Molds are one of the most common problems in both residential and commercial settings. In fact, more than 50% of American households suffer from mold issues. If not addressed, a mold infestation can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, and even permanent lung damage in the worst cases. While it’s not the only solution, the best air scrubber for mold will offer a big help.
If we are to compare air purifiers and air scrubbers, the latter is made with tougher filtration stages. Air filters only remove airborne particles while air scrubbers can clean both airborne particles and those clinging to surfaces.
Take note that air scrubbers are either dry or wet, which differs in the element they use for filtration. Nevertheless, both works wonder in eliminating contaminants.
Due to its powerful cleaning abilities, air scrubbers were initially used to clean harmful gasses and contaminants. Also, the first air scrubber was used to remove carbon dioxide from enclosed spaces. This same technology is also used in submarines.
Although air scrubbers are initially used for industrial purposes, you can now purchase them for home use as well. It’s now made into compact versions to suit the budget and needs of most homeowners.
Below, we reviewed five of the most reliable air scrubbers you can find in the market. See which one fits your budget and cleaning needs.
| AIR SCRUBBER | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL HEPA Scrubber |  | Check Price |
 | Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 Air Scrubber | | Check Price |
 | XPOWER X-2580 HEPA Mini Air Scrubber | | Check Price |
 | ALORAIR Pro 970 Professional Air Scrubber |  | Check Price |
 | COSTWAY 24042-CYPE Industrial Air Scrubber |  | Check Price |
Best Air Scrubber For Mold – Our Top 5 Picks
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL HEPA Scrubber
Product Name: BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL HEPA Scrubber
Product Description: If you’re looking for the best air scrubber for mold, you’ll never go wrong with the BlueDri BD-AS-550-BL. This is a four-pack set that can be daisy-chained to create a powerful air cleaning system. Each of the BlueDri HEPA Air Scrubber can filter up to 0.3 microns, which is more than enough to capture mold spores. It has a maximum airflow of 500 CFM on a 1/3 HP motor. Overall, a single unit is powerful enough for average homes. But when daisy-chained, these four units can remove molds in a large commercial space. You can also purchase an optional carbon filter to add odor and smoke filtration. This complements the pre-filter and HEPA filter already installed into the scrubber. Aside from that, this BlueDri air scrubber has a rotomolded housing with ergonomic handles. It’s also designed to be stackable for up to 5 units, so you can run it in a daisy-chained setup without consuming too much space.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Summary
These scrubbers also received the Intertek safety certificate, which means it passed through intensive checks. Overall, these air scrubbers are ideal for residential and commercial use. It’s been proven effective for mold and sewage remediation, renovation cleanup, water damage restoration, and more. This is an air scrubber you can use for years and in various situations. The only downside here is that some don’t really need four units at once. But if you have a large property, the splurge is truly worth it. Don’t worry because these BlueDri air scrubbers are covered by a 1-year warranty for the engine and 5 years for the housing. It’s a decent guarantee, which also proves how tough these units are.
Pros
Decent warranty terms for the price Compatible with an optional carbon filter 1/3 HP is more than enough for most households Durable, roto-molded housing Stackable and daisy-chainable
Cons
Not everyone needs four air scrubbers at a time The price is a bit steep.
RUNNERS-UP
Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 Air Scrubber
If you’re only looking for a single unit that you can rely on for years, you should consider the Dri-Eaz HEPA 700 Air Scrubber. This is made for up to 7,000 cubic feet of space, which is already a champ for this compact and quiet unit.
Moreover, the Dri-Eaz Air Scrubber has a maximum airflow of 700 CFM and up to 6 air changes per hour. This guarantees that mold spores in your property will be removed.
Aside from that, this unit uses Command Hub technology that fine-tunes the airflow for optimal cleaning. It also uses a HEPA filter known for its stringent filtration that passed various tests.
This air scrubber can filter dust, spores, pollens, and other particulates. You can also purchase the optional carbon filter to eliminate fumes and odors inside your home.
Another thing I like about the Dri-Eaz scrubber is its quiet operation. You can also daisy-chain up to 8 units on its lowest speed if you need to remove molds in a large property. It also uses GFCI outlets to guarantee safety when using multiple units.
A big plus here is the unit’s injection-molded housing, which is covered by a lifetime warranty. That alone is a solid testament to the quality of this air scrubber.
Overall, this workhorse can clean a moldy basement in just a day. The only downside is that the unit is bulky and big, but that speaks a lot about the capacity of this air scrubber. Also, it has a very strong plastic smell out of the package, so make sure that you air it out first before use.
XPOWER X-2580 HEPA Mini Air Scrubber
If you want to save a few bucks without cutting back on quality, I recommend the XPOWER X-2580 HEPA Mini Air Scrubber. This runs on a ½ HP motor that packs up to 550 CFM of maximum airflow. Despite that, it only draws 2.8 amps under the highest setting.
