7 Best Air Purifier For Basement | Reviews and Buying Guide

The stench that’s coming from the downstairs might be the reason why you can't focus on your work and rest comfortably in your living space. Here to deodorize the air, you will need air purifiers but not just any ordinary product from the local stores. You will need the best air purifier for basement.

Usually, the reason why the basement area accumulates all the odors is that all the air remains trapped inside the space due to less openings. Hence, to ensure that the ground-level stays fresh and odorless, finding a suitable air purifier depending on the size of your basement is paramount.

Now, keeping all these in mind, we have coined a list of 7 air purifiers for the basement, including an in-depth buying guide so that you can buy smart and stay innovative.

Overall Best: Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA
According to customer feedback, performance, buying intent and ratings make this air purifier overall best. Air quality indicator, dual smart sensor, and auto mode give this machine to overall perfection.

Best Budget: Germ Guardian (AC4825E)True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
This 4 in 1 (UV-C Light, True HEPA filter, Pre-Filter & Charcoal Filter) Air purifier is giving the best services on a budget.

Editor’s Choice: LEVOIT H132 Air Purifier for Home
Levoit H132 is the most popular air purifier as well as the editor’s first choice. LV-H132 air purifier gives the best cleaning performance for its 3-Stage Filtration (Pre-Filter, HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter) process.

Comparison Table of Basement Air Purifiers in 2021

Why Should You Use Air Purifier for Basement?

The main reason why you need to use an air purifier for the basement is that you barely clean your house basement, at least not as much as you clean the rest of your house.

It’s like one of the most abandoned places, which is a leeway for bacterial and viruses to take shelter.

And as a result, the basement area becomes contaminated, let alone starts producing an awful stench.

Also, most of the basements don’t have any window or exhaust facility from where the trapped air can evacuate.

So, when the ventilation system or the heating system of your house drags air from the basement, eventually, the entire house starts building up germs and molds.

As a result, the moldy basement air with unbearable odor invites health hazards upon your entire family, including pets.

Thus, equipping an air purifier is paramount in order to trap all the allergens, fumes, and smallest dust particles. On top of that, it works like a deodorizer and eliminates every fraction of toxic elements so that you breathe clean and fresh air.

How Do Air Purifiers Help in Improving Basement Air?

We’ve already mentioned that the basement air gets contaminated due to lack of exposure and cleaning. And if you want to improve the basement air, you must accommodate air purifiers. How it improves the basement air?

 
It effectively captures all the air pollutants, including pet hair, trapped smoke, germs, etc. In fact, some air purifiers are able to capture allergens as small as 0.3 microns.

 
As a result, the air becomes sanitized as well as odorless. Because the stench mainly stems from the dust particles. And when the air purifier circulates the room air over three or four times per hour, it ensures the fastest sanitization.

 
If you instill your trust in a high-quality air purifier, then you will get different speed settings to meet different air quality and needs.

The fact that air purifiers help to reduce the risk of asthma and promote sound sleep is more than enough to advocate their claims of improving the air.

7 Best Air Purifier for Basement

Here, we have compiled the top 7 air purifiers that possess various features in order to appease your distinct needs.

Well, no wonder you won’t get all the top features in one product as each of them is made to serve specific purposes. Thus, make sure to acknowledge your needs before evaluating.

However, we ensured handpicking each product through ample research and assessments. Hopefully, this review will help you get the ideal air purifier for your basement.

1. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA

If you have a handsome budget and want to experience quality air in your medium to large basement, then Winix 5500-2 air purifier can suffice your needs ideally.

• Captures 99.97% of airborne pollutants such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and other allergens.
• Offers washable carbon filters, unlike typical ones.
• A thoughtful build of the carbon filters that are crafted from activated carbon granules.
• Features a plasma wave which functions as a permanent filter in order to neutralize all the stench, toxic molecules, chemical air, allergens, and various form of pollutants.
• Smart sensor accompanies a sleeping mode that dictates how much air should be filtered while assuring a quiet night-time and energy-efficient operation.
• When the sensor is exposed to light, it automatically deactivates the sleep mode and alters to auto mode again.
• Cleans up 360 square feet room size. Undoubtedly, it can be regarded as the best basement air purifier.

2. Pure Enrichment PureZone Air Purifier

Anyone who is looking for an ozone-free air purifier for medium-sized basements should consider buying this. And you know what’s the best part? It’s extremely budget-friendly.

• Distributes three-stage air purification and sanitizes the air from 99.97% of allergen, pollen, dust, pet dander, fumes, chemical vapor, reek, etc.
• Offers the HEPA, activated carbon filter, and the pre-filter for ensuring an effective cleaning.
• Built-in UV-C light destroys the microorganism that invites health risks.
• The touch-button technology and three automatic timer setting allow you to have an energy-efficient air cleaning every time.
• Three fan speeds.
• Covers up 200 square feet at max.
• Storage friendly.

