By the Garden State Mold Pros inspection team
Air purifiers and UV lights are marketed heavily as mold solutions. Some of them are genuinely useful. None of them can remove mold growing on your drywall, joists or roof sheathing. Here is an honest look at each option.
HEPA Air Purifiers
A true HEPA filter captures at least 99.97 percent of particles 0.3 microns in size, and mold spores are typically 2 to 20 microns, so HEPA purifiers do catch them. A properly sized unit can lower airborne spore levels in a bedroom and help people with allergies. What it cannot do is reach mold growing behind a wall or under a floor, which keeps producing new spores.
- Choose a unit sized for the room (look at the CADR rating).
- Run it continuously and change filters on schedule.
- Place it where you spend the most time, like the bedroom.
UV-C Lights in HVAC Systems
UV-C lamps installed near the evaporator coil and drain pan can reduce microbial growth on those surfaces, which are constantly wet during cooling season. They are a reasonable add-on for systems with recurring coil growth. They do little for airborne spores passing by quickly and nothing for mold elsewhere in the house.
Ozone Generators: Not Recommended
Ozone machines are sometimes sold as mold killers. The EPA warns that ozone at levels high enough to affect mold also irritates the lungs, and that ozone does not effectively remove mold from materials. Ozone should never be used in occupied spaces.
Professional Air Scrubbers During Remediation
The HEPA air scrubbers we use during remediation are much larger than home purifiers and serve a different purpose: creating negative pressure and cleaning the air while contaminated materials are removed. After the job, they continue running until clearance. Learn more on our HVAC mold remediation page.
Bottom Line
Use HEPA purifiers and UV-C coil lights as helpers, not cures. If you smell mustiness or see growth, find and fix the source first. Our mold prevention tips cover the moisture side.
Next Steps
Air cleaners help, but they do not remove growth at the source. If mold is in the system itself, you need HVAC and duct mold remediation. To see what is actually in your air, start with air quality testing for mold, and read more in airborne mold and indoor air quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
This guide was written by the mold inspection and remediation team at Garden State Mold Pros, a Freehold, NJ company that has inspected and remediated homes across Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Mercer County since 2009. Our technicians are trained to the IICRC S520 and S500 standards. Need help with hvac mold remediation and inspection & testing? Call (732) 555-0193.
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