The best air purifiers for mold, selected by experts

As laid out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) molds can be found almost anywhere and can grow on virtually any substance where moisture is present. That means materials like wood, paper, carpet, drywall, and even foods — all of which you’ll find in the average dwelling, including yours. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposure are respiratory-related, like asthma or allergic reactions. In other words, indoor air quality has a huge impact on your health and well-being, despite the fact that most of us spend a majority of our time indoors, locked away from fresh, clean air. Having one of the best air purifiers for mold can help, but here’s why.

Proper ventilation and exhaust is the key to remediating and preventing mold, particularly when it comes to dehumidifying an area. But while mold is a concern, there are many other harmful particles or pollutants that make it indoors from mycotoxins to pollen, viruses, and bacteria. Do air purifiers work? The short answer is yes. In fact, one of the more effective ways to remove a lot of these pollutants is with an air purifier, or more specifically, a HEPA-rated air purifier. Virtually all air purifiers offer coverage for a pre-determined space, anywhere from as small as 100 square feet to over 1,500 square feet — it depends on the model.

To start, let’s take a closer look at some of the best air purifiers for mold on the market. Then, we’ll explore how they work and how you can find the best one for your family and home.

The Best Air Purifiers for Mold

1. Best overall: Dyson Purifier BP04 Big + Quiet Air Purifier
2. Best for single family homes: Clorox Smart True HEPA Purifier
3. Best smart features: TruSens Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier
4. Best design: Coway Airmega IconS True HEPA Air Purifier
5. Best affordable: Germ Guardian AC4825 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier

How to Choose an Air Purifier for Mold

Here are some quick steps to help you choose the right air purifier for mold in your home:

1. Consider the coverage area. Choose a purifier that offers coverage for the room, living area, or space where you spend most of your time.
2. Don’t just consider the price, also look into the filter replacements and other parts, and factor that into the total cost.
3. Do you want smart or remote access features, like the ability to control the air purifier from your smartphone?
4. Would you prefer a multi-functional unit with a built-in fan and dehumidification?
5. How noisy is the unit and are there decibel concerns for your family? For instance, do you have a toddler or newborn that needs quiet time during the day?

Another thing to note is that not all air purifiers on the market are created equal. They don’t all offer true high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration, so that’s definitely something you should watch out for while you’re shopping. If you’re getting an air purifier to remove mold and contaminants, HEPA will effectively remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, which does include mold spores.

How We Chose These Air Purifiers for Mold

While wearable air purifiers are a thing, and quite interesting we might add, they’re not designed to provide extended coverage for large areas. For that, you need a True HEPA air purifier.

Here are several factors we considered when choosing air purifiers for mold remediation:

• Clear Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
• Coverage Area
• Noise Levels (db)
• Extra Features
• Maintenance

Why Trust Us?

With years in the smart home technology space, writing and researching a variety of devices, our team knows how to spot a reliable product.

Best overall: Dyson Purifier BP04 Big + Quiet Air Purifier

Right off the bat, you’re either going to love the design of this Dyson air purifier or you’re going to hate it, but that’s not why it’s highly recommended. This unit was built for heavy-duty coverage and will clean your home thanks to True HEPA H13 grade filtration. It can detect and remove formaldehyde, for example, which is a process that a lot of air purifiers do not offer. The unique breeze mode simulates the natural movement of air, indoors, creating pleasant airflow. You can also control the unit using the include remote, or through the MyDyson mobile app — it will also monitor air quality and tell you how concerning it is.

The reason Dyson’s purifier is on the list is because it’s designed to be automated. Once you set it up and let it run, it will handle most of the coverage for you. Speaking of coverage, no estimated coverage range has been given, but the fan can project air up to 32 feet away which is good for larger spaces. It uses a two-stage filtration system with activated carbon and True HEPA. Maintenance costs are reasonable, though the unit itself is expensive. Once it arrives, don’t forget to refer to our guide on getting the most out of your new air purifier.

Best for single family homes: Clorox Smart True HEPA Purifier

Okay, so, with the Clorox air purifier you’re definitely prioritizing usability and functionality, as the design is pretty bland. But that’s okay, especially since it’s an affordable unit that offers an incredible range. It can cover spaces from 320 square feet up to 1,500 square feet making it one of the most powerful units on the list. That also makes it ideal for large rooms or open spaces.

Like most purifiers, it utilizes 3 stage filtration with a pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and a True HEPA filter. It gives accurate air quality feedback which you can see on the built-in and color-coded display, or check remotely from the Clorox app. It does work with Alexa too, so you can use voice commands or check in from your Echo devices. It’s not too loud, but no noise estimates have been given.

Best smart features: TruSens Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier

This TruSens air purifier has pretty much everything you’d ever need, from Alexa and mobile app functionality to UV sanitation, multi-stage filtration, and a separate real-time air quality monitor. That’s precisely why we awarded it the “best smart features” title. The real draw here is the coverage, with effective support from 750 square feet up to 1,425 square feet. It can handle large spaces, including single family homes, living areas, large apartments, and beyond.

It employs a washable pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and True HEPA, with a UV-C light for added measure. Timer settings allow you to auto-run the unit for 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours at a time, with several fan speeds, including a whisper quiet mode to keep the noise to a minimum. Although, no noise ratings or estimates have been provided so keep that in mind.

Best design: Coway Airmega IconS True HEPA Air Purifier

If you care about form and function this Coway air purifier is the way to go. It’s as beautiful as it is effective and it won’t cramp your style, even sitting in the middle of your living or dining room. It offers multi-stage filtration, with a washable pre-filter, activated carbon, and green True HEPA filter. Plus, a real-time indoor air quality monitor works 24/7 to tell you how well the purification process is going. You’ll know right away if the air is a concern.

Smart features are also available with Alexa smart assistant support, so you can control the unit using simple voice commands, as well as mobile app compatibility with comprehensive and remote-access controls. In “smart mode” the Coway Airmega will automatically adapt to the surroundings adjusting the fan speed and filtration to match the room or area. The top plate of the Airmega functions as a Qi wireless charger, so you can set your phone, tablet, or wireless-charging-enabled devices on top for a quick power boost.

Best affordable: Germ Guardian AC4825 3-in-1 True HEPA Air Purifier

While the jury is out on UV effectiveness when it comes to filtration, this versatile air purifier does include True HEPA and activated carbon filtration, as well. It stands 22-inches tall, and has a sleek, slender design that lends itself to its portability. You can easily move it from room to room depending on where you want coverage. Moreover, it offers coverage for 153 square feet up to 740 square feet total. But here’s the best part, and why it made it onto our list, the maintenance is just as accessible as the unit. You won’t be paying an arm and a leg for filter replacements, or to keep this thing going for an extended time.

It’s a great option for medium to large rooms like bedrooms, living areas, dorm rooms, and apartments.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.