You know it’s important to keep a clean home, right? It’s not only to impress visitors who drop by. The hygiene of your living space determines the health of your family so you must keep mould and germs at bay. But how many of us think of what’s going on in the basement? If damp is a problem or when it’s where your pets sleep there’s bound to be too much moisture down there. That will result in mould and even air contamination.
Luckily technology comes to your rescue as always and if you use on of the best basement air purifier options listed below you’ll see a change fast. These appliances circulate air, help you deal with bad odors and can even help you manage your allergies better. Good news all round but it’s important to pick the right one based on practicality and functionality. Make sure the dimensions suit you and that the purifying stages suit your unique needs. Was it designed for such a large space as you have downstairs? We asked all these questions and the answers are summarized in our guide below.
To help you pick the best unit for your home we included the results of our in-depth research in the reviews below. We also added a comprehensive buying guide, and our comparison table will quickly show you which ones are most appropriate for you. After this information, compiled by health experts and construction consultants, you’ll know exactly what your home needs. Don’t let moisture get the better of you this year. You simply need one of these.
Extra features: comes with exclusive HyperHEPA filters that stop ultrafine particles; includes a patented EvenFlow Diffuser for even air distribution
Many people assume that products made in Switzerland are worth your money. In this case it’s the absolute truth as IQAir’s HealtPro Plus is an impressive unit in looks but also in functionality. In this niche HEPA filters are all the rage but in this unit you get a HyperHEPA filter. It can filter out even smaller particles than regular HEPA units, even if they’re as small as 0.003microns, making it the best HEPA air purifier for basement use. You can even rid your basement area of most of the viruses floating around. That means a healthier lifestyle for your family. Some consumers experience relief from allergies and other health problems in as little as three days.
Apart from that you’ll enjoy the user friendly features such as a 320° flow and the EvenFlow design. The latter helps to circulate air throughout the room without that pesky draft no one likes.
It’s a high end device with a remote control so you can manage it from anywhere in the room. You can also program it so you can forget about it and just enjoy the results: clean air.
One concern is the chemical smell on some units but you can contact the supplier about this if needed.
This is one of the less noisy products on our list so you can leave it on throughout the day if necessary. Consumers also appreciate how easy it is to maintain since the machine will warn you when it’s time to replace a filter. This air purifier tower for basement use monitors the filters so you don’t have to waste time on it.
With the quality caster wheels you can push it to exactly where you need it.
Extra features: available in 14 design options; customizable filters: choose from 4 different types according to your needs
We loved this for the slim minimalistic design which would suit almost any space, even if your basement is your business office and needs to look stylish. The brand even manufactures different colored panels so you can match your basement air purifier to the surrounding décor.
This is probably the best air purifier for a large basement as it’s designed to treat air in large areas and you can trust it to get it right. This is thanks to modern innovation: the purifier uses the popular ionizer method to attract particles and thoroughly clean the air. Apart from that there are dust filters and removers. Thanks to multiple steps you’re assured of cleaner air compared to using lower end air purifiers. And yes, it also has a HEPA filter layer to take care of tiny particles—you can actually pick one of four types of these filters depending on your needs. That justifies the slightly elevated price, thought it’s less expensive than our first choice discussed above. The other high end feature is that it actually measures the air quality and will change the setting to suit the need of the room at a particular time.
Another way the designers made this one easy to use is the easy grip handle so you can move it to where you need it or put it in storage without a hassle. With a maximum of 56dB noise, you can sleep with this unit on, though it would be best to use the lowest setting if you don’t want to be disturbed at all.
Extra features: five speeds; permanent and washable pre-filter; Energy Star Certified; childproof;
This air purifier for basements have won various design awards and it’s easy to see why. The engineers reimagined the air purifier and created a simple but effective appliance you’ll love to look at & you’ll appreciate the results.
