Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

• HOME
• AIR CONDITIONING
• ELECTRICAL
• EXTERIORS
• HEATING
• HOME INSPECTION
• INTERIORS
• PLUMBING
• ROOFING
• SEPTIC SYSTEMS
• STRUCTURE
• WATER SUPPLY

• ENERGY SAVINGS
• ENVIRONMENT
• INDOOR AIR IAQ
• INSULATION
• MOLD INSPECT TEST REMOVE
• NOISE
• ODORS
• SOLAR ENERGY
• VENTILATION
• EXPERTS DIRECTORY
• CONTACT US

Notice: unless you find here a product review by the web author you should assume that we have made no test and are making no claim about the effectiveness, safety, or any other feature of these items. This information is provided as a general reference and to invite feedback from consumers regarding their product experience. Buying any product without understanding your actual needs (based on your physician's advice and an examination of your residence) is risky. Our page top photo shows a high level of animal dander in an indoor dust sample.

Note: the website author has absolutely no financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service described at the website.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Allergy Reducing Products, Dust Mite Covers, & Resources

• Allergy Buyers Club various products
• Allercare™ Dust Mite products recalled by US EPA
• Allergenic covers and encasings Pillow, Mattress, Box Spring - aid in dust mite control. This site also has Hypo-allergenic bedding and many other allergy control products including humidity/temperature gauge, hygrometer, various fans, heaters, air filters, air cleaners, steam cleaning equipment sold via an on-line store at www.comfortliving.com
• The Healthy House Institute Books, articles, videos for reading on line or for sale
• Other allergenic bed linens and covers - listings wanted - listings offered here at no fee - Contact Us

Air Cleaners and Indoor Air Purifiers for Mold and IAQ Concerns - a critique from an expert

In our experience [which includes the detailed visual inspection and excruciatingly careful testing of a large number of buildings for IAQ and other environmental concerns] there is no free-standing air cleaner, HEPA cleaner, UV, ionizer, breeze machine, or any other free-standing plug-in air "purifier" that is really demonstrably effective at cleaning up an indoor air contamination issue. The problem source needs to be identified, located, and removed.

Some of our IAQ clients report some improved relief when using an air cleaner in a small enclosed bedroom with the room doors kept shut. How likely is it that the effect they describe is real?

In a small room with the door shut and with no local mold reservoir right in the room, portable equipment might be capable of producing a measurable effect on the airborne particle level. But based on actual field inspections and measurements of particle levels in quite a few buildings, I'm doubtful of any significant reduction in particle levels, mold, pet dander, or otherwise.

My measurements have not borne out the claims of the machine's makers/sellers. On the other hand, I have seen sick and anxious people for whom any stress-reducing measure produces some self-reported improvement in their environment. Since the science shows portable "air purifiers" to be ineffective at removing much from the air, I believe that the improvement reported by consumers who use portable air cleaners could be a placebo effect. In rooms with air purifiers, particle levels look about the same as the rooms (in the same area of the building) without them.

Consumer Reports Magazine (Consumers Union) looked at indoor air cleaners in 2003, as have many others, both as neutral and in some case as biased researchers. CU found that the devices were generally ineffective and expressed concern that they continue to sell well. The New York Times Magazine [22 January 2006 -- Rob Walker], reported on the CU article and on this phenomenon. The Times ascribed continuing strong "air cleaner" sales (as did CU) to public "concerns about allergies and indoor air contaminants, coupled with heightened worries over terrorism." Sharper Image came in for particular criticism, probably because of their high-profile visibility in the marketplace and their aggressive promotion of such products.

We agree with CU and most other researchers that these devices do almost nothing about mold and allergens in buildings. I've tested buildings where frightened consumers have four or five of them running, sometimes two or three in a room in a NY City Apartment. I have not seen any significant reduction in the total airborne particle level with or without their use.

Research for one manufacturer, conducted by a university professor, concluded that the machines were effective, but the construction of the experiment involved putting a fixed amount of particles into a closed test chamber, running the machine therein, and extrapolating from the direction of the particle reduction curve. This was an unrealistic experiment. In the "real world" of buildings and humans occupying them, if there is a significant indoor mold, allergen, or other indoor particle reservoir, for all practical purposes, there is an infinite particle source forming a stream of airborne particles moving through the room towards the air cleaner. (The manufacturer built a $1M test chamber for this respected prof.)

According to the Times article, Sharper Image sued Consumers Union. The case was dismissed by a California judge in 2004. The disagreement and the marketing of what clearly appear to be ineffective devices continues with ionizing air cleaners produced by a variety of manufacturers. (See our ozone warning below).

Our award for the stupidest of all of these products is the little battery powered "air cleaner" to be worn around the neck, presumably the neck of an anxious asthmatic. We have been unable to find, from any manufacturer of such a product, or from any other source, independent research supporting the effectiveness of such devices.

If Portable Air Purifiers Seem to be Ineffective, How Can We Clean Up Indoor Air Dust & Debris?

