How an Air Purifier for Mold Can Help

Discovering fuzzy white patches in your kitchen or black spots in your basement can be worrying. Ideally, your house doesn’t grow hair. What gives? Well, it sounds like you have a mold problem. Mold tends to grow in damp places with poor ventilation and can damage your home and even trigger allergic reactions. 

How exactly is mold able to grow (and rather quickly, we might add)? Mold produces spores that spread rapidly in your house. So, you should take any signs of mold seriously and address them in a timely fashion. Fortunately, there are methods you can follow to prevent mold growth in your house in the first place. 

How can you get rid of mold and stop it from returning in the future? Let’s dive in!

Wait, What is Mold, Exactly?

Mold is a type of fungus that occurs naturally in the environment. Outdoors, mold plays an important role by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen trees and leaves. Yes, mold can actually be a good thing.

In your house, mold can take on different appearances. It may appear in cotton-like, velvet, or powdery form and mostly produces a musty smell. While Mother Nature needs mold as part of the delicate ecosystem, mold growing indoors can be problematic, especially if you have a respiratory illness like asthma.

What Causes Mold?

Mold loves moisture and needs it to survive. This is why it typically grows in damp areas in your house, such as along the bathroom tubs, water pipes, on or near windows, inside your washing machine, or anywhere there might be water damage.

 

 

In the wild, mold uses wood, plants, and other organic materials as food sources. In your house, mold will feast on drywall, furniture, damp clothes, fibers, and organic residue in order to thrive and grow.

Mold reproduces by releasing tiny spores that float and spread through the air. When the spores land on damp surfaces, they begin to grow. 

How Does Mold Enter the House?

Mold can also enter your home from the outdoors and make itself comfortable. Mold spores from the outside come in through open doors, windows, and ventilation systems. Molds spores can even attach to objects, pets, or people and be carried indoors. Once these mold spores drop on damp surfaces, they grow and spread in your home. 

They aren’t immediately visible to your naked eye — so, you don’t notice them until you finally spot a fuzzy patch. While a little spot of mold is easy enough to clean up, once it gets out of control, it can become a severe health hazard.

What are the Health Impacts of Mold?

Mold can pose a severe health problem, especially if you have a weak immune system or respiratory issues. You may have mold sickness if you experience an allergic reaction without apparent cause and outside the typical allergy seasons.

Mold sickness can manifest itself through:

Breathing Problems

Mold produces allergens and other compounds which, when inhaled, irritate and inflame the respiratory system, worsening the conditions of those with lung complications and asthma. 

 

 

Allergies

The symptoms of mold allergies include:

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Itchy nose
• Itchy throat
• Sneezing

How to Eliminate Mold in Your House

You now know where mold comes from, how it spreads, and why it’s a danger to your health. What can you do about it?

1. Use an Air Purifier for Mold with a HEPA Filter

Using an air purifier is one of the most effective ways of preventing mold growth in your house. Air purifiers with HEPA filters, especially medical-grade HEPA 13 filters, can grab onto minute and invisible particles that float in the air, such as mold spores. According to information from ASHRAE, these filters are at least 99.97% efficient at removing particles as small as 0.3 microns in size. Preventing the spread of mold spores means preventing the spread of mold growth. 

Something else to look for in an air purifier is an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon is known for its purification properties and is also commonly used in water filtration. Finally, it should have a UV-C light. According to the EPA, UV lamps can kill certain indoor pollutants, like viruses, bacteria, and mold.

2. Control Moisture in Your House

Mold usually thrives in areas where there is high humidity and dampness. You can control the level of moisture in your house by:

• Using a dehumidifier: Check the moisture level in your house using a hygrometer. If the level of moisture passes the ideal level of humidity (50%), use a dehumidifier.
• Fixing any leaks in your house.
• Cleaning your home regularly.
• Avoiding using carpeting in areas that have a lot of moisture, like bathrooms and the laundry room.

3. Improve Air Circulation in Your Home

Poorly ventilated spaces get damp quickly, especially in colder weather. Allowing for unrestricted airflow in the house enables the removal of moistness. Use exhaust fans and open the windows to ensure optimal ventilation in your house, especially in areas like your bathroom, after you’ve showered or bathed.

Why Sans?

 

 

When it comes to keeping your breathing air clean, Sans stands up to the challenge, with three layers of protection. In the purification system, air first passes through the pre-filter, which focuses on stopping larger particles from spreading. Then, it moves onto the medical-grade HEPA 13 filter. Next, air will pass through Sans’ activated carbon filter. Finally, the UV-C light works its magic. 

Mold in your house can be alarming, especially if you suffer from a respiratory illness. Use a HEPA air purifier for mold, keep moisture at bay, and encourage healthy air flow to keep your abode mold-free.

 

Sans will be your strongest ally in keeping your home safe for you and your loved ones. Shop now and breathe easy.