Top 7 Best Air Purifiers for Basement Smell And Mold

Written By: Dr Fahad Yasin

To kill mold entirely and prevent it from growing in your home, you must keep the humidity level between 30% and 50%. If your humidity level is above 60%, it is better to use a dehumidifier instead of an air purifier.

But if you have mold and your humidity level is back to normal, you can use an air purifier to eliminate mold and mold odors which are also the primary basement smell source.

Here are brief summaries for each of the air purifiers recommended for basement smell and mold:

1

Best Overall

10.0
5/5

2

Runner-Up

9.8
4.8/5

3

Best Budget Option

9.6
4.6/5

4

Smart Air Purifier

9.5
4.5/5

5

Trusted Brand

9.5
4.5/5

6

Industrial Design

9.1
4.1/5

7

HyperHEPA filtration

8.6
4.1/5
Remember that air purifiers with filters only won’t help kill active mold that’s already current on surfaces. However, they are still a terrific method to prevent the spread of airborne mold particles.
But for complete elimination, air purifiers must also actively emit ions to fight them on surfaces.

Table Of Content

Top 7 Best Air Purifiers For Mold

Best for: Overall use

Coverage: 868 sq ft, 5 times hourly or 2,170 sq. ft. in 30 minutes. So it will work great even in large basements.

Key features: Captures 100% of airborne particles in size 0.3 microns and larger, 2 large

AirDoctor 5500 has 2 large carbon filters that will also eliminate mold smell. Additionally, it provides an air ionizer that emits ions and eliminates mold spores on surfaces.

As you may already notice, AirDoctor is not great for mold removal. 

AirDoctor energy consumption is 10-100 watts, and as it has an auto mode, it will automatically turn the necessary fan speed based on how dirty the air is. So it won’t run on the highest and will save you money.

Pros

  • Best air purifier for mold
  • Traps 0.003 micron small particles
  • Covers large areas
  • Smart features (e.g.auto mode)
  • 6-speed fans

Cons

  • No remote controls
  • Many filters to change

Runner-Up

Coverage: 435 sq ft, 5 times hourly

Key features: H13 HEPA filter which can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns, including mold spores., PRO-Cell Technology, UV-C light.

 

Air Health SKYE has 7 sensors that constantly monitor the air around it, and thanks to auto mode, fan speed is being switched to the necessary one. In addition, it consumes only 10 – 50 watts of energy, so it is an energy-efficient air purifier.

That’s not all; the SKYE air purifier is 3rd party tested and showed a 99.99% reduction in SARS-COV-2.

Pros

  • 7 sensors
  • Monitor air quality through your phone
  • Five-stage air filtration
  • AHAM Verified, CARB Certified
  • Low power consumption

Cons

  • No sleep mode
  • It doesn’t turn back on after a power failure

 Budget option

 Coverage: 336 sq ft, 5 times hourly

 Key features: H14 HEPA filter, UV light for mold removal, carbon filter.

 

Carbon filter for mold odors and smoke. And finally, UV light emits ions to trap mold spores on surfaces around the room.

Pros

  • Great quality touch control panel
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Accurate Smart Sensor

Cons

  • It can’t remove strong odors
  • Quite noisy at the highest speed

Best for: Smart use

Coverage: 520 sq ft, 5 times hourly

Key features: Three filter options will filter 99.9% of airborne particles in size as small as 0.1 microns and trap mold spores, specializes in odor removal, ionizer.

 

Pros

  • Smart Features include an auto mode, wifi, and more
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Elegant design
  • Energy-efficient fan

Cons

  • High initial cost

Trusted brand

Coverage: 624 sq ft, 5 times hourly

Key features: Double filtration, Max 2 filter, carbon filter.

 

But it is not as powerful, featuring a CADR rating of 328 CFM while AirDoctor has 560.

Coway AirMega 400 is equipped with 2 pre-filters; they trap larger particles. Behind pre-filters are Max 2 filters. Max 2 filter combines 2 filters in one; activated carbon filter with true-HEPA filter.

This combination traps mold spores and mold odors efficiently.

Pros

  • Simple but elegant design
  • Smart App Features
  • 5-year warranty
  • Very quiet operation

Cons

  • Not as powerful as expected

Best for: Industrial design, made in the USA and has a lifetime warranty

Coverage: 375 sq ft, 5 times hourly

Key features: Merv 8 Carbon Filter, H13 HEPA filter, UV-C light. It can eliminate mold spores, viruses, bacteria, pet dander, smoke, dust, odors, pollen, VOC, and more.

It also lacks features, no auto mode, night mode, or sensors. Nowadays, most air purifiers have such features.

Pros

  • Made in USA of solid-steel
  • Lifetime warranty on the frame
  • 3-Stage Air Purification

Cons

  • Expensive initial cost
  • Not many features
  • Heavy

Best for: HyperHEPA filtration

Coverage: 450 sq ft, 5 times hourly

Key features: Pre-filter, V5 Cell for odors, HyperHEPA filter which traps 99.5% of ultra-fine harmful particles as small as 0.003 microns.

IQAir doesn’t have an ionizer, so it only traps particles by sucking them through the filters so mold spores on surfaces won’t be caught.

It is also expensive and doesn’t have any smart features. That’s why it is only number 7 on our list.

Pros

  • 10-year warranty
  • High-quality materials
  • The odor filter is strong
  • HyperHEPA filtration system

Cons

  • Expensive unit and high-cost replacement filters
  • Bulky
  • No smart features

Buying Handbook On Air Purifiers For Basement Smell And Mold

In general, when choosing an air purifier for mold, it’s important to consider the size of your basement, your budget, and any specific features you might need.

This guide offers a comprehensive overview for individuals considering an air purifier for mold in their basement.

Here’s a summary of the major points:

Importance of Addressing the Mold Source:

  1. Air purifiers alone can’t control mold growth or adjust humidity levels.
  2. It’s crucial to identify and rectify the root cause of the mold problem before buying an air purifier.
  3. If unsure about the mold source, consulting experts is advised.

Features to Consider in an Air Purifier for Mold:

  1. Filtration System:
  • Combination of pre-filter, HEPA, or similar particle filters.
  • Carbon filters for odor elimination.
  • Ionizers may help, but watch out for ozone emissions.
  1. Coverage Area:
  • Appropriate for the size of your basement.
  • Consider the Air Changes per Hour (ACH) for effective cleaning.
  1. Mode of Operation:
  • Usability features such as timer, automatic modes, and smartphone applications.
  • Auto modes can help in saving energy.
  1. Maintenance:
  • Frequency of filter change.
  • Filter replacement costs and availability.

Usage Recommendations for Air Purifiers in Basements

These are just recommendations for better air purifier usage; you can ignore them.
  • Ensure proper airflow by not obstructing the purifier.
  • Position the purifier strategically, either close to the pollution source or in the middle of the room.
  • Keep the purifier running continuously for optimal performance.
  • Ensure the basement is sealed (doors and windows closed) to maximize the purifier’s efficiency.
  • Regularly check and replace filters for optimum performance.

Conclusion

It’s essential first to address the primary source of mold growth before considering any equipment. Once this is done, and if an air purifier is deemed necessary, select a device from reliable recommendations that have been tested for efficiency against mold and mold odors.
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