Improve Air Filtration at a Central Air Handling Unit for Heating or Air Conditioning

If your building uses a central air conditioning or warm air heating, you can indeed make a significant reduction in airborne dust levels and some odor levels by installing improved filtration at the air handler - since warm air heat or central air conditioning systems, unlike portable air cleaners, do move enough cubic feet of air to be effective

In our forensic lab (which does not have a mold reservoir problem) we wereable to reduce the total level of airborne (and surface) dust in the building by installing a central air handler which combined multiple levels of filtration along with a heavy-duty multi-speed blower which can if necessary, run constantly. This particle reduction was in a generally clean building with little carpeting, low occupancy use, and where there was no significant mold or allergen reservoir. The approach used central air handling equipment that moves very high volumes of air through the equipment.

See AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS,and AIR FILTERS, OPTIMUM INDOOR for more details on using central air handlers for improved air quality indoors. Also see  CONTINUOUS BLOWER FAN OPERATION - to make maximum use of improved central air handler filtering systems.

Remove the Source of Problem Particles or Odors

With a large problem particle source, the effective solution is to remove the problem reservoir. Trying to clean up such a problem with an air cleaner is about as effective as trying to dust the bookshelves by waving your vacuum cleaner wand at them from across the room! Worse, some machines deliberately or accidentally put out measurable levels of ozone. Before buying an air purifier or air cleaner see OZONE AIR PURIFIER WARNINGS.

• Phototech™ indoor air purification and detoxification system, comparison chart
• Sun Pure™ "air purifier" (UV light, HEPA filter, other features) 800-705-5559 (Phillips Publishing) $500.
• Portable Room Air Cleaners-online store, Austin, Bemis, Blueair, C.A.R.E. 2000, Carrier, DeLonghi, FamilyCare, Healthway, Honeywell, Hunter, IQAir, Panasonic, Sun Pure, wein air cleaners, various technologies offered by www.comfortliving.com
• Ozone warning article: some air cleaners and indoor air purifiers deliberately produce high levels of ozone while others produce low levels as a byproduct of their operation. Not only is ozone ineffective as an indoor air cleaner and quite inappropriate for mold remediation, it can cause health and property damage. In one of our field investigations our clients used an ozone generator improperly and oxidized various building materials, leading to a building evacuation and costly repairs. Also see Ozone Gas Hazards.

Building Insulation and Ventilation for Basement & Crawl Space Moisture, Mold, & IAQ Concerns

Insulation for problem areas

We have more to say on insulation [working on the text] since for certain problem locations such as over damp crawl spaces or exposed to moisture, some insulation products appear to work better than others at avoiding mold, rodents, insect allergens, and general deterioration. We will compare current and historic materials used for insulation in buildings: air, solid brick, straw, cotton batts, asbestos, fiberglass, solid foam (of various types), blown-in cellulose (paper), mineral or rock wool, blown or pumped UFFI, Icynene, and other products. Meanwhile see the links below for more information.

• Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation, Indoor Air Quality Investigations
• Crawl space ventilation system Atmox: Their product details look pretty smart. There is considerable controversy about venting or non-venting crawl areas. Use an experienced, competent installer; what's appropriate depends on geographic area, individual building characteristics, and occupant concerns. Improper venting can cause heating equipment back drafting, condensation, or other improper or unsafe conditions.

Ventilation for problem areas

We have more to say on crawl space and attic ventilation. Meanwhile see the links below for more information.

• ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE and Ice Dam Leaks - Detection and Correcting Venting and Condensation Problems in Buildings
• Humidity: How Low Should You Keep Indoor Humidity to Avoid a Mold Problem

Vacuum Cleaners & Steam Cleaners - HEPA devices for IAQ concerns

Vacuum Cleaner & Steam Cleaner - Advice from an IAQ Investigator: These devices are used as household (or professional) cleaning tools for environments with high levels of settled dust containing allergens, mold, etc. One can not fix an allergen or mold problem by vacuuming, but one might be able to reduce the particle load in your air by careful cleaning.

A wide range of HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners and HEPA vacuum cleaner bags is now on the market, all of which are likely to be of some help. Beware: some particles such as certain toxic mold spores (Penicillium/Aspergillus, for example) are so small (1-2 microns) that ordinary household vacuum cleaners simply aerosolize them, making you suffer more not less.

As we get reports of products people like some of them will be listed here, but any web search will turn up many more hits. Read the product literature carefully as machines vary widely in cost, in ease of cleaning, noise level, effectiveness, as well as sometimes unpleasant and high-pressure salesmanship such as is found at our local Poughkeepsie New York Main Street vacuum cleaner dealer.

Ultimately, no amount of vacuuming wall to wall carpets indoors will eliminate an allergen or mold problem. To our clients who have asthma, allergies, or other respiratory concerns I recommend elimination of wall to wall carpets entirely. However even with all carpets out of a home, housecleaning of dusty surfaces is still needed. A HEPA vacuum cleaner can help in this task, but check the unit that interests you for leaks and blow-by since even if the filter is HEPA rated, if the cleaner leaks it's stirring up unwanted particles. I'd also compare not only purchase cost but ease and cost of bag or filter cleaning or replacement.

