How Air Purifiers Help You Eliminate Mold Spores at Home
The United States Environmental Protection Agency divulged that indoor air has a high level of certain pollutants. In fact, it is about five times more polluted than outdoor air. So the promise of what an air purifier can do for your home is a tempting one. An air purifier is a powerful gadget engineered to cleanse the air in your home and eliminate impurities, such as smoke, odors, dust, pet dander, and even mold.
Source: lookboxliving.com.sg
An air purifier is especially enticing if you are continually battling against mold at your home. Mold spores thrive on moisture and colonize by traveling through the air. Choosing the right air purifier for mold can help you remove it for a cleaner, healthier environment at home. This article gives you a walkthrough on the dangers of molds and how air purifiers can help you eliminate them.
Molds and Their Health Effects
Molds are a kind of fungi that comprise of small organisms and are present almost anywhere. When present in small amounts, mold spores are generally harmless. However, when they land on damp areas in the house, such as the bathroom and kitchen, they will start to grow at a fast rate. When they grow on surfaces, they may release spores into the air.
Source: gadgetreview.com
People could experience health issues if they are sensitive to mold and inhale a lot of spores. Some of the symptoms they may experience following mold exposure include:
- Stuffy nose
- Wheezing
- Itchy skin
- Red or itchy eyes
People with asthma and allergies may produce more severe reactions. Individuals with a compromised immune system or underlying lung condition are also more vulnerable to fungal infections.
How air Purifiers Help Remove Molds
Mold spores are inconspicuous and invisible to the naked eyes. So it is not very easy to tell if they are present in your home. While air purifiers may not have the capability to eliminate the source of mold, they can clean mold spores from the atmosphere in the house and help the occupants breathe cleaner air. Hence, homeowners should consider buying an air purifier for mold and place them at every critical corner of the house, especially around humid places.
Also Read: Shopping for an Air Conditioning Unit: 3 Things Every Homeowner Should Know
The Role of HEPA Filtration in Mold Removal
There are multiple types of air purifiers in the market; some release negative ions while others emit ozone to kill spores. The most effective type of air purifiers for mold removal are those with HEPA filters.
HEPA or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters capture various particles of different sizes within a multi-layered netting. The netting is typically created from ultra-fine fiberglass threads with various gaps’ size. The fiberglass threads are amazingly much thinner than the strands of human hair.
The filter is airtight and consists of a dense small fibers’ sheet that is pleated and secured in a frame made of plastic or metal. The fan of air purifiers with HEPA filter will draw air and capture the particulates in the filter. The capturing methods differ according to the sizes of particles, which include:
- Diffusion for ultra-fine particles
- Interception for medium-sized particles
- Impaction for particles bigger than fibersAir Purifiers
When choosing air purifiers with HEPA filtration system, be sure to select one with genuine HEPA filters. Never choose those that claim to be HEPA-like or HEPA-style.
Source: ichep2012.com.au
Final Takeaway
Mold spores travel through the air and can be harmful to your health when inhaled in large amounts. Choosing the right air purifiers, especially ones with a true HEPA filter, and installing them at each critical area of your home can help keep your indoor air clean and spore-free.
