The peculiar nature of molds means they cannot be rid of by just a single act exactly, but rather a series of measures put in place. Of all these measures, one of the most effective is having a good filtration type device for capturing spores in the atmosphere, and what better way to do this than making use of the best air filter for mold with max coverage.
Since there are so many devices today portrayed by manufacturers as top air purifiers for mold, making the right choice to settle on a good air purifier has been left in the inexperienced hands of customers. This article simplifies and addresses that problem, reviewing a few products on the mold air purifier, as well as recommending the best air cleaner for mold problems.
Talking about the best air purifiers for mold, the emphasis always falls to one major quality, which is the presence of a HEPA filter. The presence of a good and effective HEPA filter is what stands on the thin line between quality and poor. As a result of this, the quest should be a search for the best HEPA air filter for mold for more accuracy, rather than just best mold air purifiers.
Painstakingly, we found out that only a few devices do the job like the Honeywell HPA300 amongst the best HEPA air purifier for mold. With its impressive capacity, the Honeywell HPA300 covers large spaces up to 465sqft without excluding its major function of removing 99.97% allergens and contaminants in the air, and as small as 0.3 microns in size. This feature is, of course, possible through the presence of a exclusive HEPA filter.
Going in a little further, this air cleaner circulates the air in a room at a very impressive rate, and in its recommended space, it can do that up to 5 times in an hour. For quality by the books, it has AHAM verified pass to show forth.
Do air filters help with mold?
Firstly, you should know that it is the mold spores, not the mold exactly, that gets inhaled into the body, and the mold is different from its spores.
Molds are the actual black looking organism found in corners with the high level of moist, which continues to grow till the mature and releases spores into the atmosphere. It is this spore that can be inhaled and invoke allergic reactions. However, coming in direct contact with the mold itself could also trigger reactions.
Now that that fact is established, air filters clean the air in an atmosphere, removing contaminants, including mold spores, and keeping those unwanted reactions away. They, however, cannot do anything to hinder the growth of the mold itself regardless of how much amount of cleaning they do—the only way to deal with this to reduce humidity.
What kind of air filters help with mold spores?
The type of air filter required for removing mold spores is the ones that contain a HEPA filter as well as a carbon filter.
Hepa filters specialize in removing the smallest of particles, holding them back so that they can cause no harm, in this case, the spores, while a carbon filter is responsible for removing mold odors.
Depending on your body tolerance, using a device with UV-C light also helps stop mold from reproducing spores. Some of these devices, however, produce ozone or causes irritation to people, which is why it is important you do your research before purchase.
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.
- Capacity:
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.
- CADR level:
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 (take note of the fact that a high capacity doesn’t necessarily mean a high clean air delivery rate).
- Warranty:
The warranty on electronic devices these days basically highlights how risk-free investing in a purchase would be. Though it doesn’t necessarily speak directly about the quality of the product, it is always good to have some sort of legal protection on the event of something going unexpectedly south.
- Ease of use:
This feature is wrapped up in many other bit part qualities like the control panel, having a display, being able to run in the smart mode, or having a timer feature. All these come together to make the device much easier to use for operators. Highlighting a few necessities, the smart mode is an important feature to have, allowing the device to vary the speed according to contamination level, and when coupled with a timer, they make a perfect blend that both monitors effectively, as well as manage energy consumption.
- UV-C sanitizer:
After removing mold spores from the atmosphere, if the mold itself is not dealt with, there is a good chance that it just simply produces more spores to replenish the air, making the air purifier virtually on a rat race. This is where the UV-C light comes in, as the rays it produces are able to attack molds on a molecular level, breaking it down and ultimately preventing the production of more spores.
Though this sounds like a very good plus to the world of cleaners, it is important that you check if the device generates any form of ozone at all, before purchasing. Products with a high level of ozone would only compound your irritation problems in the long run and should be totally avoided at all costs.
5 Best Air Filter for Mold In 2022
1) Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Air Purifier
[image code=”B00BWYO53G”]Though this air cleaner doesn’t come with the most pleasant of looks, it still falls in amongst the top category of domestic products in the Honeywell line. It is, however, not literally a honey well product per se, but rather made from manufacturing giants KAZ. Since licensed by Honeywell, you can be sure to get just as equal quality.