What does "HEPA" mean? HEPA is an acronym for 'High Efficiency Particulate Air'. HEPA filters originated in the 1940's, and HEPA became a registered trademark. A HEPA™ filter should remove least 99.97% of ultra-fine particulates such as dust, animal dander, smoke, mold and other allergens that are down to 0.3 microns, from the air. Since the smallest indoor mold spores are around 1 micron, they pass right through ordinary filters and vacuum cleaners - vacuuming in a moldy environment using the wrong equipment can make matters worse!

• The Allergy Buyers Club offers a comparison of HEPA vacuum cleaners but I don't think they've evaluated them for leakage.
• Ecosteam (UK) produces a range of home and commercial high-quality steamers
• Electrolux (U.S.) sells excellent HEPA vacuum cleaners, though IMHO a bit pricey. For a client I tested wall to wall carpeting before and after vacuuming with an Electrolux vacuum cleaner. In the lab microscope I could see a significant reduction in particle debris levels in our own lab instrument vacuum of carpet samples.
• Fogacci steam vapor machine (allergen control), The Home Environmental Co. 184 Bedford St., Lexington MA 02173 617-862-CURE 617-861-6251 fax
• Miele - makes excellent HEPA vacuum cleaners.
• Nilfisk - www.pa.nilfisk-advance.com
• Orek makes HEPA vacuum cleaners.
• Kirby makes a high-end HEPA-rated vac
• Saeco steam cleaner/vacuum $599. See Real Goods - the eco product co-op.

Try a web search, Keywords such as HEPA Vacuum Cleaners or Dust Mite Covers to return up-to-date product sources to check. Try including your zip code or town name in a search for local supply sources.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about indoor air purifiers, filters, and cleaners.

Recommend / Share this Article            

...

Technical Reviewers & References

• InspectAPedia.com^® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

AIRBORNE MOLD SPORE COUNT ACCURACY
ALLERGEN TESTS for BUILDINGS
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
• Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [ copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
• US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - - en Espanol

Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in Buildings - References & Products

• Air Conditioning System Blower Fans & Filters Cascading for Optimum Indoor Air Quality
• Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
• "IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
  The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
  http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
• Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
• Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
• Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints - long list of both documented, studied mold related illness, and complaints ascribed to mold contamination or allergens in buildings
• Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens
• Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases
• Fiberglass Insulation Contains Mold© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation
• Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
• Mold Action Guide detailed guide on finding, removing, and preventing indoor mold contamination
• Odors, Odor Detection, Smells, & Gases how to find and identify sources of noxious or toxic odors and gases
• Other environmental risks, Our much longer list: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, etc.
• Ozone: The Use of Ozone Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims.
• Pollen Allergens: identification, plant pollen and indoor air quality
• Products to Reduce Mold & Allergy Problems to reduce indoor mold or allergen levels: air cleaners, air purifiers, dust mite covers, vacuum cleaners, crawl space vents
• Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
• Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of Buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in Buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Action Guide: What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• ...

Mold Contamination Testing, Cleanup, Prevention: references & products

• The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
• Aerobiology, Building Science, Microscopy, & Laboratory References, an extensive technical bibliography
• Allergens: what they look like in buildings
• Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
• Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon)
• Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
• Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
• Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
• Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
• Clinical Mold References - Detailed bibliography of mold reference texts
• "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
• "Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
• "Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
  Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
• "Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• Fiberglass: Mold in Fiberglass Insulation© 2005 comments about a field study in process, & more about health hazards from fiberglass insulation - DJF
• Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
• Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
• Looking for Mold Procedure: what mold is often found where in buildings - simple technical presentation
• Meruliporia: the house eating fungus or "poria"
• Mold Action Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions, What to do about mold, mildew, and other indoor allergens
• MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE Photos of what mold looks like in buildings
• MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD Photos of NOT-mold material that is sometimes mistaken for mold
• MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
• MOLD BY MICROSCOPE Mold under the microscope - photo identification of the most common indoor molds found in buildings
• Mold FAQs Answers to Most Questions about Indoor Mold, Mold Related Illness, Mold Cleanup, Mold Prevention
• US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [ copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
• Mold spores in the Home - a Photo ID Library for detection and identification of mold allergens
• Mold Test Kits - How to Collect and Send Your Own Mold Sample to our mold testing lab or to any mold lab you wish
• Most Common Indoor Molds Found in Buildings, A Table of
• Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
• US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - - en Espanol

OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold

Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.

• Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Other environmental risks: Asbestos, carbon monoxide, electromagnetic fields, environmental illness, fiberglass, MCS - multiple chemical sensitivity, toxic gases, etc
• Indoor Gas Sampling Plan for Residential Buildings lists a number of toxic indoor gases which we test for, depending on the building complaint and building conditions
• Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
• Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
• Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings, and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some help from a licensed pest control expert.