The 3 Best Air Purifiers For Mold - Fall 2024

The NuWave OxyPure is the best air purifier for mold that we've tested. This unit's main selling point is its multi-stage filtration system that uses washable instead of disposable filters. This system comprises a stainless steel mesh pre-filter that can easily trap clumps of hair, two 'Bio-Guard' filters (for mold, viruses, and bacteria), an ozone filter, and a HEPA/pellet-type activated carbon filter. Except for the HEPA/activated carbon filter, which needs replacing every year, these filters have a 20-year lifespan. As expected for something this expensive, the NuWave is jam-packed with features. You can operate it from your smartphone using the NuWave Connect companion app, which also leverages its built-in particle counter to give you a brief overview of ambient air quality in your home. You can also use the app to set operating schedules or change the device's settings.

Actual air filtration performance is also very good; the OxyPure provides a very high clean air delivery rate, making it an efficient option for larger rooms. It will do a fantastic job trapping relatively large particles like mold spores. That said, there's no getting around the fact that this machine is very pricey. If you don't need any of the NuWave model's fancier features, you might be better off purchasing multiple instances of a cheaper model.

Check out the Winix 5500-2 if you're looking for an air purifier that can easily deal with mold spores without totally breaking the bank. This air purifier lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, unlike NuWave OxyPure, so you can't operate it from your smartphone while away from home. That said, while its clean air delivery rate falls slightly behind the NuWave, it isn't by much, and the Winix will have no trouble dealing with particles like mold spores. Like most household air purifiers, its HEPA filters aren't washable, but its pre-filter screen is.

This model has a built-in particle sensor, allowing it to change its fan speed setting depending on ambient air quality, so you won't have to babysit the device too much while it's running. It also has a particle ionizer; these systems impart a negative charge to airborne particles so that they clump together and fall out of the air, where you can then clean them up later. While this sounds helpful on paper, ionizers produce ozone, a respiratory irritant, as an operating byproduct. Since we didn't find this system to have much impact on overall unit performance, we recommend that you leave it off.

If you want a compact air purifier for dealing with mold, the Levoit Core 200S is worth a look. While it can't compete with a full-size unit like the Winix 5500-2 in terms of clean air delivery rate, it isn't that bad and will do quite well in a bedroom or office. While its main filter technically isn't HEPA-certified, its filtration performance is still sufficient to trap particles like mold spores. One advantage over the Winix model is its integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to run the device while you're away from home, set operating schedules, and set up reminders to replace its filters. Unfortunately, unlike the Winix, it lacks a built-in particle sensor that would allow it to automatically adjust its fan speed depending on real-time air quality.