Explained Below are what distinguished Honeywell HPA300 from others
True HEPA and Activated carbon filter
Mold removal alongside other contaminants in the air is carried out by this device through the presence of a 2 stage filtration system. These stages consist of a true HEPA filter, as well as an activated carbon filter to get the job done in the best possible manner. The true HEPA filter removes 99.97% of contaminations as small as 0.3 microns, while more volatile molecules like gases are trapped by the activated carbon filter.
CADR and capacity
Being able to serve 465sqft of area, at the size which the device stands at is pretty impressive. Further staking its claims on effective performance, the device boasts a very impressive CADR, which is more than enough to clean the air in a recommended closed area for up to 5 times per hour.
AHAM and filters Durability
You wouldn’t be purchasing filters anytime soon should you choose to go for this product. The reason is that the filters are designed to last for up to a year before replacement is needed. It, however, varies depending on the nature of the atmosphere or frequency of usage. The long-life also means you would spend far lesser cost compared to many other products out there
Turbo mode
For the price of getting a bit louder, this air cleaner can make a telling impact within a short period of time, when allowed to run in the turbo mode. This mode is characterized by increased fan speed; therefore, air movement. We recommend you run in this mode when the contamination level is high, or no one is around to get disturbed by the noise.
KAZ product and poor customer service
As earlier said, this machine is actually Kaz made and Honeywell branded, which raised a few brows in general. One major difficult area for customers is very poor customer service, especially in fixing defects and claiming warrantees.
Pros
- can cover large spaces,
- filters particles up to 0.3 microns,
- High CADR,
- leaves the atmosphere with a clean fresh breath,
- neutralizes odors,
- filters last for about a year,
- AHAM verified,
- very durable with long life,
- touch-sensitive control buttons
Cons
- kind of bulky in size,
- costs a few extra bucks compared to other products in the same range,
- technically not honeywell made,
- poor customer service,
- tendency to release repulsive odors on first use,
2) Germ Guardian Air Purifier
[image code=”B073X5MT5N”]Anyone who has stayed around air purifiers for a while would have most certainly heard a thing or two about manufacturing giants, germ guardian. This device is a master in the act of removing 99% of contaminations in the air down to 0.3 microns in size, which captures molds in its spores. It is also able to deal with that moisty odor residue mold adds to the air when present.
Fashion at its simplest
The looks of this device are simply ordinary, but still very impressive for anyone that takes a closer look. It’s incredibly wide surface area means that it can force more amount of air through several layers of filters at once, making a faster impact on the atmosphere as a result. In the end, maybe this is what is responsible for its next awesome quality, in CADR level.
CADR Level
The clean air delivery rate of this air purifier, when tested across several conditions and against specific contaminants, stands at 200CFM (though it is actually a bit higher). This is very impressive and helps the device cycle the air more frequently and at a lower time frame too, when used in the recommended 338sqft room size.
Filter life
Earlier established that the devices come with a HEPA filter, as well as an activated carbon filter, you should also know that these two filters are protected externally by the presence of a pre-filter. In total, the product is a 3 stage filtration device, and for lower running cost, the filters are designed to last for a good amount of time. Users are expected to replace filters every 6 to 8 months, though you also know that the filters are pretty expensive.
We are talking of around $70 cost for each, which in 2 years, the total cost on filter replacements could surpass the cost of purchasing the unit as a whole. That’s a real turn off.
Ease of use
Even down to the shape of the device and positioning of control buttons are tailored to user’s convenience, and while these features are beneficial, its real ease of use is in possessing a timer. This 8-hour programmable timer ensures that users can set the device start and stop time frame, without having to actually stop it. This also saves power, coupled with already being energy star rated for even lesser energy consumption.
Ozone problems and mercury infused bulbs
If you would use this air cleaner, you should first know about its production of very minute ozone residues due to the use of UV-C light, making it a bad choice for those with weak body defense systems. The UV-C bulb also contains mercury, which is very toxic should it get out into the environment.