Aside from that, this has a four-stage filtration system. It has two nylon mesh filters on the outermost part that traps 90% of all large contaminants. After that, there’s a carbon filter that will neutralize the musty odor of molds inside your property. Lastly, there’s a HEPA filter that will trap up to 0.3 microns, so no mold spores will be recirculated once it enters the scrubbers.
Moreover, the XPOWER X-2580 Air Scrubber has a five-speed control switch. You can easily toggle the filtration speed based on the size of the room and the extent of mold infestation.
This unit is also equipped with a filter change light indicator, so you’ll know once the HEPA filter is full of contaminants. It prevents the recirculation of trapped particulates inside your home.
In addition, this has an injection mold ABS housing designed to be stackable. It can also be combined with X-POWER air scrubbers for better mold removal.
For this price range and set of features, this X-POWER unit is already a steal. The replacement filters are also cheap, which makes maintenance costs manageable for most households.
The only niggle I have over this model is it gets pretty loud once you’re using the highest setting. Overall, this is understandable and something I can live with
ALORAIR Pro 970 Professional Air Scrubber
The ALORAIR Pro 970 isn’t your typical air scrubber. Aside from its top-notch filtration power, it’s also equipped with UV-C light technology that helps in neutralizing smoke, odor, and airborne pollutants. With that, you can enjoy mold-free indoor air.
Aside from that, this air scrubber has the proprietary PureAiro HEPA filter. This is aside from the two pre-filters already installed inside the unit.
Moreover, the ALORAIR Pro 970 air Scrubber has a maximum airflow of 750 CFM that you can adjust using the variable speed control. You can use this scrubber in three different speed options to suit the size of your home and the amount of mold spores present.
At the bottom, this air scrubber has an operator panel where you can find the hour meter, circuit breaker switch, variable speed control, auxiliary outlet, and a change HEPA filter indicator. Overall, it’s very intuitive and straightforward.
With this technology and filtration system, the ALORAIR Pro 970 can be used for mold remediation and air purification.
Another thing I like about this unit is its 10-year warranty for the housing and 1 year for all parts. For this price range, you simply can’t beat this guarantee.
However, you should note that this ALORAIR air scrubber can be very loud when used in high settings. Nevertheless, it’s just a small price to pay for its cleaning performance. This is also big and heavy, so it can be challenging to move around. Other than that, this air scrubber is truly for the money.
COSTWAY 24042-CYPE Industrial Air Scrubber
Lastly, I recommend the COSTWAY 24042-CYPE Air Scrubber. It has a working airflow of 150 to 500 CFM, which is more than enough to remove molds in 500 to 2,000 sq. ft. of area. You can use this in your home, office, construction site, and other places where molds tend to be a big problem.
Aside from that, this air scrubber can filter up to 0.3 microns or 99.97% of all airborne particles. It uses a two-stage filter system to ensure that no molds get recirculated in your home.
Moreover, this has a GFCI outlet that allows for daisy-chaining. It’s also designed with a variable speed control switch, so you can tweak the speed to match the size of your home.
This COSTWAY 24042 Air Scrubber has an overcurrent protector, so it shut down once it gets overloaded. It also has anti-skid rubber feet to ensure solid placement.
In addition, this has a PPT housing that provides solid protection for the filtration system. It doesn’t crack easily even if you drop it to the ground.
Overall, you should consider getting this air scrubber when your house has molds or if you’re remodeling, renovating, or dealing with water damage. It’s also powerful enough to clean the air of a small warehouse.
For this price, you’re already getting a lot of value. It packs excellent airflow and filtration power that will come in handy for years.
How to choose the best air scrubber for mold
If you’re new to air scrubbers, it can be tricky to pick the right one for your needs. To help you out, here are some of the points you should consider:
✔️Wet vs. dry
Air scrubbers are divided into two types: wet and dry. These two types mainly differ on the filtration method they use.
Wet air scrubbers use water or a wet substance to filter out contaminants. This is very efficient in filtering corrosive gasses and can be used at almost any temperature.
Moreover, nearly all particulates are eliminated by wet air scrubbers. However, this type is usually used in industrial settings and is quite a rarity for household settings. This is because disposal of the wet substance requires a special process.
Meanwhile, dry air scrubbers use physical filters to get rid of contaminants, including mold spores. While this is also able to eliminate gasses when paired with carbon filters, it’s not as intensive as wet types.
Nevertheless, dry air scrubbers don’t produce any sludge that requires disposal. Most units only require filter replacement or cleanup and they will be ready for use again. Aside from that, dry scrubbers are cheaper and can be purchased for home use.
✔️Portable vs. integrated
Air scrubbers can either be portable or integrated.
With integrated types, the scrubber is installed as part of your HVAC system. This means that the scrubber can work round-the-clock.
However, integrated scrubbers aren’t always practical for some reason. First, it’s costly and requires professional installation. Aside from that, maintenance of integrated air scrubbers will also add up to the ongoing expenses.
