Cleaning and Disinfection Services
Burst Pipe Water Damage Restoration
Reconstruction Services
Vandalism Cleanup
Contents Restoration & Pack-Outs
Trauma & Biohazard Cleanup
ServiceMaster of Lancaster County in Lincoln, NE
ServiceMaster of Sarpy County in Bellevue, NE
ServiceMaster Restoration of Tri-Cities in
24/7/365 Emergency
Lincoln, NE (402) 434-2197
Omaha, NE (402) 293-1625
Grand Island, NE (308) 390-7150
Home » Can Air Purifiers Remove Mold Spores?
Can Air Purifiers Remove Mold Spores?
by ServiceMaster of Lancaster County
Mold spores are a natural presence in the air. While there's no way to completely remove them from your home, you can keep them under control with a few techniques. Keep in mind, excessive mold spores in the air can trigger allergies and breathing complications like asthma and even respiratory infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that the presence of mold was associated with respiratory and asthma symptoms.
Removing Mold Spores with an Air Purifier
Air purifiers do remove mold spores, and different companies will say theirs are the best for removing mold spores. So it's good to understand the difference between each one to make the best decision for removing mold spores in your home.
The air purifier you need will depend on the problem that needs to be solved, such as whether there's mold that needs to be remediated, someone living with allergies, asthma or compromised immune system. There are different air purifiers that specialize in each of these areas so you can easily make the decision on which is best for you.
How Air Purifiers Help with Mold
Remember mold must be remediated by a professional mold removal contractor to prevent it from spreading. Over-the-counter products won't be strong enough to remove it at the source, but advanced products used by the professionals will ensure it won't be coming back in the future. They can also reach tiny crevices where spores love to hang out. Any water damage or moisture source also needs to be repaired to prevent mold from growing in other areas.
You should also know an air purifier won't eliminate all mold spores from your home. Due to their numbers, it's simply impossible to remove them all as they just everywhere. But if you have a mold problem, there are too many in the air, which will cause the health issues.
If you have a large space or area that was affected by mold, it's recommended to invest in an industrial size purifier which is commonly used for flood damage. It can also reduce the concentration of spores during the first phases of the cleanup process, also removing that musty smell.
Running an air purifier, paired with other mold prevention methods, can provide long-term benefits for those with allergies and asthma. It can also be helpful for locations with high humidity, like the southern states. But regardless, it will never remove mold like a mold remediation service.
Best Air Purifiers to Remove Mold Spores
HEPA Filter. An air purifier that uses a HEPA filter is the most common units for removing mold spores from the air and are effective for removing 99.97% of particles with a size of .3 microns or higher. The smaller spores might seep through, however, the biggest problem with HEPA filters is that mold is still allowed to grow on the filter's surface. So the filter must be replaced regularly, or it will become another source for growing and spreading mold.
PECO. PECO stands for Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO), which uses a light-activated catalytic reaction to eliminate mold spores passing through the machine. Unlike HEPA filters that simply trap the spores, PECO will destroy them, preventing them from being re-released into the air.
PCO. PCO stands for Photocatalytic Oxidation, which is a precursor to PECO technology. It can still destroy mold spores like PECO, but this device is not as efficient and can even produce ozone, a hazardous gas, as a side effect.
UVGI. UVGI stands for Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation which is designed to kill the bacteria, mold spores and viruses in the air. But according to the EPA, the UVGI air purifier would need to generate a higher intensity of UV radiation than a normal home unit.
Ionizing Air Purifiers. Ionizing air purifiers aim to give an electric charge to airborne particles, which causes them to stick to nearby surfaces. While they claim they do remove mold, they also generate ozone.
Ozone generators. This product does exactly what it says, using high amounts of ozone to kill the airborne mold spores. Although this may cause health issues for those with sensitivities.
Your specific needs will determine which kind of air purifier is best for you as well as whether the unit is needed for short or long-term use.
In most situations, HEPA and PECO are considered the safest to use due to their ways of trapping the spores. On the other hand, HEPA filters are considered better for short-term use as the filters don't last long or they will harbor mold growth themselves. PECO air purifiers are best for the long-term due to their ability to both trap and eliminate mold.
Again, air purifiers are great for controlling mold spores in the air, such as in a humid environment, but they won't fully prevent mold from growing nor remove it. If you do have a mold concern, it's important to reach out to a mold removal contractor as they have specific products and products designed to remove the mold and spores at the source.
For those living in the South Central and Southeast Nebraska area, ServiceMaster is available to provide mold removal services for homes and buildings. Our technicians will first conduct an assessment to identify all areas affected by mold and develop an efficient remediation plan, followed by setting up a containment chamber to prevent the mold from spreading.
Then using advanced products and techniques, we will remove all parts of the mold, including any soiled porous materials like drywall, carpeting or furniture. Any hard-surfaced areas will be scrubbed and disinfected and replacement building materials will be installed. Finally, anti-microbials will be applied to prevent any issues with regrowth.
If any areas were also affected by water damage that may have been the source of the mold growth, we can also repair them with water damage restoration services.
Following the service, we will work with your insurance adjuster during the claims process.
To schedule your appointment to remove mold from your home in the Omaha, Lincoln or Tri-Cities area, give ServiceMaster a call using one of the phone numbers listed above or fill out a contact form.
Tags:mold remediationmold removal
How to Clean Up Tree Limbs After a Storm
How Quickly Will My Ceiling Dry from a Roof Leak?
How to Remove Musty Smells from Your Basement
How to Find a Leak in the Basement
How to Remove Musty Odors from Furniture
Direct Billing to Insurance
Free Disaster Estimates
Professional & Dedicated Staff
Complete Start to Finish Restoration
(Lincoln, NE)
(Omaha, NE)
(Grand Island, NE)
They were very attentive and responsive. Appreciate all their help!
Team lead Chris, was cordial and efficient. Got team in to remove wet flooring and clean mold and dry floor.
Nancy Mcmanis
Louisville, NE
quick to respond and explained what they were doing and why
ServiceMaster of Lancaster County
3130 S. 6th St. #108, Lincoln, NE 68502
ServiceMaster Restoration of Tri-Cities
603 Webb Rd, Ste E, Grand Island, NE 68803
ServiceMaster of Sarpy County
1116 Grenoble Dr, Bellevue, NE 68123
ServiceMaster by JLK
2111 S 67th St, Ste 300 Omaha, NE 68106
2022 © ServiceMaster of Lancaster County. All rights reserved. An independent business licensed to serve you by ServiceMaster.
Web Design By Proceed Innovative