3. Germ Guardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier

If you are living in a dorm where you have a small basement or in a townhome with a sectioned-off bathroom, then this air purifier will do the job consistently. What helps it stand out from the crowd is its superior portability.

• Weighs only 8.55 pounds; thus easy to transport and store.
• Deters all the allergens, dust, pet hair, and other toxic fumes properly.
• HEPA air filter facilitates 99.97% of air pollutants elimination.
• The LED light indicator notifies you whenever you need to alter the filters.
• Enhance the life expectancy of the HEPA filter.
• The UV-C light assassinates all the harmful germs and viruses like influenza, staph, rhinovirus, etc.
• Minimizes the volatile organic compounds.
• 22-inch air purifier assures giving you a noise-free operation for a blissful sleeping hour.

4. LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home

LEVOIT offers a small and effective air purifier that cleans the air of small basements seamlessly, being the best air purifier for smaller spaces. Also, the appealing exterior of this compact air purifier compliments the entire environment of your house.

• Cleans up 129 square ft – (4 times per hour)
• Unlike other high-performing air purifiers that tend to emit harmful ozone, this one prevails to guarantee an ozone-free operation.
•  3 stage filtration process, such as the pre-filter, the true HEPA filter and the highly efficient activated carbon filter.
• Captures the allergens, pet hair, fumes, mold, and large dirt particles.
• The airborne toxins which are as small as 0.3 microns can be eliminated with these filters.
• Advanced features like the filter alteration reminder and two-night light brightness setting are also included.
• The night light ensures an ideal sleeping environment.

5. Coway Airmega 300 Smart Air Purifier

The people who are free from dust allergies are literally God’s favorite. Because it affects your normal breathing tendency and keeps you nauseated no matter how much you try to get past it.

So, if you are one of us and suffering from dust allergy or breathing insufficiency, then getting a Coway Airmega air purifier will be the right choice.

• It changes the air at least two times per hour.
• You get dust-free air to breathe in.
• Engineered to accommodate larger spaces up to 1,256 square feet.
• True HEPA filter effectively nullifies the air pollutants and minimizes up to 99.97% of dust particles as well as 99% of volatile organic compounds.
• Toxic fumes such as NH3 and CH3CHO are condensed gradually.
• Built-in LED light indicator that informs you of the current state of air.
• Approximately 5 fan modes for various cleansing purposes.
• Offers you a quiet operation rather than creating rattling noise.

6. Toshiba Feature Smart WiFi Purifier, True HEPA Air Cleaner

Wouldn’t it be great if you can control your basement air purifier through the Alexa app? Rejoice! Toshiba offers smart WiFi and Alexa compatible air sanitizers for medium to large spaces.

• Can clean the air at maximum speed.
• Doesn’t create any annoying noise; instead, while you’re going to sleep, it radiates a gentle white noise so that you can sleep in a calming state.
• The UV light purifier effectively terminates germs and other airborne viruses such as influenza, staph, rhinovirus, etc.—no wonder it ensures a safe and healthy breathing atmosphere for the indoors.
• 3-in-1 air purifier associates with a pre-filter and HEPA-activated carbon filter.
• 
  The dash program will convey a replacement reminder when needed.

7. SilverOnyx Air Purifier for Home

This lightweight, compact air purifier ideally neutralizes the awful odors of your basement and confirms that you breathe fresh and high-quality air.

• Covers up to approximately 500 square feet area and sterilizes the air evenly.
• Capable of capturing 99.97% of dust through a true HEPA H13 charcoal filter.
• Overall 5 stages of effective air sanitizing.
• The combination filter cartridge incorporates mesh pre-filter and, lastly, the HEPA activated carbon filter.
• Advanced UV light and ion processor work together to accelerate the entire cleaning session.
• The stench of pet hair, trapped cigarette fume, and the chemical vapor will dissipate.
• Its sensor technology helps to adjust the airflow so that the air of your basement remains consistently healthy.

Things to Consider While Buying Basement Air Purifiers

Here's our finely curated buying guide, which includes some of the crucial facts that should be taken into consideration before making a purchase.

Filtration System

First thing first, you have to inspect the various purification systems from which you better opt for the HEPA filter or Molekule Proprietary PECO filter, including activated carbon formula.

These two work best in order to eliminate air pollutants at a smaller to a larger scale.

 
Typically, air purifiers have only one filter or three at best. But what's important is to possess the ideal one for meeting the expectations of yours.

The ones that are being used in your system need to be competent enough to accomplish the job perfectly regardless of the quantity and price.

