Best Air Purifiers for Basements in 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Will an air purifier get rid of the musty smell in my basement?

Not on its own. A purifier with a deep activated carbon filter can lower the smell while it runs, but the musty odor comes from mold or mildew feeding on moisture, and EPA says air cleaners will not resolve a mold and moisture problem.

Bring the humidity under 60 percent with a dehumidifier, remove damp cardboard and mildewed items, and clean any growth you find. Then the purifier keeps what is left in check.

What size air purifier do I need for a basement?

Pick one with a CADR of about two-thirds of the floor area in square feet. EPA's estimation chart lists a minimum CADR of 325 cfm for a 500 sq ft room, and that chart assumes an 8 ft ceiling.

For a large open basement, two mid-size units placed at opposite ends often clean the air more evenly than one big machine in a corner. Compare CADR figures, not the room-size claims on the box.

Should I run a dehumidifier and an air purifier at the same time?

YesIn a damp basement the two work well together because they do different jobs.

The dehumidifier pulls moisture out of the air and keeps mold from finding the water it needs. The purifier catches the spores and dust already floating around. If you can only buy one, buy the dehumidifier first whenever your hygrometer reads above 60 percent, since a purifier does nothing about humidity.

Where should I put an air purifier in a basement?

Put it in the part of the basement where people spend time, such as the family room or home office, with clear space around every side. EPA advises keeping air cleaners away from curtains and anything else that blocks airflow.

Keep it off a damp floor and away from the dehumidifier's exhaust. In an L-shaped or divided basement, one unit cannot reach around corners well, so treat each section as its own room.

Do air purifiers with ionizers produce ozone?

Some can. EPA lists ionizers, electrostatic precipitators and UV lamps without adequate coatings among the air cleaners that may give off ozone, and it advises avoiding units that produce ozone on purpose.

Ozone is a lung irritant, and a basement with little fresh air lets it build up. If your purifier has an ionizer switch, leave it off and let the HEPA and carbon filters do the work.

Should I leave an air purifier on all the time in the basement?

Running it whenever the basement is in use, or around the clock on a low or auto setting, gives the best results. EPA notes that the longer an air cleaner runs, the more air it filters, though longer run times raise electricity use.

Check the filter more often than the box suggests, because damp basement air loads filters faster. EPA says makers typically recommend replacement every 60 to 90 days.

Who do I call right now for water damage?

Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. A recorded menu picks up first: choose water damage or mold, key in your 5-digit ZIP code, and hold through the short silence while the call is passed to the company.

Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line. If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.

Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7