Air Purifiers for Mold - Find the Best Air Purifier for Mold

The Best Air Purifiers for Mold Protection

Air purifiers for mold help to handle this seemingly innocent but actually nefarious infestation. Molds are various types of tiny fungi that grow in damp, humid areas. Of course, these are the conditions present in most homes. There are a number of mold types found indoors and once they start growing in the home, they release spores which float into the air and cause respiratory ailments and allergic type reactions. Coughing, burning eyes, runny noses, skin irritation, headaches, and skin rashes are common symptoms. Mold has become such an annoyance for homeowners that a number of air purifiers are now being created specifically for this issue. Whether the goal is to reduce or prevent mold infestations, the best air purifiers for mold should be used.

Mold often grows in areas that are not visible or easy to clean. Heavy rains, for instance, can lead to roof leakage and can cause mold to develop on ceilings. Wallpaper, carpet padding, air ducts, and areas around pipes like bathroom sinks are also frequent sources of mold. This mold can often be visibly seen and leaves a stuffy, stale scent in the air. Therefore, the best air purifier for mold needs to be a high-performance system that traps spores and odors. This can be achieved by combination filters including a carbon pre-filter and a high-efficiency particulate air HEPA filter.

A carbon pre-filter included in an air purifier for mold works to remove that musty smell that mold leaves behind. Larger mold spores can range from 20 to 100 microns in size, which are likely to be caught in the pre-filter. Smaller mold spores can be as small as 1 micron in size and will be captured by the HEPA filter. HEPA filter standards are established by the United States Department of Energy DOE. The best air purifier for mold is one that has met the standards to be considered a true HEPA filter. True HEPA filters can remove 99.97 percent of particles from the air that measure at least 0.3 microns. This does not mean that the filter is not effective at removing particles of smaller and larger microns, however.

Since a purifier will not clean up mold that is not in the air, an activate mold problem requires finding the sources of mold and treating. For mold that has been growing undetected for some time or caused by flooding in some part of the home, the services of professional mold removal services might be best. Air purifiers for mold can be useful at this stage, but the remaining mold still needs to be cleaned up. Scrub mold off of glasses or other hard surfaces with hot water and soap. For paper and other porous materials infected by mold, however, they will likely have to be thrown out. After removing and cleaning surfaces can be disinfected.

After mold has been disposed of, use of the best air purifiers for mold can help to prevent mold growth in the future. Even after cleaning, some mold spores will still be in the air, and mold spores will continue to come in from the outdoors. By using an air purifier for mold trapping; however, new infestations are less likely to occur. Combining the use of an air purifier for mold reduction along with basic mold prevention strategies can drastically improve indoor air and reduce allergies. Maintain a mold free zone by fixing leaky pipes, drying up areas affected by leaks and condensation, and reducing indoor humidity.

When comparing an air purifier for mold to its competition, knowledge of HEPA type filters is useful. HEPA type filters are filters which may be made from similar materials to those used in HEPA filters and may be similar in appearance, but they do not meet DOE standards. Many of these air purifiers for mold removal, however, are almost as effective as genuine HEPA filters. They are also usually a little less expensive than a true HEPA filter which can help lower the price of making regular filter replacements.

Deciding on the best air purifier for mold really depends on the conditions in the home. If only mold prevention is desired and there are no visible signs of mildew, a HEPA type filter is an acceptable option. Newer homes will usually benefit most from this method. For older homes, which are more likely to have multiple sources of leaks and high humidity, true HEPA filters can help to handle current mold issues while the home is being cleaned. After the mildew is removed, air purifiers for mold should still be run continuously to help keep levels of mold spores in the air low.