Area of Coverage

Always ensure considering the size of your basement to comprehend how much area your air purifier needs to deal with. If you have a large basement, then you might need to buy two or multiple in order to sanitize the whole area consistently.

Getting an air purifier that works for 300 square feet for your 800 square feet basement will be a silly decision.

In fact, sometimes, when you buy the right air purifier with similar area coverage as your basement, it fails to provide estimated outcomes.

Hence, we suggest buying an air purifier that has a greater area of coverage capacity than your overall basement. We can assure you that it will definitely meet the standard of your satisfaction.

Particle Removal Capacity

Check on the CADR or clean air delivery rate of your basement air purifier. It refers to the number of air exchanges every hour. Also, it allows you to know the exact time or how much it's going to take for the air to be transformed inside the area. The standard CADR rating is 100 CFM minimum for your air purifier.

Maintenance

Your air purifier needs preservation in order to last long. Also, extending the overall life expectancy is important to get the best bang for your investment. For this, you need to check whether the air purifier allows regular maintenance or not.

Also, continuing the maintenance process ideally is like a commitment from you to your air purifier. Make sure to buy the air purifier, which comes in handy in this aspect so that you don’t have to grind hard.

Things like checking the air filter indicator, washing the filter, cleaning them, taking safety measures before repairing, etc., are part of maintenance. It needs to keep going.

Mode of Operation

There are various operating modes for air purifiers. But the best kind is the one which offers sensor mode. It notifies you when you need to transform the filter or whenever the air quality is poor.

Besides, the sensor commands you to take plausible action depending on the overall air condition. For instance, the sensor mode will tell you about the air circulating speed you need for a certain situation. Also, ensure paying heed to the assembly. The buttons should stay within reach and be easy to use.

Noise Production

Undoubtedly, air purifiers produce noise. And the decibel rating relies on the various types of the unit or the ones you have. Generally, the noise level of most of the air purifiers is between 20 and 60 dBA.

However, when you want to operate your basement air purifier at the highest level, try choosing a quiet air purifier that ensures peaceful sleeping at night. It should have the upper limit of 40/50 dBA, to be precise.

Energy Efficiency and Operating Cost

Your air purifier needs to be energy efficient. Most of them claim to be, while very few of them honor it. Make sure to assess the energy efficiency rating and an estimated budget that is required to operate the air purifier. This can include the annual filter alteration cost and additional repair.

To be precise, you should have the idea of forthcoming investments in order to continue the air purification for a prolonged time.

Benefits of Using a Basement Air Purifier

Let’s see the perks of using air purifiers for your basement;

Increased Air Circulation

Since you do not clean your basement as much as you do with other regions of your house, it's obvious that the dust particles keep accumulating. And the fact that basements don't have windows or a door, the harmful elements remain trapped and make the indoor air musty and suffocating.

This is where the air purifier comes into play. It effectively circulates the air in order to offer you a healthy indoor vapor to breathe in. Also, the air circulation controls the temperature so that your house basement becomes more comforting to rest.

Decreases Allergens

This is one of the biggest advantages of having an air purifier, especially if you are diagnosed with asthma or dust allergy. The air purifier helps to reduce the overall allergen, which takes shelter in finished or unfinished basements.

As a result, you won't face any difficulty in breathing. Also, all the problems like sneezing, wheezing, coughing, or having asthma attacks will be mitigated once you install a quality air purifier.

No Dust Buildup

As air purifiers keep changing the air and pass it through the filters, there’s no chance of dust build-up. Consequently, the air of your basement remains dust-free and well sanitized.

Decreased Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds are something that comes by default with any building materials, flooring, painting, or furniture, which causes odor and invites various health hazards. Here, the air purifier ideally eliminates all the gaseous chemicals. It traps the toxic vapor before it gets in contact with your body.

Gets Rid of Mold

As basements are susceptible to molds due to lack of ventilation, you must need an air purifier to get past them. Air purifiers remove the mold spores by capturing them inside the filter and kills them with UV light.

Decreases Smoke and Odors

Most people choose the basement area for smoking as it remains vacant. However, the harmful fume can’t escape and remains trapped inside the basement, which later generates an awful odor.

To get over cigarette or tobacco smell, installing an air purifier is necessary. It helps to repel the smoke remnants and the strong stench effectively.

Destroys Germs

In the process of living a healthy life, you need to stay away from germs. And to ensure that, air purifier plays a significant role. It eliminates germs by sucking them inside the filter before it reaches your lungs and invites health risks.

Fresh Air

Undoubtedly, you will experience relatively fresher air than you ever had once you install an air sanitizer inside your basement. Because there won't be any allergen, dust particles, fumes, pet hairs, or anything. The air will smell fresh and healthy all the time.

