2019 Best Air Purifiers for Mold Reviews & Ratings

Air purifiers contribute substantially to maintaining a healthy and fresh atmosphere in your home. They’re also great at limiting mold growth, which if left unchecked can result in serious health problems. When air purifiers remove mold spores from the air, you’ll minimize the incidence of allergy and asthma attacks in your household.

We’ve done the research and sifted through all the recommended products—and it all came down to the top air purifiers for mold listed below. Read on to learn more.

Top 7 Air Purifiers for Mold Comparison

Product	Features	Price
Top Pick	1. AeraMax 300 Removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including mold spores 600 square feet coverage area With a True HEPA filter and a carbon filter Four fan speeds Auto mode using AeraSmart sensor 3-year warranty	Check price on amazon
	2. Alen BreatheSmart FLEX Removes 99% of particles larger than 0.3 microns Special HEPA-Silver filter for removing molds and bacteria 700 square feet coverage area Four speed options Lifetime warranty	Check price on amazon
	3. LEVOIT LV-H132 Captures 99.97% of dust, mold spores, and other allergens 86 square feet coverage area Uses a pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter 3-speed fan for speed customization 2-year warranty	Check price on amazon
Budget Pick	4. GermGuardian AC4100 More than 99% particle removal efficiency Best for small rooms Features a HEPA filter, UV-C technology, and charcoal filters Three speed options 1-year warranty	Check price on amazon
	5. LEVOIT LV-PUR131 Eliminates up to 99.97% of mold spores, dust, and other pollutants in the air 322 square feet coverage area With a pre-filter, a True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter Three different fan speeds 2-year warranty	Check price on amazon
	6. Winix 5300-2 Removes up to 99.97% of airborne pollutants 360 square feet coverage area Uses a True HEPA filter, a carbon filter, and PlasmaWave technology Four fan speeds 1-year warranty	Check price on amazon
	7. GermGuardian AC5350B Captures 99.97% of dust and allergens 167 square feet coverage area Has a True HEPA filter, UV-C light, a pre-filter, and charcoal layer Five speed options 5-year warranty	Check price on amazon

Mold Air Purifiers Reviews

1. AeraMax 300

The AeraMax 300 may be a bit pricier than the other models on this list, but its True HEPA filter and PlasmaTRUE ionizing function is a guarantee against mold spores for areas up to 600 sq. ft. It also removes up to 99.97% of pollen, dust, germs, viruses, and cigarette smoke. Accordingly, asthma and allergy sufferers will likely find this model a good companion if they’re looking to purify the air in large spaces.

It uses its AeraSmart sensor to automatically adjust fan speed according to the detected pollution level. In addition, it boasts a special mode for the cold and flu season called Aera+ Mode, which uses an AeraSafe bacterial treatment to help neutralize the influenza virus (and other germs and allergens) more effectively.

Pros

Removes mold spores effectively
Can remove unpleasant odors, dust, allergens, and other particles
With separate filter change indicators for carbon and HEPA
Features an automatic mode
Wide coverage
Long warranty

Cons

Ionizer feature cannot be disabled
No timer
Expensive

Check price on amazon

2. Alen BreatheSmart FLEX

The BreatheSmart FLEX can be bought with a customized filter depending on your needs. For concerns regarding molds, Alen recommends the HEPA-silver filter, which had been treated with a special antibacterial coating that inhibits the growth of fungi. It removes 99% of particles, such as dust, pollen, and mold spores, greater than 0.3 microns.

You can also customize the front panel depending on your preferred color or design. This unit is also ideal for homes with small children as the control panel has a safety lock option. Unfortunately, all these features come at a steep price. The BreatheSmart FLEX’s replacement filters are rather costly, as well. That said, Alen backs up this air purifier with a lifetime warranty. This should at least quell some worries about whether the investment will be worth it in the end.

Pros

Removes mold spores, dust, germs, and odors using its HEPA-Silver filter
Customizable designer panel
Interchangeable HEPA filters
Control panel lock
Filter life indicator
With Power/Sleep mode
Lifetime warranty

Cons

No auto mode despite high price
Expensive long-term and upfront costs

Check price on amazon

3. LEVOIT LV-H132

The LV-H132 may be compact and made for small areas, but its integrated True HEPA filter can nevertheless remove mold spores, dust, pollen, dander, and other airborne contaminants. It uses activated carbon to fight smoke and odors, too.

