If you have ever had to deal with mold in any capacity, you know just how big of a pain in the neck it can be. But what you might not know is just how dangerous mold can be if it is a consistent issue. According to the Centers for Desease Control and Prevention, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as red or itchy eyes or skin, stuffy nose, and wheezing. Luckily, it can be gotten rid of, once and for all. All you need to do is find the best air purifier for mold removal.
But with so many different air purifiers on the market today, it can be quite difficult to pick out the one that will best solve your mold problem. You need to look for proper filtration systems with the best possible particles removal rate and some additional features that will leave no mold behind. Luckily, you have found this article! We have taken the time to pour over thousands of reviews so that we could find the best air purifiers on the market today, making it that much easier to find the perfect one for your needs.
In this article, you will find everything that you need to get the best air purifier for mold removal so that you can breathe easy in your home. If you already know everything that you need to get the right purifier, then be sure to check out our brief table and detailed reviews of the top models on the market. If you still need to learn a bit more about purifiers and what to look for in a model, then be sure to read through our buying guide, as this will give you all the background info you need to find the perfect purifier.
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Editor’s Choice: Coway AP-1512HH"3-stage filtration system ideal for removal of any impurities from the air, and an ionizer for even higher results; the Smart Particle Sensor will detect impurities in the air and let the air purifier work in the most effective regime; high-end air purifier great for medium spaces."
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Runner-up for Larger Rooms: Alen BreatheSmart"The most powerful HEPA air purifier on our list with a coverage area of up to 1,100 ft²; runs at 4 speeds, and an auto mode is available; comes with an ionizer, the SmartSensor detecting changes in air quality, and Energy Star certification."
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Best Value for Money: Honeywell HPA300"2-stage filtration system and 4 air purifying modes remove up to 99.97% of particles from the air, and the automatic filter change indicator reminds to replace the filter; features a timer with 3 auto shut-off options."
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The Longest Filter Life: Oransi Finn OVHT9908"2-stage filtration system with a v-HEPA filter that has the longest lifetime among others; also features an ionizer and UV lamp for even cleaner air; numerous certifications and long warranty included."
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Budget Pick: AeraMax 300"Comes with all necessary features for mold removal: 2-level filtration, ionizer, AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment, and AeraSmart sensor monitoring air quality; energy efficient and very affordable at the same time."
Top 5 Air Purifiers for Mold Review 2022
Coway AP-1512HH
- Coverage area: 326 ft²
- Filtration: Pre-filter + Odor Filter + HEPA + Ionizer
- Filter life: Odor (6 months), HEPA (1 year)
- Particles removal: 97%
- Air quality and filter replacement indicators
- Vital ION function
- Air flow control: Auto / 1 / 2 / 3 / eco)
- Automatic speed control by Smart Particle Sensor
- Noise level: 24.4–53.8 dB
- Power consumption: 4.9–77.8W
- Auto shut-off if no pollution detected for 30 min
- 1/4/8-hour timer
- Certification: CADR
- 3-year limited warranty
If you are in the market for the very best air purifier for mold, then this is a good place to start. This purifier, which is produced by Coway, has everything that you should look for when you are trying to get rid of mold. First off, the filtration system is wonderful. Not only does it have a certified HEPA filter, but it also has a filter for odors, a pre-filter (which is cleanable), and an ionizer, which will remove even more particles from the air.
In fact, this purifier can remove up to 99.97% of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns from the air. This high percentage, along with the number of filters that the mold spores will have to work through, will give you a great chance at getting rid of them as quickly as possible.
This unit can also be used on many different speed levels, which will allow you to match it to your needs. What is impressive, though, is the fact that, even on the highest speed, this is a quiet unit. The only real problem with this purifier is that it has a relatively short range, though this will also help you to keep its great effects focused on the area of mold concern. Truly, this is a great purifier that you should check out.
What do we love it for?