Enhanced Mood Levels

Many research papers exhibit that when you breathe fresh air, it enhances your mood and reduces the chance of mental severity such as anxiety or chronic depression. Also, reducing your stress and ensuring a blissful living environment are its greatest features.

Tips on Using an Air Purifier in a Basement

We believe you already know what to do before buying an air purifier but do you know what should be done after getting it? Well, here are some tips on using an air purifier that helps to increase life expectancy and ensures honoring your investment.

Let the Air Flow

The first tip is to allow the air to flow with a maximum clearance rate around the given area. It shouldn't be a stuffy place where you intend to store your air purifier. The area near your air purifier needs to have at least 18 to 24 inches of space around the entire unit.

That will pull in enough air inside as well as release fresh air into the basement. This allows the CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate and ACH (Air Changes per Hour) to be amplified.

Setup the Air Purifier in a Right Place

Most people make this common mistake by placing their air purifiers at the corner of their basement. It only delivers an insufficient cleaning. To enhance the overall air cleaning and deodorizing process, ensure setting it up in the middle of your house. This will help to cover up the entire area at its best.

Don’t Turn the Air Purifier Off

Air purification is rather a constant process than a momentary one. Hence, it needs to be activated all the time. Don't turn off the air purifier like your air conditioner or fan.

The moment when you turn it off, the molds and allergens start building up again. No need to worry about the machine’s health because an air purifier has the capacity to run at peak performance for 24 hours, 7 days per week.

Also, if you are worried about the electricity bill or energy efficiency, then let us assure you that air purifiers are extremely energy efficient. It hardly increases your electricity bill.

Try to Keep Windows and Doors Closed

It’s highly recommended to keep the windows and doors shut while operating. Because if you keep them open, you are letting the outdoor air enter inside the basement. As a result, the amount of contaminated air will only increase rather than subsiding.

Also, every time you're prone to open the window or the door of your basement, you are actually making a doorway for the purified air to escape and harmful air to enter.

Hence, when you are following this method, you are permitting the air purifier to sanitize indoor air consistently. 

Check out the Filters and Change If Needed

After a certain period, your air purifier will stop working like before. It happens when it gets clogged with air contaminants and other dust particles.

In order to get past this inconvenience, make sure to inspect the filters and alter them when needed. There can be symptoms like the carbon filter might be covered with molds, and the HEPA filter may seem brown and dirty.

If any of the symptoms are visible, it's time to alter the filters or clean them.

Some Common Questions about Basement Air Quality

1. What are the health risks in bad basement air?

The common health risks are excessive sneezing, itchy skin, intensifying allergy reactions, coughing, runny nose, asthma attacks, anxiety, and more serious respiratory effects in bad basement air.

And the rational reason is the connection between inhalation of mold spores and these diseases. When you inhale the unhealthy air, it only amplifies the problems and makes your life miserable.

2. Why does mold grow in basements?

There are two prime reasons why mold grows in basements. One is moisture build-up due to water problems such as leaky pipes or flooding. Another is high humidity or cold weather that increases the mold build-up in basements.

As your basement is most likely to undergo these situations, it's obvious that this specific part is susceptible to mold build-up.

3. Is mold in the basement dangerous?

Yes! Because mold in the basement can cause various health hazards such as asthma attacks, skin irritation, continuous sneezing, coughing, etc.

4. How long should I run an air purifier for the basement?

In order to bring the best out of your air purifier, ensure running it at the peak speed for a couple of hours, then slow it down. Make sure to keep it running for 24 hours at the standard speed to maintain a healthy indoor air environment.

There’s no need to put a stop to it as the air pollutants continue roaming around the basement area throughout all day.

5. How do I know which size air purifier to get for my basement?

To determine the appropriate size air purifier for your basement, you need to acknowledge the size of your basement. For instance, the square feet ratio of your basement will decide the proper size for your air purifier.

If you have a 500 square feet basement, then your air purifier should be able to cover up the entire area by possessing a minimum of 500 square feet area coverage capacity.

6. Are air purifiers good for the basement?

Certainly! Not only are they good for your basement, but also highly recommended for every house owner. It ensures providing healthy indoor air to breathe in and prevents various health risks by eliminating all the airborne contaminants.

Moreover, air purifiers help to deodorize the environment so that the smelly air doesn’t affect your sanity.

Conclusion

If you have stuck to the end of this article, then you must know the features to seek and the tips to extend the life expectancy by now.

Ensure to read all the buying tips before shopping for the best air purifier for basement, as it's one of the biggest investments for your house. We hope this article was helpful in clearing your concerns. If you have any further inquiries, make sure to leave your valuable comment.