First off there’s very little light and sound pollution. For instance, all lights will power down when it goes into idle mode so there’s no bothersome lights keeping you awake. You can let this run throughout the night if need be, even if someone’s using the basement as bedroom. Of course, these features also add to it being very energy efficient.
We love the smart design that doesn’t rob you of much floor space. Just note that it’s not as powerful as some others on this list, and can only cover a limited space; almost half of the model we reviewed above. It therefore also has a low CADR rating compared to some others.
Still, it’s worth your consideration as it offers multiple speeds and it pushes air through four different filter stages to ensure it comes out clean. We were also impressed at the fact that it truly takes care of odors, something you can’t assume with all air purifiers.
The brand thought of everything as it won’t work if the front panel is removed. This keeps curious children safe from harm. Also, you can control it from anywhere thanks to the handy remote control.
Extra features: High Performance mode for allergy and flu seasons; AeraSafe Antimicrobial treatment on filter
Here’s another one on our list that does a lot of the work on your behalf. The purifier monitors the air and will adjust the settings according to what’s needed to optimally freshen the air.
Consumers who suffer from asthma or have allergy problems usually prefer this one to some other models, as it’s certified as safe for use by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. You can trust this to take care of odors so it’s an ideal air purifier for pet dander removal or if you want to get rid of mouldy smells. Its efficacy is—as with many other models on this list—thanks to a four layer filter system. It includes PlasmaTrue technology that uses an ionized field to rid the air of contaminants. A handy feature is that you can turn off the ionizer. Not all consumers like this method so it’s helpful that you can customize its functioning.
Once again this won’t work in extremely large rooms, so only use it for compact basements up to 600ft². We think the exterior is quite impressive and looks modern, though it doesn’t melt into the background as some other more simplistic units on this list will do. The contrast between black and white is too eye catching to ignore.
Still it’s a good buy as it effectively removes odors, even the residue associated with homes with regular smokers.
Extra features: features a fully automatic mode that adjusts according to the air quality; 3 fan speeds; UV light sterilizer and ionizer
This unit also comes with a much shorter warranty period than our top three picks, but as our budget buy, it’s still a very wise option if you’re shopping on a budget. We listed this one for it’s customizable features such as having three different speeds to pick from. It also has various filtering methods, even using an ionizer and a HEPA filter. In total, the air in your home will go through six different stages. This can effectively take care of contaminants and even odors.
Here’s an original approach to cleaning air: Killing germs’ DNA with the installed UV light sterilizer.
Good news: you don’t have to monitor the purifier the whole time. In auto mode it will measure the air quality by itself and switch to an appropriate setting.
Note that this one is really only effective in very small spaces, which is one of the biggest reasons it’s so much cheaper than our high end units.
Another handy feature and almost surprising in such an affordable basement air purifier is the sleep mode. On this setting it will work at around 18dB, making it a little less effective, but at least it won’t wake anyone sleeping in your downstairs space.
It may produce some unwelcome odors from time to time, but for an affordable unit you may be able to live with it as it’s not overpowering. Overall, this one impresses.
The market is filled with a few impressive units so it’s difficult to pick, right? We’ll help you with that by clarifying a few features you can look for on your air purifier for basement use. Get one that will really solve the problem and keep your family healthy.
No, this is not a silly trend. First of all, it’s essential everyone in your home can have access to fresh air. It’s a huge role player in your health and you don’t want to spark allergies or asthma attacks in a family member or visitor. An air purifier helps combat this problem as it removes allergens such as pollen.
In addition, a basement air purifier is the smart choice because it has so many added benefits:
Above you saw how many options today’s market offers you. It can be difficult to pick a favorite. To help you identify the most beneficial unit, let’s guide you through some of the most important features to consider.
The effectiveness of your purifier could lie in how many stages of purification the air travels through before it’s released into your basement again. The stages relate closely to the type of filters we discuss below.
You can expect one, some or all of these stages:
As each of these stages require different filters, your purifier should have one or some of the filters we discuss next.
