Do Air Purifiers Remove Mould Spores?

CONTENTS

• What is an air purifier?
• What is the difference between an air purifier and a dehumidifier?
• Do air purifiers help with damp and mould spores?
• How to prevent mould
• How to deal with mould in your home
• Get in touch

Mould spores are everywhere which is why mould is difficult to remove when it grows. However, airborne spores will not settle and grow in a place with little moisture and humidity. Although you cannot eliminate them from indoor environments, an air purifier can prevent mould from growing.

Here at ICE Cleaning, our rapid and effective mould remediation services can thoroughly remove mould from your home. Our Dewpoint-accredited technicians conduct damp surveys and will identify the root cause of any mould to help stop its return in the future.

Read on to learn more about air purifiers and how they can prevent mould growth.

What is an air purifier?

An air purifier is a device that sifts through dirty air particles, purifying them before releasing them back into the environment. It filters out fine particles like pollen, smoke, viruses, and bacteria.

Most purifiers use a filtration device that captures the unwanted particles and may act as a heater or fan. The three types of air purifiers are:

HEPA Air Purifiers

These devices offer the highest efficiency with purification, collecting various contaminants like pollen, mould spores, pet dander, and dust. HEPA devices use filters which require frequent replacement to maintain their efficiency.

Ionisers

A cheaper option than the HEPA device, this device does not purify the air but it adds static charge to the airborne spores in the room and makes them stick to the nearest surface. You will need to be proactive with cleaning to increase the efficiency of this type of device.

Air steriliser

This alternative may be the right choice if you seek to remove fine particles like soot and smoke. It is a silent device that does not require filter replacements but cannot tackle larger, visible particles.

What is the difference between an air purifier and a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are devices that remove moisture and lower humidity levels. Compared to the air purifier, these devices do not purify mould spores but can adjust a room's environment to prevent mould.

Depending on the room environment, you may require a specific type of dehumidifier. If you have both a dehumidifier and an air purifier, your chances of mould growing on your property are significantly lowered.

If you have a property with poor insulation or considerable condensation build-up on windows, the devices will help if used together.

Do air purifiers help with damp and mould spores?

Damp is one of the common contributors to mould growth, making itself known through a build-up of condensation on windows or stains in the walls and ceiling.

However, an air purifier cannot remediate damp caused by high moisture levels. A dehumidifier is more suited to resolving these risk factors.

Dehumidifiers do not capture mould spores like an air purifier can. This device sifts the mould particles into a filter, thoroughly decontaminating them. This stops the spores from landing in vulnerable areas and growing into a mould.

If you already have mould in your home, a dehumidifier or air purifier cannot remediate or kill the mould. If you want to prevent the spread of mould in your home, these devices can help, but they will not remove the mould. That will require specialist cleaning from a mould removal company.

How to prevent mould

Mould only starts to grow when the environment is hospitable for it and provides a source of dead organic materials. Unfortunately, everyday actions that we may not see as harmful can contribute to mould growth — therefore, you should take some extra steps to prevent mould:

• Wipe down condensation on windows
• Open windows often to ventilate your home
• Maintain a good level of cleanliness on your property
• Keep any doors to the kitchen and bathroom shut when in use
• Clean your gutters often
• Conduct checks on your pipes
• Dry your clothes outside or on a heated clothes horse
• Clean extractor fans often
• Replace your insulation
• Replace your windows with double glazing
• Use a dehumidifier and air purifier

How to deal with mould in your home

If you spot mould in your home, you must not interact with it. Because the mould is now visible, the likelihood of the mould spreading further is significant. Aggravating it in any way by scrubbing may only encourage the release of more mould spores.

Instead, you should try to ventilate your home as much as possible to prevent it spreading and place a dehumidifier and air purifier in the affected area.

Together, these stop further spread but will not remove the mould. A professional mould removal company is required to do this as they have access to tools and solutions unavailable to the public.

Get in touch

We can quickly restore your home with our mould removal services. Our expert cleaners will effectively remove any trace of mould and offer professional advice to help prevent it from growing again.

If you want to learn more about our mould remediation services, you can talk to our friendly support team at 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. We are available day and night, 365 days a year, including bank holidays.