Can Air Purifiers Remove Household Mould Spores?

Mould is a common nuisance in many homes and properties. In the past few decades, people have been using air purifiers to get rid of mould allergens. But are all air purifiers efficient at removing mould from the air, or can air purifiers get rid of mould in a home? Find out below:

What Are Mould Spores?

Mould is an essential part of nature and can be found almost everywhere. Mould spores are airborne microscopic particles that act as the “seeds” which mould needs to spread. While mould spores are also present in homes, the visible mould grows only when it has the right conditions. It requires a source of food (such as walls), moisture, and warm temperatures. Unfortunately, most homes meet those requirements, causing the potential for health risks.

How Does Mould Affect Our Health?

Some people are more sensitive to mould exposure than others. The most affected individuals are those who are allergic to mould or have asthma. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to mould include sneezing; itchy eyes, nose, and throat; watery eyes; redness of the eyes; runny nose, coughs, and skin rashes. Even if you’re not allergic to mould, long-term exposure may cause several problems, such as irritant reactions (headache, skin irritation, eye irritation, and coughs). It would help if you minimized the mould in your home to avoid such health hazards.

What Do Air Purifiers Do?

There are several air purifiers, but those that are the most effective at removing mould spores from indoor air are high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifiers. HEPA filters capture 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles, including dust and other allergens, and an even higher percentage of larger particles. Since mould spores are usually about 1-20 microns, the HEPA filter is perfect for extracting mould spores from the air. However, you should not use air purifiers to treat the underlying mould problem.

What Air Purifiers Don’t Do

Although HEPA air purifiers can efficiently filter mould spores out of the air, you need to remove the mould first if you have a mould problem in your home. They will release mould spores but can’t remove the mould growth, which puts the mould spores in the air. It’s best to call a mould restoration company to get rid of a mould problem. These companies use specialized equipment and techniques to detect and remove mould growth and dry and restore affected surfaces.

The Bottom Line

If you’re allergic or sensitive to mould spores, air purifiers can be a great help. They can filter out mould spores and other allergens from the air. Also, air purifiers can help prevent mould growth by stopping mould spores from spreading. However, they won’t kill the mould that’s already growing on surfaces. Remove the mould and fix the moisture problem to get rid of the mould infestation.

Contact PuroClean of North Simcoe and Muskoka For Professional Mould Removal Services

It is not recommended that you treat large outbreaks of mould by yourself. Call PuroClean of North Simcoe and Muskoka at (705) 710-0606 to remediate the issue and avoid exposing yourself to detrimental health issues associated with mould.