Mold exposure can be detrimental to anyone’s health, coupled with the fact that it can be a pain to eliminate. Consequently, it would be best to have an air purifier for mold to keep your air clean and breathable.
And if you are an asthmatic or a mold allergy sufferer, mold exposure can trigger an asthma attack or an allergic reaction.
So a mold air purifier should be your best bet.
However, while some air purifiers can help remove mold from the air, others cannot.
True HEPA filters capture impurities down to 0.3 microns, including molds.
For this reason, an air purifier for mold should have a HEPA filter or a technology similar to a HEPA filter.
However, you can choose an air purifier with a regular propriety particle filter.
If your primary concern is eliminating mold spores, you don’t have to look for any air purifier with a special particle filter.
But I recommend a HEPA air purifier because the air harbors much more contaminants than molds, such as dust, that the molds feed off.
So a HEPA filter helps remove those other impurities.
This article will look at the best recommendations for air purifiers for mold.
But please keep at the back of your mind that an air purifier can only prevent the spread of mold spores but can’t eliminate an actively growing mold.
You’d need to identify the root cause and take care of it yourself.
Mold in-house symptoms
- Molds are usually visible. Also, when your indoor air becomes stuffy and musty, it’s a sign that you may have mold infestations in your home.
- If you only experience persistent coughing, sneezing, and wheezing whenever you’re indoors, it may be a sign that mold and its spores are growing in your home.
Effects of mold on health
- For people allergic to mold or asthma, mold exposure can lead to a congested nose, wheezing, and even itchy skin or eyes.
- In severe cases, it can cause fever and shortness of breath.
- Indoor exposure to molds can also affect the upper respiratory tracts in some persons, leading to cough and wheezing even in healthy individuals.
Best Overall Air Purifier for mold
Nuwave OxyPure Air Purifier
Nuwave OxyPure Air purifier is the Overall best air purifier for mold. This air purifier has a sophisticated 5-stage filtration unit, two robust sensors, and a 6-speed fan.
The 5-stage filtration features a 2-in-1 HEPA/carbon filter for capturing molds, spores, fine dust, smoke, VOCs, fumes, and vehicle emissions.
In addition, this unit features an Ozone Emission Removal filter for eliminating harmful ozone gases.
Also, OxyPure comes with a unique Bio-Guard filter for eliminating 0.09 microns particle pollutants.
Similarly, it includes a washable Stainless-Steel Pre-filter for dust, lint, hair, fibers, and pet fur.
Unlike other brands with a four-month HEPA filter life, Nuwave Oxypure uses a HEPA Filter with an extended lifespan of 12 months.
And the Stainless-steel Pre-filter, ozone filter, and Bio-Guard filter are reusable for up to 20 years.
This unit purifies a space of 2,671 sq. ft. within one hour. If you’re looking for an air purifier to eliminate mold in your home, Nuwave OxPure is a must-have.
Click here for a more detailed blog post about this powerful machine.
Best Air Purifier for mold with washable filters
WINIX 5500-2 Air Purifier
The Winix 5500-2 Air purifier is the best for mold with permanent and washable filters.
This unit which replaces the Winix 5500, is designed to capture airborne mold spores.
Additionally, it filters off pet dander, dust, pollen, household odors, smoke, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
This machine has two filters; a washable pre-filter and a True HEPA filter for capturing mold spores.
The Pre-filter filters out large particles of impurities, including mold spores. And because it’s washable, you don’t need to replace it.
You can wash the filter, remove the large contaminants, vacuum, and re-install, saving you time and money.
The Winix 5500-2 features a HEPA filter with about 250CFM of air processing power, which is the benchmark.
Significantly, the 250CFM ensures that the unit has enough power to process the air for most applications sufficiently.
It also exhibits excellent energy efficiency and a good noise output at that threshold.
So Winix 5500-2 is one of the best 250CFM air purifiers.
Furthermore, this appliance automatically activates Sleep Mode once the room darkens to ensure continuous whisper-quiet and energy-efficient operation.
Similarly, it reverts to Auto Mode in the presence of light.
A vital feature of Winix 5500-2 is the plasmawave technology that acts as a permanent filter, which safely breaks down allergens, odors, chemical molecules, and other pollutants without releasing harmful ozone.
Lastly, it features an Air quality indicator and a Dual smart sensor. The sensors gauge the air while the Auto Mode automatically regulates the fan speed.
Pros
- CADR rated for 360 sq. ft. room size.
- Ozone-free.
- Effective and energy-efficient
- Quiet operation.
- Washable filter.
Cons
- They may need to improve the coverage for huge rooms.
Best Air Purifier for mold under $100
Levoit LV-H132
Levoit LV-H132 is the best mold air purifier under $100.
This air purifier humidifier combo features a 3-stage filtration system that consists of a Pre-filter, an Activated carbon filter, and a True H13 HEPA filter.
For this reason, Levoit LV-H132 removes airborne mold spores, dust, pet dander, smoke, and other impurities in the bedroom floor area of about 219 sq. ft.
Its two adjustable nightlight settings and 25dB near-silent operation create a peaceful and breathable environment for sleeping.
However, at high speed, it creates a noise output of 46 dB. In addition, a filter change reminder notifies the user when the filter is due for a replacement.
And this is usually within 6 to 8 months and may vary depending on the air quality of the environment.
Pros
- Affordable and efficient.
- Whisper-quiet operation.
- Ozone-free filtration system.
- It features a humidifying element.
