Q: Can Cooling Power’s air scrubbers remove mold from the air?
A: YES! Our HEPPA-filter air scrubbers can remove mold spores from the air, along with other germs, bacteria, viruses, fungal spores and other particles as small as 0.3 micron.
Not all air scrubbers are able to capture particles as small as mold spores. A HEPPA-filter is necessary to remove particles of this size. HEPPA-filter air scrubbers can greatly improve the indoor air quality of a building, along with the health and wellbeing of anyone who spends time in the environment.
How Does Mold Get in the Air?
“There is always some mold everywhere—in the air and on many surfaces,” writes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on their official website.
There are different types of mold and some are more dangerous to your health than others. Black mold, for instance, can be deadly. Other types of mold, like the fuzzy stuff you might find in your shower, are less frightful but still make some people sick.
Mold can enter the air through a variety of measures. Cleaning or scrubbing at mold sends millions of invisible mold spores out into the air. The presence of mold in and of itself makes it very likely mold spores are floating in the air. Mold spores can also begin to dominate indoor air if mold is growing in HVAC systems or air vents. Even after mold is removed from the premise, mold spores may still exist in the air.
How to Know if There’s Mold in the Air
Musty or moldy smells are a common sign of mold in the air. Building inspections or mold tests can be conducted to determine if there is mold in your building. The three main types of mold tests include air testing, surface testing, and bulk testing.
Mold tests can identify the species of mold, where it is growing, and how many spores are in the air (aka how bad the air quality really is). It’ll also tell you if mold is 100% removed from a location. As we said before, if there used to be mold it could still be lingering in the air if an air scrubber was never used to treat the space.
Health Effects of Breathing in Mold
Some people experience no side effects after mold exposure, while others are particularly sensitive to it. In some people mold exposure causes one or more of the following side effects:
-Throat irritation
-Stuffy nose
-Wheezing
-Coughing
-Irritation of the eyes
-Irritation of the skin
In 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified a link between indoor exposure to “mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children,” writes the CDC.
How to Prevent Mold from Coming Back
- Regularly rent and run an air scrubber or negative air machine
- Properly regulate humidity levels
- Take care of any leaks or water issues right away—moisture is the #1 ingredient needed to produce mold
- Ensure sufficient ventilation in areas with high moisture like showers, kitchens, steam rooms, etc.
Let Us Help You Remove Mold in South Florida
We offer a variety of high power air scrubbers and negative air machines for rent to clean up everything from mold spores to nasty smells. Learn more about our air scrubber rentals