February 10, 2021

What’s the Best Air Purifier for Mold and Mildew?

The spores of microscopic organisms are floating all around us. They’re literally everywhere, floating through the air outside, in your home, and in your work place. Because they are so prevalent, there is no way to completely avoid exposure to those microscopic spores, and depending on the type of spores and the amount that you’re exposed to – particularly when they’re inhaled – can cause health issues. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals who suffer from allergies, chronic respiratory conditions, and who are sensitive to the microscopic spores that are produced by some organisms, like mold and mildew, can develop a range of health problems, such as worsening symptoms of respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD, etc.) and allergies, as well as skin irritation, throat irritation, and nasal congestion. Several studies that were examined by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that mold exposure was linked to increased risk of respiratory-related symptoms, as well as an exacerbation of preexisting conditions, like allergies, asthma, and COPD.

While you may not be able to completely avoid being exposed to microscopic airborne spores, there are ways that you can minimize the amount that float through your home and work place. How? – By using an air purifier. There are literally dozens of air purifiers on the market and the manufacturers of all of these devices claim that their products are the “best” at eliminating mold, mildew, and other microscopic airborne spores; however, those claims aren’t always true. For that reason, if you are thinking about investing in an air purifier, familiarizing yourself with the technology behind different air purifiers and how effective they are at removing those spores is imperative.

The right type of air purifier for your home or office depends on your specific situation and needs. To help you on your quest for choosing the best air purifier, we’ve taken the liberty of investigating different kinds of air purifiers that are currently available on the market. Below, we’ve outlined the information that we found, as well as some additional vital information.

What are molds mildew, and other types of microscopic spores?

What is mold and mildew and is there a difference between them? Put simply, mildew is a type of mold, and mold is a collection of fungus, of which there are countless different types; nobody actually knows how many types of molds there are. These naturally occurring organisms are actually quite beneficial when they grow outdoors, as they aid in the decomposition of dead and decaying matter, like trees, wood, plants, leaves, and animals, and put the nutrients that those items contain back into the ground so that other organic matter can use it. In other words, mold and mildew quite literally serve as nature’s recycler.

While they’re beneficial in nature, mold and mildew can be quite harmful. Not only can they cause cosmetic damage, but they can also cause structural damage – particularly mold. Additionally, exposure to mold and mildew can cause adverse health effects. Mold and mildew reproduce by releasing spores. These spores are microscopic and float through the air, until the land on a surface, and as long as the conditions are right, those spores will start to reproduce and spread further. The size of these microscopic spores vary, but according to researchers at the University of Florida, the size ranges from 3 to 40 microns; they’re so tiny that they aren’t visible to the naked eye. Mold and mildew spores can make their way inside in a variety of ways. They can travel through open doors and windows, cracks in walls, underneath doors and windows, and can even travel indoors on your shoes, clothing, and pets. Those tiny spores will continue to float through the air in your home until the land on a surface. If that surface isn’t suitable for growth – it’s dry and cold, for example – nothing will happen. However, if the conditions are right – the surface is moist, warm (above freezing), and it’s made of organic, cellulous materials, then those spores will start to divide, and eventually, they will grow into patches of mold and mildew. Once mold and mildew start to grow, it will continue to produce more spores, those spores will be released into the air, and the cycle continues; hence why mold and mildew growth can spread rapidly and cause indoor air quality issues.

How do air purifiers help combat microscopic spores?

First, it’s vital to understand that air purifiers cannot eradicate an existing mold or mildew problem in your home. If there is visible mold or mildew growth somewhere in your house or office, it needs to be properly remediated; in other words, it has to be physically cleaned and killed, and proper ventilation must be used so as to prevent the spores that are loosened from landing on other surfaces, which will lead to another problem. In addition to eliminating the mold or mildew, you also need to locate and address the source of moisture that allowed the fungi to grow in the first place; leaky pipes, poor ventilation, high humidity levels, etc.; otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until the issue happens again.

Air purifiers cannot eliminate every type of mold spore from your indoor air. Since they are so ubiquitous, trying would just be futile. With that said, however, if you are remediating mold growth, you’ll likely have a high presence of mold spores in the air, and which case a high capacity industrial air purifier that has a high flow rate (such as 600 cfm) to capture as much as the spores as possible. Do note, however, that while an air purifier can help to minimize high concentrations of mold spores in the air when you’re remediating, you do need to make sure that the filters on the device are changed out on a regular basis, otherwise it will be rendered useless.