On the other hand, most households prefer portable air scrubbers. It can be moved around the house to use in rooms that require cleaning. Also, it’s easier to maintain and the upfront cost is much lower than integrated types. Above all, you can use it straight from the box and there’s no need for professional installation.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly air scrubber to remove molds in your home, portable types will not disappoint.
✔️Filtration type
Next, you have to consider the filtration system of the air scrubber you’re going to buy.
Personally, I recommend a unit equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. This is effective in removing particulates as small as 0.3 microns. Medical-grade ones can trap up to 0.1 microns, ensuring that no mold spores get recirculated into the air.
You can also find air scrubbers fitted with carbon filters to neutralize bad odors and harmful gasses.
✔️Maximum airflow
Air scrubbers’ airflow is measured by CFM or cubic feet per minute. A unit with a higher airflow rate tends to be larger and more powerful in terms of cleaning.
Airflow rating in air scrubbers can be as low as 100 CFM to 20,000 CFM. For industrial use, 5,000 CFM is already powerful. And if you’re getting one for mold removal in your home, anywhere from 500 to 700 CFM would be an ideal choice.
✔️Speed
The speed of an air scrubber pertains to how many times it can cycle the air inside the room. Faster units are often used in bigger areas to ensure fast but reliable air cleaning.
Meanwhile, small rooms can make use of equally smaller air scrubbers. Take note that running a high-speed scrubber inside a small room is not just a waste of electricity, but also a source of unnecessary noise.
If you want to experience the best of both worlds, I recommend that you get an air scrubber with adjustable speed settings. This will give you better control based on the area where you’re planning to use the unit.
✔️Horsepower
The air scrubber’s horsepower directly affects its speed, airflow, and overall power to clean. For most home use, a unit with 1/3 HP to ½ HP is more than enough.
However, if you have a larger area to remove molds from, you can always upgrade to a higher horsepower rating. Still, you should remember that scrubbers with high horsepower also come with a bigger price tag.
✔️Coverage area
Aside from all the specs mentioned above, it’s also important to factor in the size of the place where you plan to use the unit. An air scrubber that’s too small or too big for your property will not serve its purpose well.
Most air scrubber manufacturers will indicate a maximum coverage area on their units. In general, you’d want an air scrubber with a maximum coverage area of 500 sq. ft. This would be more than enough for most homes suffering from molds.
Also, this coverage area is ideal after mold remediation or renovation projects. The good thing is that most of these air scrubbers have adjustable speeds to suit smaller areas.
✔️Price range
Lastly, always consider the price point of the air scrubber you’re going to buy. Cheap ones are convenient, but they don’t always last. Also, air scrubbers in the lower price range tend to have less power and minimal coverage area.
If your home is dealing with molds or has a history of molds, I recommend that you invest in a trusty unit. While the upfront cost is bigger, it will pay for itself over the years. Aside from that, scrubbers with a higher price tag also come with equally worthy warranty terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do air scrubbers work for mold?
A: Air scrubbers are effective devices for mold removal. It can eliminate airborne spores as well as those clinging on surfaces. Just make sure that the air scrubber has the right size that suits the area of your home. Aside from mold spores, air scrubbers can also eliminate pollens, dust mites, and other airborne irritants.
Q: How much does an air scrubber cost?
A: Air scrubbers are available at a wide range of prices. It can cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands, depending on the size, cleaning power, features, and more. In general, pricier air scrubbers tend to have more cleaning power than cheaper ones.
Q: Are air scrubbers worth it?
A: If you want to eliminate contaminants in your home, air scrubbers are good solutions. They have more cleaning power than air purifiers alone. Also, air scrubbers are very effective in removing mold spores, which are either airborne or stuck on the surfaces of your home.
Q: How often do you run air scrubbers?
A: To thoroughly scrub the air off contaminants, you should run the air scrubber for 24 to 48 hours. This is the recommended duration, especially if your place has been treated for molds. It will ensure that any remaining spores will be cleaned together with other irritants.
Q: Where do you place an air scrubber inside your home?
A: For the best results, you should place an air scrubber near the source of the pollutant. If you want to remove molds from your bathroom, you can place the air scrubber near the bathroom door. This way, the mold spores will be absorbed into the device efficiently. If you have a large home, you may need to use multiple air scrubbers to ensure that you’re eliminating all the irritants.
Final words
Molds can pose a threat to your family’s health. So to help eliminate the spores, you should get the best air scrubber for mold removal that’s suitable for your home’s size, the extent of the infestation, and your budget.
The five units we reviewed above will not disappoint in terms of performance and value. Let us know which one you’d like to get!
Home Air Quality is founded by Bernard K to provide information on Indoor Air Quality in Homes and enlighten people about what they need to know about creating and maintaining a comfortable and healthy home environment.
We believe that “Quality air brings a healthy life.”
