaces, it performs impressively. In our 2020 test, it reduced a heavy load of smoke in our 135-square-foot test space by 97.4% in half an hour on high and 92.6% on medium. Capable of 6.75 air changes per hour in a bedroom-size 150-square-foot space, it far exceeds our 4 ACH minimum. And with a typical up-front cost of $100, its the cheapest of our picks to buy. But its not especially energy efficient, consuming about $61 of electricity when run 24/7 for a year. This raises its five-year running cost to about $480 . That aside, its a compact, attractive machine, and its display-shutoff feature makes it especially suited for bedrooms. The Core 300 replaces our former budget pick, the Blueair Blue Pure 411, which the Core 300 outperformed considerably.
At about $100, the Core 300 is inexpensive up front, but it is not an energy-efficient purifier, especially for its size. The Core 300 draws 34.6 watts on medium , while the much more powerful Coway Mighty draws just 8.1 watts. Running the Core 300 on medium speed 24/7, you consume about 303 kilowatt-hours per year at New Yorks rates that works out to $55 annually. And the filters need to be replaced every eight months, at about $25 a pop. So over the course of five years, its running costs may be as much as $450far more than the Mightys running costs of roughly $270.
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