- Very quiet
- Long warranty
- Complex filter system to remove as many particles as possible
- Multiple speed levels
What were we disappointed with?
- The coverage area can be small for some rooms
Alen BreatheSmart
- Coverage area: up to 1,100 ft²
- Filtration: HEPA, four filter options for different needs (Silver – good for mold removal)
- Filter life: up to 12 month
- Particles removal: 99%
- Ionizer
- SmartSensor detecting changes in air quality
- Four speeds and automatic mode
- Noise level: 41.5–56 dB
- Power consumption: 105W on highest speed
- Timer
- Certification: CADR, Energy Star
- Variety of color choices
- Lifetime limited warranty
Lots of times, the biggest problem with mold is that you can’t be sure exactly how far it has spread. It can be very difficult to locate every last little bit of it, and sometimes it is in places that you would never have dreamed it could or would be. Which is why this might be a good purifier to buy. It has, by far, the largest coverage area of any of the purifiers we looked at. This makes it the perfect choice if you have a large area to clean up, or you just want to make sure that the mold truly is completely contained.
This purifier can be used with a variety of HEPA filter options. Of course, since we are talking about mold removal here, you will want to stick with the Silver option, as this filter has been developed specifically for the removal of mold spores from the air. Utilizing this filter, which will last about a year, you will be able to remove up to 99% of the particles in the air, which should eliminate any future mold growth.
Now, as you might’ve guessed, this larger than average coverage area does come at the expense of some other factors. This purifier is a bit on the loud side when used on its highest level. It will also use up more electricity than other models. But we must say, it is natural for such a powerful model.
What are our favorite features?
- Large coverage area
- Multiple filter options
- Multiple speeds
- Lifetime warranty
What could be better?
- Louder than average
- Uses more energy than other models.
Honeywell HPA300
- Coverage area: up to 463 ft²
- Filtration: Pre-filter + True HEPA
- Filter life: Pre-filter (3 months), HEPA (1 year)
- Particles removal: 97%
- Four air cleaning levels: Germ, General Clean, Allergen and Turbo
- Power consumption: 40–130W
- Timer: 2/4/8-h auto shut-off delay
- Electronic filter replacement reminders
- Certification: CADR, Energy Star
- 5-year limited warranty
While this purifier from Honeywell might seem on the small side, don’t let its looks deceive you. It has tons of features that are tailored made for the removal of mold from the air. First off, the filtration system is top notch. It has a pre-filter and a HEPA filter that, when properly maintained, will remove up to 99.97% of particles from the air. As long as you keep the filters as clean as possible, you won’t need to worry about any airborne spores or allergens in the area that you choose to use this purifier.
The biggest problem with this purifier is that it doesn’t have an overly large coverage area. It will only be able to do one or two rooms in your home, which isn’t too big of a deal as long as your mold hasn’t spread too far. As long as it is relatively contained, this filter should do just fine. It has four different settings, which will allow you to control the noise level as well as the power consumption rate. Best of all, this purifier comes with a nice long five-year warranty, which will cover most of the parts should they be damaged in everyday use.
What makes it stand out?
- Long warranty
- Multiple filters
- Different cleaning levels
- Automatic filter change reminders
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
- The coverage area can be small for some rooms
Oransi Finn OVHT9908
- Coverage area: up to 400 ft²
- Filtration: Cleanable pre-filter and v-HEPA filter
- Filter life: up to 2 years (HEPA)
- Particles removal: 99%
- Negative Ion
- UV lamp
- Speeds: 3
- Noise level: 40dB – 60dB
- Power consumption: 55W
- Filter replace/clean indicator
- Certification: CE, ETL, RoHS, California Air Resources Board
While this purifier has one of the smallest coverage areas available, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a quality product. What that simply means is that you should only purchase it under two conditions. First, if you are only looking to clean up a small area, then this is a great option. Second, if you know for a fact that the mold you are looking to eliminate is contained in a small area. If both of these criteria are met, then this is a great choice.