The filter lifespan is short, so you’ll have to purchase replacements more frequently. It also doesn’t have a timer, but at its price point this missing feature isn’t surprising. Looking at the bright side, it has three speed options and an optional night light. As such, it’s a great option if you’re not too fussy about having extra functions and features on your True HEPA air purifier for mold.

Pros

Removes mold spores and other allergens from the air
Fights unpleasant odors, smoke, and other particles
Comes at an affordable price
Sports a nightlight function
Compact and modern design
Adjustable speed

Cons

Short filter lifespan
No timer
Small coverage area

Check price on amazon

4. GermGuardian AC4100

If the LEVOIT LV-H132 isn’t affordable enough for you, this GermGuardian sports the same simple features list but keeps the price low by opting to go for a HEPA-type (instead of a True HEPA) filter and cutting down on the warranty.

The three levels of cleaning provided by the AC4100 still makes it a viable weapon against mold spores. The HEPA filter captures up to 99% of airborne particles. The charcoal and PCO filter remove mold, odors, and smoke that it catches from the air. And lastly, its UV-C light helps eliminate airborne germs. Like the H-132, it’s made for small rooms and doesn’t have a timer, but it offers three different operating speeds and a filter replacement indicator.

Pros

Uses a HEPA-type filter to remove particle pollutants in the air, including mold spores
Neutralizes odors from smoke, pets, and cooking
Has a filter replacement indicator
Affordable
Compact profile
Lightweight and portable

Cons

Small coverage area
Not a True HEPA filter
Short warranty

Check price on amazon

5. LEVOIT LV-PUR131

LV-PUR131 delivers clean air, as evidenced by its 99.97% efficiency rate and the fact that it filters out fine particles as small as 0.3 microns. It also has an activated carbon filter for odors, but note that these filters have a short lifespan. This means you’re going to have to buy replacement filters relatively frequently to ensure that the air purifier is running optimally.

It’s best used in medium-sized spaces of up to 322 square feet. There are 3 fan speeds you can choose from, but you can also simply set it on Auto mode so that the air purifier will adjust the speed setting according to the level of indoor air pollution. In addition to monitoring air quality, it comes with a timer function which you can set from 1 to 12 hours. It’s also great for bedroom use since you can set it on Sleep mode, which produces minimal noise and turns off the LED display.

Pros

Removes mold spores effectively
Can remove unpleasant odors, dust, allergens, and other particles
Auto mode adjusts the speed setting according to indoor air pollution levels
Timer function can be set from 1 to 12 hours
Sleep mode for bedroom use
Optional LED display

Cons

Short filter lifespan
Costly to maintain

Check price on amazon

6. Winix 5300-2

This air purifier features a true HEPA filter that removes up to 99.97% of airborne pollutants, like dust and mold spores. A carbon filter and its ionizing PlasmaWave function completes the 3-stage cleaning process, which also removes cigarette smoke, odors, and organic chemicals as well. Additionally, it has a smart sensor that gauges air conditions and works with the auto mode to adjust fan speed in response to the level of airborne pollutants in the room. Note that this product is highly recommended for medium-sized rooms up to 360 sq. ft., especially medium-sized bedrooms since it has a dedicated sleep mode.

The high-performance filters, however, come at a rather high price. Moreover, you’ll have to be ready to shell out a bit more money for maintenance. Still, the Winix 5300-2 makes for a strong contender.

Pros

3-stage filtration ensures mold spore removal
Removes unpleasant odors, dust, allergens, and other particles
Features a useful Sleep mode
Filter replacement indicators
Sensors monitor air quality and controls the auto mode

Cons

Costly replacement filters
Short warranty

Check price on amazon

7. GermGuardian AC5350B

The GermGuardian AC5350B Elite 4-in-1 features a True HEPA filter to fight mold spores and other pollutants. It’s a reasonably-priced product comes with a charcoal filter for odors. Also, thanks to the UV-C light technology and the titanium dioxide, any bacteria, viruses, or harmful allergens can be handled more effectively.

As an affordable product, it’s not too surprising to see that this model covers only small spaces up to 167 sq. ft. Some users also expressed concern that it blows clean air towards the wall (directed towards the back of the unit). On the other hand, it has five speed settings, an 8-hour timer, and a long 5-year warranty.