Pros
- can cover large spaces,
- HEPA filter that traps particles as small as 0.3 microns,
- UV-C sanitizers for molecular cleaning,
- 3 stage filtration,
- effective odor removal through an activated carbon filter,
- operates in a quiet fashion,
- impressive CADR ratings,
- impressive filter lives,
- energy star rated for efficiency,
- 8 hours programmable timer
Cons
- filters costs a lot to replace,
- might produces some level of ozone,
- toxic but minimal material in mercury infused bulb,
3) Aviano AV890 7-in-1 Smart Home Air Purifier w/True HEPA Filter for large room
[image code=”B07VPCZR7N”]Coming from a manufacturer who is not so popular in name, the AV890 defies all odds, and sits at the top amongst the best air filters for domestic use today. One of the major features which helps this device stake a claim among the top is it’s 7 in 1 filtration system, which ensures that nothing gets through asides clean, fresh air.
Design
With completely soft-touch buttons and a digital display for a stress-free machine-human interface, this device is pretty much very convenient to use and carries a very modern look, to say the least. Its overall two-color design is very appealing to the eyes, especially being the universal black and white, allowing it to easily blend into any home setting easily.
7 Filtration stages
Very few air cleaners today possess up to 5 layers of filtration today, and at 7, this device is nothing short of impressive. The first line of defense against contaminants going through is a pre-filter that is responsible for removing large-sized particles, giving other filters a longer life in the process.
After the pre-filter, the other stages of filtration are basically 2 in 1. The true HEPA filter is combined with an antibacterial filter, while the activated carbon filters go with Nano cold catalysts for optimal performance. These stages are responsible for removing gas molecules in the air, as well as capturing particles as small as 0.03 microns in size, taking pollutant removal to the next level. The last stage is a combination of UV-C light, as well as anion generator, for essentially dealing with contaminants at a molecular level.
Automatic smart/sleep mode
The smart mode essentially allows the air purifier to run independently, freeing users from all monitoring and constant tinkering with in order to get optimal performance. Sleep mode, on the other hand, turns down the already quiet operation of the device a step further, while diming all LED lights to create a very comfortable environment for sleep.
All-round air intake and high CADR
The design of this product contradicts the traditional intake of air through one side of the device and then releasing it through the other. Instead, the Aviano product draws air all-round the corners, covering more area per time in the process, and making a faster impact on the atmosphere compared to many others. With a CADR of 181, this purifier is able to cover decent sizes in very little time.
In all, being very easy to use is part of the major highlights of using this device, especially when we consider the fact that it also comes with remote control for further user convenience. The machine also measures and displays the air quality level at every point in time. Due to one of either not being so much of a popular brand, to having numerous filters, finding filter replacements on the market for this filter is pretty difficult.
Cons
- premium 7 stage filtration system,
- smart mode with a timer feature,
- operates in a quiet fashion,
- sleek looks,
- intuitive control panel design with the display,
- draws in air from all directions for a more even impact,
- high CADR,
- kills viruses and bacteria,
- easy to use and move around,
- operates very quietly even on the highest setting,
- easy to use with remote control
What we dislike
- Difficult to find filter replacements,
- LED display seems still very bright even in sleep mode
4) Pro Breeze 5-in-1 Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter
[image code=”B074FZLSGN”] Pro Breeze was, of course, going to show up among the top air cleaners for mold, though one would have thought perhaps higher. This device is above the minimum recommended requirement for air cleaners intended to get rid of mold and even possesses extra layers of filters for more impact on the atmosphere.
Virtually a single filter with all functions infused
Though it consists of a HEPA, activated carbon, and cold catalyst filter, they are basically infused as one, which, though makes for good manufacturers economics, reduces their individual effectiveness to a great extent. This means the single filter wouldn’t be as effective as having each standing filter placed side by side, as seen on other air cleaners.
Despite this design, the product is not a totally poor cleaner of air, still working to remove 97% of contaminants and PM2.5 as small as 0.3 microns. A major highlight, however, is in its cold catalyst filter, whose specialty is in removing formaldehyde, common gas contaminants in homes.
Smart timer and sleep mode
With a smart timer, this device is able to both automatically switch on and off after a certain amount of set hours ranging from 1, 2, or 4, depending on the user’s preference. This feature affords much user flexibility and basically removes the inconvenience of running and operating the unit.
Though with a decent CADR level, this air purifier is only suitable for small-sized areas up to 200sqft when putting to the test (as opposed to 500sqft listed by manufacturer), which is kind of a disappointment but still makes a decent value for the price.