First off, it has two filters, a cleanable pre-filter, and a HEPA filter which will only need to be replaced after two whole years of use! These two filters will remove up to 99% of airborne spores, making it a pretty effective purifier. To help eliminate any germs that it catches in its filter, it also features a UV light. This powerful light destroys most bacteria and pathogens, which in turn helps to make the air that much cleaner.
It is also one of the quietest purifiers on the market today, even when you have it on the highest of the three-speed settings. It is also quite economical to run, even on the highest setting, and comes with a nice long ten-year warranty.
What are its best features?
- UV lamp
- Long warranty
- Different speeds
- Long filter life
- Dual filtration system
What could be improved?
- The coverage area can be small for some rooms
AeraMax 300
- Coverage area: 300 ft²
- Filtration: True HEPA + Carbon
- Filter life: True HEPA (1 year), Carbon (3 months)
- Particles removal:97%
- AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment
- Plasma true technology creating an ionized field
- AeraSmart sensor monitoring air quality
- Four speeds, three control modes: Auto/Manual/Aera+ (for allergy season)
- Automatic fan speed adjustment
- Power consumption: Low – 6W, Turbo – 86W
- Certified by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; Energy Star
If you are truly looking to go the economical route, then this is the purifier for you. While its coverage area is the smallest of all the units we checked into, it is still a high-quality product. It uses a HEPA filter in conjunction with activated carbon to remove pollutants from the air. When these two filtration systems are in place and working properly, you can rest assured that 99.97% of all pathogens will be removed from the air. The HEPA filter only needs to be replaced once a year, which isn’t too bad at all. The carbon, on the other hand, will need to be replaced every three months to keep working properly.
This unit can be used on any of its four speeds, with its lowest speed being the most economical and quietest. When the unit is running at this speed, it only will use a miniscule 6W of energy, which is nice and low. Even on the highest setting, which you would probably use more often for mold removal, you are still only going to be using about 86W, which isn’t too bad at all.
To sweeten the deal even further, the company offers a three-year warranty. This will give you plenty of time to decide if this is the right purifier for you and to make sure that it works in the way that you need it to so that you can get rid of that nasty mold.
What are our favorite features?
- A high percentage of particles removed
- Multiple stage filtration system
- Energy efficient
- Affordable
What could be better?
- The coverage area is smaller than that of competitors
Things to Consider
As you would expect, there are a ton of things that you need to keep in mind when you are out looking for the best vacuum for laminate floors. This section will tell you everything that you need to know to make sure that you are getting exactly what you need out of the cleaner or your choice.
Air purifiers may seem plain and simple, but to find the right one for a particular task of mold removal, you need to know several key features. This, together with general knowledge about mold removal, will help you understand what to look for. Start with this buying guide and find out more!
How can mold affect you?
There are several different kinds of mold that can be found indoors in damp areas, and each can have a variety of effects on people, based on the length of time that they are exposed to the mold. These effects can range from allergic-like reactions in the short term, such as nasal congestion, headaches, and chest tightness, too much more severe symptoms in the long term. Long-term exposure to mold, especially in children and the elderly, can have serious consequences, such as cancer and pulmonary/cardiac issues.
How do air purifiers remove mold?
The reason that mold can be such a problem for a homeowner is due to the airborne mold spores that help the mold to spread. By removing these from the air, air purifiers help to limit the spread of the mold, which, in turn, will help you begin to eliminate the mold in your home altogether.
How do you know an air purifier is good for removing mold?
The most important thing to keep in mind if you are looking to get rid of mold is the quality of the filter. If the filter in your air purifier is not a quality HEPA filter, then it will not be able to catch and remove the tiny mold spores from the air. Only HEPA filters are designed to catch and detain even the smallest particles from the air. This is why it is essential to make sure you have this filter type to remove the mold spores.