If you’re buying your basement air purifier for a very specific reason you need to make sure your unit is designed for that purpose. Air can be contaminated with various substances and your purifier must have the appropriate filters to combat that problem. You can look for anti-bacterial filters, activated carbon and plasma generators that sterilize air effectively.
Some filters can help remove pollen while others are more appropriate for dealing with odors only. The latter is usually done with a carbon type filter. If you specifically need to prevent spores from drifting into the rest of your house, you’ll probably need a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. These filters can remove 99.97% of allergens. These HEPA filters are advanced enough to block particles as small as 0.03 microns. If hygiene is a top priority, it’s worth it to invest in a purifier that has this type of filer.
It’s also worth researching how often the filters need to be replaced or cleaned.
Each unit is built for a specific purpose. Firstly, you don’t want to purchase one simply to realize it can’t cope with the amount of air in your large basement area. Make sure it can effectively circulate the amount of air you need treated so you can enjoy optimum results.
On the other hand, you also don’t want to pay for features you’ll never use or order a large unit that’s much pricier than the smaller purifier that will suit your compact home. Bigger isn’t always better, but you need enough power. Read the specs so you invest your money wisely.
AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Maintenance) devised this rating back in the 1980s and it’s still in use today. The measurement expresses the ability of the purifier to remove certain substances such as pollen or smoke.
The CADR rating tells you how many cubic feet get purified (i.e cleared of particles of a specific size) per minute. The higher this rating, the better your purifier will perform.
If you value a customized experience it’s wise to purchase a purifier with multiple fan speeds. You can set it faster at times when there’s bound to be more pollen in the air or if you need it to work harder while you smoke in the basement.
With various speed settings you can also limit energy usage by powering it down at times.
So, the musty smell gets taken care of but that doesn’t mean you want a horrible noise to become the new problem in the house. Thanks to innovation you don’t have to settle for noisy units, so shop around until you find one that won’t keep you awake if you’re trying to sleep.
It’s important to note that much of the noise is caused by the fan function, which not all purifiers have. You can also switch off the fan feature on some models to limit the noise. Just know that when the fan isn’t running the purifier works less effectively. The alternative is to switch it to a lower speed during the times you need some peace and quiet, such as the handy mode you’ll find on the Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier.
With this feature it’s not only about the dimensions of the unit itself but how much space it will eventually take up. First off you need a large enough area for the unit to stand. And what if you don’t need a permanent solution? A compact design that you can simply store in a cupboard is a handy option, but only if it matches your available cupboard space.
Next you have to look at the design and see if it’s not using unnecessary floor space. A trendy design with an odd shape could complement the room’s look but perhaps use up more floor space than is really necessary. If your basement is already small, you need a basement air purifier that stands flush against the wall so the area doesn’t seem cluttered.
As you can see from the above units—for instance the IQAir HealthPro—these appliances are supposed to last you a long time. Three to five years can be seen as standard, but some high end units even come with lifetime guarantees. They work hard but they’re not appliances that need to be moved in order to work. Staying stationary most of the time minimizes the chance of damage, which is why you can get such long warranty periods.
The odor in your basement can have many different causes. While a basement air purifier is an excellent start, a few DIY tips can aid the process of getting fresher air to circulate in your personal space:
So, it’s time to tally the scores and for us the clear winner was the IQAir HealthPro Plus. The flow of air it creates with the EvenFlow feature is truly original and it works for large basements. It also has all the modern necessities, such as a remote control.
The Alen BreatheSmart is also impressive, even in larger spaces, so you know it’s a powerful unit. It’s claim to fame though is how stylish your basement will look with the color coded panels and we appreciate the space-saving design.
Number three is the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0. Although it has a lower CADR than some of the best basement air purifier models on our list, you have to appreciate the brand’s attention to detail. With little sound and light pollution it exemplifies modern design. Now, all that’s left is for you to enjoy healthier living thanks to modern technology. Which one will it be?