Pros

Combats mold spores and odors
Fights smoke, dust, allergens, and other particles
Quiet operation
5 speed settings
Timer included
Long warranty
Affordable

Cons

Small coverage area
Purified airflow is directed towards the back of the unit

Check price on amazon

Buyer’s Guide:

Air Purifiers for Mold

How Mold Affects Your Health

With a high indoor humidity level comes the formation of mold, an unwanted household pollutant that can cause serious health issues if not dealt with promptly. People who suffer from allergies might find that one of the biggest allergy triggers are mold spores. If your place is home to an allergy sufferer, you should definitely consider getting a unit that specializes in mold spore removal. This will effectively eliminate mold spores lingering in the air, thus keeping you protected from unnecessary allergic episodes.

If an immunocompromised individual is exposed to mold spores, they’re prone to contracting systemic fungal infection. The sinuses, digestive tract, lungs, or skin can be the target of this infection. Again, one of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to ensure that these airborne spores are dealt with accordingly.

Another dangerous effect of mold spore exposure is that it can give way to increased hypersensitivity risks. People prone to developing hypersensitivity become more predisposed to a series of health issues, such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Mold excretes mycotoxins, which are the secondary metabolites of fungi. Exposure to high levels of these toxins could lead to neurological problems. To make matters worse, in some cases, high levels of mycotoxins can even cause death. While cases involving alarmingly-high mycotoxin levels are very rare, it still pays to be extra safe by actively fighting airborne mold spores.

What to Look For in a Mold Air Filtering System

Finding the perfect mold air purifier can be challenging because the market is filled with a wide variety of products, all of them having their own sets of pros and cons. If making a smart investment is important to you (as should be the case for any sensible shopper), go ahead and check out the following buyer’s guide. Here we lay out some useful guidelines to help you choose a mold air filtering system that will work best for you.

Filter Efficiency

For a mold air purifier to be as effective as possible, it must sport efficient filters. This means that it must remove as many harmful particles as possible—preferably over 99%. All the systems featured on this list have high efficiency rates, which makes them very effective at removing mold spores from the air.

Cleaning Levels or Speeds

It’s important for a mold air purifier to have several cleaning levels or speeds. This lets you customize its performance as you see fit and adjust the speed according to the quality of air inside the room. From this point of view, the more speed levels offered by a model, the better it is in terms of performance flexibility.

Area It Can Cover

Generally, air filtration systems for mold are used in basements or other large areas, so it is important to check the coverage area offered by the model you’re eyeing to make sure that it’s a good fit.

HEPA Filter

High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are the most effective filters at the moment. True HEPA filters are capable of removing at least 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air that passes through them.

Automatic Mode

An automatic mode comes in handy as it automatically adjusts filtration speed according to the level of air pollution in the room. We recommend that you look at this feature as it makes the entire experience more convenient and hassle-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes mold to appear indoors?

Mold growth is a direct result of high indoor humidity. As indoor moisture exceeds normal levels, mold grows and spores are released into the air you breathe. For allergy sufferers, this comes with severe repercussions as mold spores are among the most common allergy triggers. Also, mold spores are harmful to asthma sufferers because they compromise the quality and safety of indoor air.

Does mold actually contribute to poor indoor air quality?

Molds release airborne pollutants called mold spores, and these remain airborne unless they settle on surfaces or, worse, until you breathe them in. As mentioned in the buyer’s guide above, mold is associated with a number of health problems that can be avoided by using an effective air purifier.

Does HEPA filtration deliver good results in the removal of mold?

HEPA filtration actually delivers the best results when it comes to the removal of mold spores. Since HEPA filters remove more than 99.97% of indoor air pollutants that are as small as 0.3 microns or less, they can remove virtually all mold spores lingering in the air.

Final Thoughts

Minimizing the appearance of mold in your household depends largely on keeping humidity levels in check and neutralizing mold spores to limit mold growth. It’s important that you look for a True HEPA or at least a HEPA-type filter because these allergy-causing mold spores are really small.

If you’re and allergy or asthma sufferer looking for the best model against mold, we highly recommend the AeraMax 300 for its impressive coverage and dedicated mode against allergens and bacteria. But if you’re a frugal shopper looking to find the best deal, the GermGuardian AC4100 might be perfect for you.

Air Purifiers for Mold