What features to look for in an air purifier for mold removal?
While the filter type is by far the most important feature to keep in mind when you are looking for the best air purifier for mold, there are also several other key features that you need to keep in mind.
Coverage area
The coverage area, as you might assume, is the amount of area that your purifier will be able to clean the air for without being overloaded. If you are looking to save a bit of money, then it makes sense to pay close attention to the area size for the unit you are interested in, as the higher the coverage area, the more expensive it will be.
If, however, the cost is not an issue, then it will usually make sense to get an air purifier that will cover more area than you need. That way, you will be guaranteed that the purifier you choose will be able to handle your space without any issue.
Filtration system
As we stated above, an air purifier is only as good as its filter. That is why you need to be sure that the filter you select is a certified HEPA filter. There are also several different levels of filtration, from filters that only remove dust to those that remove even the smallest air pollutants. Since you are trying to catch mold spores, which are very small, you need to make sure that your filters are up to the task and only use those filters that are designed to remove even the smallest particles.
UV lamp
Aside from the filtration system, a UV light is another guaranteed way to make sure that your purifier is cleaning your air efficiently. These lights are also used sometimes as water purifiers because they are so effective at removing bacteria and mold.
The way that they work is quite simple. Once the airborne particles are sucked into the purifier, the light will shine on them as the filter traps them. This bright UV light neutralizes and kills most, if not all, bacteria, allergens, and mold spores that come into contact with it.
Particles removal
Every air purifier will tell you the different sizes of particles or percentages of the particles that are being removed from the air. Mold particles are relatively small, so you want to make sure that you get one that will have a high removal percentage, and also get all of the smallest particles out of the air.
Air quality indicator
The worst thing that could do as you are using an air purifier is to assume that it is working correctly all of the time, especially in a moldy situation. That is why you should look for a model that has an air quality indicator. This indicator will tell if your air needs more or less intensive filtration, and won’t waste the energy for nothing, working on the highest mode, or won’t underperform when the mold is around.
Filter change indicator
Another indicator that is essential for an air purifier is a filter change indicator. This will alert you to when the filter needs to be changed or cleaned out. Since some of the filters last for a long time (over a year), it is easy to have the idea of cleaning it slip your mind. This indicator will let you know when a change is necessary.
Noise level
While it would be ideal to be able to tuck your air purifier away in the corner of your home where it won’t be seen or heard, this is most likely impossible. The next best thing you can do is make sure that you get one with a relatively quiet fan. That way, you will barely be able to tell that it is running at all, which will make your home a much more peaceful place.
Speeds
Obviously, by getting an air purifier that runs at different speeds, you will be able to get up and running at faster speeds if necessary. For instance, if you have a big-time mold issue, a faster speed will allow you to tackle the issue head-on, instead of waiting for a slow purifier to get to work.
On the other hand, though, the faster your purifier is running, the louder it is going to be. If you intend to use your purifier near you, you might want to look for one that allows you to run it on a slower speed for when you are present, but then a faster speed when you leave. That way, you won’t need to deal with any unnecessary noise.
Power consumption
Let’s face it; if you need an air purifier to remove mold, you need it to be running pretty much constantly. This does not, however, mean that it needs to be an energy guzzler. Make sure that when you select your model, you pick one that has an Energy Star rating, so that it will run as economically as possible.
Warranty
If you are trying to remove mold or even prevent it from invading your home, your purifier is going to have to work extremely hard. With this in mind, it only makes sense to select one that has a good warranty. That way, you will be covered in the event of any of the parts failing you. Otherwise, you might be on the hook for a costly repair to get your purifier up and running again.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Hopefully, now you feel more prepared to go out and get the best air purifier for mold that you can get your hands on. Just make sure that you find one that uses a genuine HEPA filter, can handle the space you intend to use it in, isn’t too loud, and comes with a good warranty. As long as you find the right unit for your needs, that mold will be as good as gone! Good luck!
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