The use of an air purifier, in combination with other preventative measures, can provide long-term benefits for individuals who suffer from mold allergies or other health issues that can be aggravated as a result of mold exposure; asthma or COPD, for example.

What’s the best air purifier for mold?

As mentioned, there are several different kinds of air purifiers, and there are several different air purification technologies. Some of these technologies are highly effective at removing airborne mold spores; however, some aren’t and instead of being beneficial, they could actually end up being more harmful.

HEPA filtration. Air purifiers that feature HEPA filters are the most popular option for filtering out particles from the air. They can also successfully remove mold spores. HEPA standards are based on the capability of removing 99.97 percent of airborne particles that measure 0.3 microns in size or more. Since most mold spores are bigger than 0.3 microns, air purifiers that are equipped with HEPA filters should be able to effectively eliminate a large percentage; however, some of the smaller spores can escape. It’s also important to note that there is a chance that mold can actually occur within a HEPA filter. As the spores are trapped within the fibers that the filter is made of, and because moisture is present, the spores can reproduce and eventually become patches of mold, and the spores will be filtered back into your indoor air. In other words, there is a chance that an air purifier with a HEPA filter can actually turn into a mold spore emitter instead of a mold spore remover.
Carbon filtration. Another popular type of filtration that is used with air purifiers is carbon filtration. This type of filtration is used to remove airborne chemicals – particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. This type of filter traps those gases on activated carbon filters. While they may be effective at removing gases and odors, they are not effective at removing mold spores, as they are not designed to do so.
Ionizers. Air purifiers that feature ionizers create an electrical charge, and that charge is emitted to particulate matter. That charged particulate matter then sticks onto nearby surfaces, such as floors and walls. While ionizers claim that they can remove mold spores from the air, they can generate ozone, which is a major downside, as ozone is a harmful substance and is considered a pollutant. Breathing in ozone can cause adverse health effects, including respiratory issues.
PECO. Short for Photo Electrochemical Oxidation, PECO air purifiers make use of a light-activated catalytic reaction, which destroys the particles that pass through them. As such, air purifiers that feature PECO technology are very effective at actually destroying mold spores, which eradicates the chances that mold growth will occur within the filter and be reintroduced back into the air of your home or office.
UVGI. Short for Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation, this type of air purification technology says that it sterilizes the air by killing bacteria, viruses, and molds. According the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in order for UVGI to be effective, it would need to generate a significantly more intense level of UV radiation than stand-alone units are capable of generating.
Ozone generators. As mentioned, activated carbon air purifiers can produce ozone as a by-product, but with ozone generators, they actually make the harmful substance on purpose. As such, filling the air in your home or workplace with ozone is not recommended, as it could cause serious health problems; particularly for those who suffer from asthma, COPD, or any other respiratory health problems.

To determine which type of air purifying technology to use in your home or workplace in order to eliminate mold spores depends on your particular needs, including whether or not mold is already present and if you suffer from allergies or other health issues. With that said, however, given the above-mentioned information, two of the most acceptable options to use for eliminating mold spores include air purifiers that are fitted with HEPA and PECO filters. Both kinds of air purifiers will eliminate mold spores from the air; however, mold spores can grow within a HEPA filter and be recycled back into the air, and PECO filters will actually destroy mold spores. Therefore, of these two types of air purifiers, those that are equipped with PECO filtration are the preferred method for removing mold spores.

Contact a Reputable Mold Testing Company

While an air purifier can help to eliminate mold spores, if you really want to offset the damage and physical harm that mold and other microscopic spores can cause, you should really considering investing in the services of a mold and inspection testing company. The team of licensed and certified professionals at Mold Inspection and Testing (MI&T), one of the biggest and most trusted mold testing companies in the country, will use the most advanced techniques and state-of-the-art tools and technologies to detect mold spores on surfaces and within the air of your home. If it is determined that mold is present, they will recommend strategies that you can use to eradicate the problem.

With the help of MI&T, you can improve your indoor air quality, reduce the risk of structural damage, and most important, protect the health of yourself and your loved ones.