Do Air Purifiers Work for Mold?

Indoor air is up to 5 times dirtier than outdoor air because it is recycled throughout the home over and over again.

Healthy adults and children are usually able to tolerate impurities in indoor air, but for individuals with a respiratory issue, unclean air can elevate their condition and make daily life much harder.

Smoke and air pollution can also lead to headaches and migraines in otherwise healthy people.

What is an Air Purifier?

An air purifier is a device that cleans the air, ridding it of dust, pet dander, smoke, allergens, mold, and cooking odors. Most are purchased as stand-alone models, although there are models that can be permanently installed in your home.

Air filters have at least one filter that can be changed or cleaned. Filters are made of fiberglass, mesh, or paper. A fan pulls air through the purifier, past the filter and out the other side. You may need to replace this filter every few months, but at least once a year.

Other models use ion technology to attract free-floating particles with negative energy. They do not use filters, but they are more expensive on the whole. Just make sure to choose an ionic air purifier that does not emit ozone as a byproduct.

Air purifiers do work, but you have to use a healthy dose of realism. No product is going to be 100% effective. A good air purifier can be expected to remove some of the odors and allergens in your home, but none of them are capable of removing all of the harmful or stinky particles.

When you are shopping for an air purifier, remember that they are tested in a laboratory environment, so the effectiveness ratings are based on those controlled circumstances, not real homes.

Benefits of Air Purifiers

There are several advantages of adding an air purifier to your home:

Removes a wide range of unwanted particles from your home

These particles include dust, pollen, and smoke - plus countless others. Basically, an air purifier will capture anything that is not gaseous. For that purpose, you would need a carbon-based air purifier.

Refresh the air without chemicals

Candles, sprays, and plug-in air fresheners are full of chemicals, so even though the air may smell better, you are still filling your lungs with undesirable particles. An air purifier freshens the air by removing particles but does not add anything to the air.

Reduce the risk and frequency of sickness

This is especially true for asthma sufferers. Having an air purifier is even believed to lengthen life expectancy for residents by reducing stress on the body from constant illness. Air purifiers are an excellent way to prevent common colds, flu and more that occur during the colder months when we tend to keep windows and doors closed.

Less pet dander

Pet dander and human skin cells float around in the air and settle on all surfaces in your home, including floors, furniture, and even kitchen countertops. An air purifier can help you combat this.

Neutralizes odors

If you have odors in your home from cooking, pets, hobbies - virtually any odors - can be reduced by an air filter. An air purifier used in conjunction with air freshening agents can remove evidence of odors in your home very successfully.

Improves quality of sleep

Because air purifiers reduce allergens and toxins, homeowners are better able to get a good night’s sleep when not plagued by headaches, coughing, and stuffy nose. Less pollutants in the air also mean that there is more pure oxygen in the air, which is necessary for sound sleep and cell regeneration.

Captures harmful particles

Manmade chemicals (like those produced by candles and air fresheners) can be purposefully eliminated from your home, but there are some things that you can’t avoid. The soil around and below your home emits radon as uranium and other natural elements break down.

Homes that still contain asbestos also pose a risk to inhabitants. Air purifiers can help remove any remnants of asbestos.

Prevents mold buildup

Mold spores are found literally everywhere, both outdoors and inside. You can reduce the risk of mold growth by keeping humidity down within your home. Adding an air purifier to your home can reduce the amount of mold spores in your home to begin with, so even if the conditions are prime for mold, you will have less risk of it spreading but mold remediation will be necessary if mold growth has spread in the home.

Do You Need an Air Purifier?

This question is a personal one, and it can only be answered after you have considered factors like cost and benefits.

Air purifiers for your home

An air purifier system is required for your entire home to be protected. You will need to buy multiple air purifiers and place them throughout your home, but they won’t necessarily be connected in any way.

The costs for several air purifiers and replacement filters can add up quickly, but the health benefits may be worth it to your family.

Air purifiers for a limited area

If you want to dehumidify one area of your home, like a basement, you won’t need an air purifier that is quite as large or expensive. And one - of adequate size - may do the trick.

However, it may not be as effective to have a single air purifier in one room, while neighboring rooms do not utilize one. This may put unnecessary stress on small unit.

Study the coverage size of the units you are considering to make sure it will be able to handle the space.

Air purifiers are available in all price ranges. In addition to the cost of the appliance, you will need to consider the cost of replacement filters. Running it non-stop may also make your energy bill go up slightly.

While there is not a great deal of medical research that proves air purifiers work, there are plenty of people who swear by them. If someone in your home is affected by allergies, asthma, or any other respiratory condition, adding air purifiers to your home can help alleviate some of their symptoms, which you will definitely find worthwhile.