Pros
- 5 in 1 HEPA filter captures particles down to 0.3 microns,
- effective against odor contaminants,
- a specialist in trapping formaldehyde,
- high CADR,
- timer feature
Cons
- combined filter function makes the device less effective than individual filters would have been,
- cannot cover large areas 200sqft,
- prone to rubber tire odor during early usage,
- very bright LED light might be a problem at night
5) LEVOIT HEPA Air Purifier for Home
[image code=”B07DFVYZCR”]Rounding up our list of recommended products for dealing with mold problems, is the level HEPA air purifier. This a relatively low device but makes for a very good deal at the price which it goes. It is more suited to very small spaces of about 150sqft tops, and cannot exactly handle a very high level of contamination
ETL listed, FCC certified, and CARB compliant
Despite its low capacity, and consequentially low CADR, this device still boasts all the qualifications required in the realm of air purifiers, to show quality. It is both ETL listed, FCC certified, and CARB compliant, with the high light being CARB-compliant, meeting California’s strict standard for indoor cleaning devices.
With a 3 stage filtration, this device consists of a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter staged layer after layer. The pre-filter removes large particles in the air, while the HEPA deals with particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, with a near 100% efficiency (99.9% precisely). The activated carbon filter removes odor-causing molecules in the air. Do also know that this product comes with two extra pre-filters as a plus, while the carbon filter lasts about four months, and the HEPA filter 6 to 8 months.
The design and mode of operating this device rolls back the years, with the presence of simply a control knob for varying fan speeds. It is also very portable and easy to carry around, though its single intake and outlet design drastically reduce its impact on the atmosphere. From customer experience, we can safely conclude that replacement filters are pretty difficult to come by in the market and is a real challenge as soon as the time to change comes.
Cons
- 3 stage filtration,
- filters contaminants as down to 0.3 microns in size,
- easy to use analog function,
- operates very quietly,
- filter wheel reminder for easy filter life monitoring,
- the package comes with two extra pre-filters,
Cons
- lacks any form of modernity,
- can only serve small-sized areas,
- employs the conventional system of one direction air intake and outlet,
- scarce replacement filters
What happens if you inhale the mold in the air?
Whether you are predisposed to mold allergies naturally or not, continual exposure to mold is sure to trigger some sort of response from the human body, and in the case of those with an already fragile system or mold-allergic, it could be very harmful. The major source of harm is not actually in a single exposure to mold, but when it becomes a continual act.
The array of irritations that can be caused by mold exposure includes sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash, to mention a few. For individuals with asthma, inhaling or touching mold could go as far as causing shortness of breath, chest tightness, as well as serious asthmatic attacks
Can mold grow in HEPA filter?
The trick for mold survival is this, if they can find enough moisture, they can thrive, and your beloved HEPA filter is not excluded. In a case where humidity is high, it is possible for these filters to hold a handsome amount of water, which would support the growth of molds and other organisms, quickly turning the device into a box of infection.
This is why it is important you don’t just focus on one atmospheric property when trying to create a safe environment. Air quality is just as important as humidity, which is just as important as temperature etc. When dealing with molds, the first rule is always to drop the humidity to a safe range.
How do you tell if mold is making you sick?
The best way to be sure is to monitor your body reaction when in and outside of mold-infested environments, or more accurately, high and low humidity areas.
If you notice a difference in comfort, and some of the symptoms we would be listed here, then the mold has most likely gotten to you. Some of these symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, wheezing, skin rashes, cough, red eyes, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, tight chest, etc. if you notice any of these after residing in a high humidity environment for a while, then it’s almost certain that the mold is making you sick.
Final thoughts on the best air purifier for mold
According to quality and performance, sitting at the top of our recommendation for the best air filter for mold problems is the Honeywell HPA300. It handles mold removal from infested environs very effectively and has a design simple enough to fit easily into homes.
With a true HEPA and carbon activated filter, this air purifier is equipped with all it takes to get the job done in large areas up to 465sqft while being AHAM verified further speaks volumes of its quality. Some might call it too expensive still, despite all these impressive qualities, which is why we believe a five-year warranty is attached to purchasing the product.
The Germ Guardian Air Purifier is also a good choice for those with a slightly lesser budget. Being suitable for large areas, this device comes with a 3 stage filtration that ensures an effective air cleaning, as well as an 8-hour programmable timer for much easier operation. Its filters last very long, and it adds very little to energy bills, being energy star rated.