Cons
- This device lacks a smart feature.
- Not suitable for large rooms
Best Air Purifier for mold in large rooms
Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier
Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier is a powerful air purifier with a 3-Stage filtration system.
The filtration unit features a Pre-filter and a MAX2 Filter, which combines a Green True HEPA Filter and an Activated Carbon Filter.
All in all, this hyperactive filtration technology is capable of removing 99.999% of 0.01 micron-sized pollutants in the air.
It also eliminates 99% of odors and VOCs. In addition, this air purifier offers broad coverage, kicking out virtually all airborne contaminants in a 1,560 sq. ft. sized room in just 30 minutes.
And this makes it the best air purifier for filtering off mold, spores, and other pollutants in large rooms.
Furthermore, there’s an air quality indicator that monitors the state of the air continuously throughout the day and automatically adjusts fan speeds according to the air quality
Airmega 400 uses a light and pollution sensor to monitor air brightness and cleanliness.
Once the room darkens, Sleep Mode immediately activates, reducing the air purifier’s noise output and power consumption.
Also, it has a filter indicator that alerts you when the filter needs changing, which’s dependent on the environment’s air quality and the amount of air processed by the filters.
Pros
- Powerful filtration system.
- Super-quiet operation.
- Suitable for large spaces.
- Energy-efficient
Cons
- It’s a costly device.
- This model lacks a smart feature. Alternatively, the Coway Airmega 400S is a smart air purifier but is more expensive.
Best Alternate
Molekule Air Pro
Suppose you’re looking for an Air Purifier that uses a technology different from HEPA air purifiers to eliminate molds, mold odors, and spores. Then, consider the Molekule Air Pro.
This machine uses a patented Photoelectrochemical Oxidation filtration technology (PECO) to purify indoor air.
At first, this air technology sparked many controversies in the air purifier world.
There were assertions that the technology was too expensive. And that it’s less effective than the company claimed.
However, Molekule Air Pro is FDA-approved. And this device has now been widely accepted by many users, which reflects in the number of positive reviews on Amazon and other E-commerce sites.
To clarify, according to Molekule, the PECO technology destroys viruses, bacteria, mold, chemical fumes, VOCs, and at the molecular level.
Unlike HEPA air purifiers, this award-winning device captures impurities and destroys them.
It uses highly reactive oxidative radicals to break down organic pollutants.
This smart air purifier uses easily replaceable PECO filters with a filter life of 6 months.
Overall, Molekule Air Pro offers extensive coverage and is suitable for large spaces and high-traffic areas up to 1000 sq. ft.
Pros
- Extensive coverage of 1000 sq. ft.
- It has smart features.
- It adjusts the speed level automatically according to air quality
- Ozone-free purification.
- Whisper-quiet operation.
Cons
- This machine is costly
- On its first use, it releases an offensive odor.
10 Ways to prevent mold in your home
- Control the humidity levels in your home by ensuring it’s within the recommended threshold of 30 to 50%.
- In humid weather, use a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers don’t kill mold but can help remove excess indoor moisture. Thus inhibiting mold growth. Similarly, an air conditioner can also be helpful as an alternative in such instances.
- Install a hygrometer or humidistat to monitor your indoor humidity. However, most modern humidifiers do have an inbuilt humidistat.
- Also, it would be best always to clean your home air to remove dust. Dust promotes the growth of molds in the house.
- Fix leakages in your house roof and plumbing to prevent dampness which encourages mold growth.
- Limit carpets in your home, especially in areas prone to moisture.
- Keep all moist or wet clothes outdoors.
- Install an exhaust fan in your kitchen and bathroom with vents connected to outdoor air. It helps ensures your indoor air gets enough ventilation.
- Apply peroxide and borax if you have molds on hard surfaces, tiles, and ceilings.
- Lastly, it would be best if you disposed of all items badly infested with molds.
Conclusion
To summarize, Mold infestation causes an allergy or asthma flare-up. And even for healthy individuals, mold spores and odors can negatively impact their well-being.
Because mold spores can be airborne, so it’s impossible getting rid of all of them entirely manually.
Instead, your manual cleaning would be more effective if combined with a mold air purifier.
If you opt for a mold air purifier, you’d need a True HEPA filter, as it helps filter very tiny airborne impurities.
And If you want to remove mold odor, you’d need one with an Activated Carbon filter.
All of these filters can be present in a single air purifier. However, if you wish to kill mold spores, you may get an air purifier with UV light or one that uses PECO technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Air Purifiers remove mold smell?
An air purifier should include a mechanism for absorbing different odors in a room. Most air purifiers that come with an Activated carbon filter are well known for removing a wide variety of smells or odors from pets, cooking, molds, chemical fumes, and many more.
Do Air Purifiers help with mold?
Yes, air purifiers are the perfect tools to eliminate molds in your home. The Pre-filter and HEPA filter in air purifiers traps airborne contaminants of small to large sizes, including mold. More so, the activated carbon filter also sucks in all odors from molds, keeping the air in a clean and fresh state. But you must know that air purifiers can not remove mold actively growing on surfaces. You’d need to identify the source of the growth and take care of it yourself.
What kills mold spores in the air?
In contact with mold spores in the air, hydrogen peroxide destroys them. It does this by altering its DNA structure. But to effectively disperse a harmless concentration of ionized hydrogen peroxide into the air requires unique air purifiers or fogging machines. However, I don’t recommend such air purifiers as some emit harmful ozone into the air, which can cause irritation and breathing issues.