Mold, the disgusting microscopic fungi that invades your home, exposes you and your family to severe health risks. Although mold comprises the "blue" of bleu cheese, it is neither tasty nor inviting when it's invading your home. Now more than ever, those coping with allergies and asthma sufferers (and even those who aren't allergic to mold) are looking for a solution to their mold troubles. Which brings us to a very common question, do air purifiers eliminate mold? Inside the home, molds like Alternaria, Aspergillus Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium and Stachybotrys grow frequently in places that are warm, damp, and dark. However, mold itself does not trigger allergic or asthmatic reactions. Instead, the microscopic mold spores (seeds) floating through the air cause coughing, wheezing, stuffy and runny noses in those who are allergic. These awful mold spores make indoor and outdoor air quality unbearable for some. As tiny mold spores float in the air and evade the protective mechanisms of your respiratory system, you'll find comfort in the fact that there are effective ways to reduce and eliminate mold in your home.

Most air purifiers combat the multiplying presence of mold using a very powerful weapon: the HEPA air filter. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters excel at trapping microscopic particles. True or absolute HEPA filters must meet strict standards of efficiency, capturing a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns. As mold spores range between one and five microns in size, HEPA filters are certified and proven to remove all airborne mold spores. Thus, air purifiers effectively eliminate mold. Ensure that your air purifier contains a HEPA filter by looking on the package. Each HEPA filter is marked accordingly and represents the strict guidelines for which HEPA certification requires. HEPA filters eliminate mold spores by filtering the airborne spores from the air and trapping them within the HEPA filter. To effectively filter mold spores, place an air purifier in places where mold is frequently found: basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and rooms with upholstered furniture.

Replace your HEPA filter frequently, as advised on the packaging, to ensure that your air purifier will continue to provide air free and clear of mold spores. Austin Air HealthMate air purifier include HEPA filters which consistently ranked as #1 in the world. Also included in the Austin Air Healthmate air purifiers is thick, activated carbon filter which means the combination filter not only eliminates airborne contaminants like pollen, mold spores, and pet dander, but also odors, gases, and smoke. This innovative combination provides fresher, cleaner air for you and your family. For the best filtration of mold spores, an IQAir HealthPro Plus air purifier provides better filtration of smaller particles than any air purifier available today. They HyperHEPA filter traps 99.95% of all particles, 0.003 microns or larger. That's nearly 100x smaller than particles than what a traditional HEPA filter can capture. While air purifiers eliminate mold spores, that don't tackle any underlying problem of mold growth.

Though mold spores freely float about nearly everywhere you go, actively growing colonies of mold will not only dramatically increase the mold spore count found in the air but they can also produce highly toxic byproducts called mycotoxins. air vent cleaning diyYou don't have to have allergies or asthma to suffer severe side effects from exposure to mycotoxins.car air conditioner cleaning foam To ensure that your home remains mold-free, use hygrometers and humidity gauges to monitor and manage the humidity levels in your home. air purifier and freshenerMold loves humidity and thrives in areas that are damp and dark. After testing your home's humidity levels, a dehumidifier to lower the humidity and keep it in a range that is inhospitable to mold growth, 40-50%.

Place HEPA air purifiers in problem areas to remove airborne particles, and clean way any mold that you find. Air purifiers offer the perfect solution to filter the majority of mold spores found in indoor air, and while it's a continual task, keeping the number of mold spores in your home low is key in controlling allergic reactions to them. So, do air purifiers eliminate mold? Active mold growth, no. And as a final caveat. Mold needs a cellulose base to feed. This means that cheaper quality air purifiers, could actually become a breeding ground for mold, particularly if the humidity levels are high enough for active growth. Because inexpensive air purifier filters are often made of paper - cellulose. When choosing an air purifier, don't skimp on quality. You want a sealed system and a certified HEPA filter made from warm rolled glass fibers (fiberglass) or a synthetic material. To see some of the best solutions for removing mold spores, visit our Top Five Allergy Air Purifiers page.

For more in-depth information about mold, cleaning/preventing mold, the health effects of mold, or air filtration, visit any one of these resources. ✔ All About Mold ✔ Common Types of Household Mold ✔ HEPA Air Purifier Buying Guide ✔ Dehumidifier Buying Guide ✔ Winter Mold Allergies ✔ Mold Allergy & Food SensitivityOur expert research team has found that many quality air purifiers are effective at removing airborne mold from an indoor environment. In addition to meeting our standard ratings criteria, we recommend the following air purifiers for mold as they feature Silver Ion technology that inhibits the growth of collected mold spores on the filter. Mold issues are a common problem, and one of the most popular concerns customers bring to our product experts. While most people are familiar with seasonal allergy problems, many do not realize how mold in their homes or offices can be contributing to their asthma problems, allergy symptoms, and poor health.

The questions below explore mold issues and solutions, including the role of air purifiers. Mold is a real issue that can cause health problems. The right air purifier can help. We will review which air purifier units from Alen, BlueAir, Austin Air, and AllerAir best address mold problems. Many people suspect that mold in their homes may be causing their health problems but are unsure if mold air purifiers will help. Others notice the moldy or musty smell in their homes but don't believe it causes health problems; they just want their indoor air to smell fresher and to have a clean home. What is the truth about mold? Is it a problem or a part of nature that we have to accept? If it is a problem, how serious of a problem is it, and is there anything to be done about it? Yes, mold is an aspect of nature and plays an important part in the decay of leaves and trees. So mold is good - outdoors! Molds inside your home or workplace are not good. Airborne mold spores inside your home really become a problem when they land on wet surfaces.

In a damp environment, mold spores rapidly reproduce; this causes humans discomfort and even illness. Mold particles are small enough to pass through the cilia in your sinuses and too small to be easily exhaled, so they can become lodged in your lung tissue. Larger particles, such as dust, are usually caught by the cilia before they enter the lungs. Some molds, called mycotoxins, are products of mold metabolism and potentially toxic. Allergic reactions to molds are generally in the form of runny noses, sneezing, red eyes, rashes, and symptoms commonly associated with cold or hay fever. The onset of symptoms is most often instant but sometimes may be delayed for hours. Asthmatic people may also have allergic reactions to mold. Infants, children, and the elderly can be more greatly affected by mold inhalation than healthy adults. Most mold spores range from 3-100 microns in size, but some can be as small as 1 micron. When looking at air purifiers to combat mold, it is important to invest in one that removes at least 3-micron size particulates or smaller.

HEPA air purifiers are a terrific solution to remove mold spores from indoor air. While you cannot rid your home entirely of mold, you can substantially reduce it. If your house is older, there is a greater potential for mold problems. Newer, tightly constructed homes that do not allow proper airflow can also be problematic. Office buildings are also often rife with mold. Smaller, visible areas of mold should be cleaned up with household cleaners and the areas dried. However, the mold is often not visible because it is in hidden places. The mold may reside on a surface but when the surface is disrupted, the spores become airborne and begin to cause problems for people. The spores generally settle down in time but whenever they are disrupted they take to the airflow again. That's where a continuously running or mold air purifiers can be of great assistance in getting a clean indoors. Mold air purifiers with HEPA filters are generally most effective at removing the airborne spores.