Autumn McClain  |  June 24, 2020

Category: Household

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A woman pets a cat.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the National Advertising Division is a division of BBB National Programs, not the Better Business Bureau.

Molekule makes several claims on their site regarding the efficacy of their air filtering products including that their filter “destroys the widest range of pollutants,” is “proven by science,” and is “like no other.”According to Wirecutter, their air purifiers may be like no other, but not in the way consumers might hope. In fact, in their exploration of the device, the popular technology review site called Molekule “the worst air purifier we’ve ever tested.”

So, does Molekule work? Sort of, according to product testing reports.

Where is Molekule Made?

Molekule is based in San Francisco, Calif. However, according to the company site, the components of Molekule products are made in a variety of places across the globe. Specifically, the company lists the U.S., Malaysia, and China as the locations of their manufacturing divisions.

Does Molekule Work?

So how exactly does Molekule work? Molekule cites their Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO) technology as the thing that sets their products apart. PECO reportedly uses free radicals to “break down pollutants at a molecular level.”

First, Molekule takes in the air in the room around it “from every angle.” Next, the air is circulated through the pre-filter which is meant to remove larger allergens and slow down other pollutants on their way to the PECO filter. Molekule calls the next step “purification at its best,” and it involves a nanoparticle-coated filter being used to break down pollutants. Finally, Molekule releases “harmless molecules” into the air.

There are several reasons to think that this purification process doesn’t work. Consumer Reports and Wirecutter have both published reviews of Molekule that say the air purifier didn’t perform as well as they hoped.

Furthermore, Molekule competitor Dyson filed challenges against 26 claims made by Molekule regarding their filters. The National Advertising Division (NAD), a division of BBB National Programs, upheld all 26 challenges and Molekule was forced to take the claims down. As Wirecutter writes, this widespread retraction “makes it hard to take any of Molekule’s claims seriously.”

Molekule vs HEPA: Which Works Better?

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air and is a classification of air purifiers. While most air purifiers do things like remove dust, pollen, mildew, and pet dander, HEPA filters go one step further and remove airborne pathogens like bacteria and viruses.

Does Molekule work better than a HEPA filter? Molekule claims that their PECO technology allows their filters to “destroy pollutants 1000 times smaller than the standard filters must meet to qualify as HEPA” and further claims that their filters are “the only technology that destroys a broad spectrum of pollutants, regardless of size.” These claims are currently under question.

In their review of claims made by Molekule, NAD recommended several changes to the language the company uses to market its purifiers. Most notably, NAD is requesting that Molekule remove any claims that their devices are superior to HEPA filters.

NAD notes that Molekule never did any testing to compare the performance of their purifier with “even a single HEPA air purifier,” so they can’t claim that their filters are better. To formulate their recommendations, NAD examines evidence provided by the challenger and does their own additional research.

Molekule Consumer Reports Testing

Consumer Reports has tested and reviewed wide range of products including at least 48 air purifiers. To test these purifiers, Consumer Reports uses a battery of standard air purifier tests.

Specifically, the purifiers are placed in a sealed chamber that is then injected with particles as large as 1 micron and as small as .1 micron. This range is intended to include dust mite allergens, smog, smoke, cat allergens, and dust. The air is tested before and after the purifier has been run for 15 minutes. Purifiers are tested at a range of speeds to determine their efficacy on different settings.

What Were the Molekule Air Purifier Performance Test Results?

During their testing process, Consumer Reports found that the Molekule purifier ranges in effectiveness from Fair to Poor (the lowest rating) depending on what is being tested. Specifically, when tested for smoke and dust removal, the Molekule scored a Fair rating on its highest speed and a Poor rating on its lowest.

The Molekule is advertised for rooms of up to 600 square feet, but Consumer Reports found that the device wouldn’t be able to purify the air for any room larger than 100 square feet. Molekule was also at the higher end of the price spectrum: the Molekule Air is sold for $800 and Consumer Reports estimates that it will cost an additional $180 per year in filters and energy input.

The primary takeaway of Consumer Reports’ testing seems to be that, while the Molekule may be effective at purifying the air of microscopic particles, it fails to catch large particles.

Can You File a False Marketing Lawsuit?

Molekule has made numerous claims regarding their devices that have since needed to be walked back. This means that it’s likely that some consumers purchased the devices based on claims that have since been determined to be untrue. It’s possible that Molekule could face false advertising suits regarding these claims.

Recently, Molekule’s Chief Scientist has made statements claiming that the device “will destroy Coronavirus,” but, based on research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this claim may be misleading as the primary cause of the spread of COVID-19 is person-to-person contact, not the air. Since the pandemic began, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent warning letters to 250 companies regarding false or misleading claims they’ve made surrounding the novel coronavirus, but Molekule has yet to receive such a warning, according to reports by the FTC.

If you purchased a Molekule air purifier under the belief that it would work as well if not better than a HEPA filter at removing pollutants and pathogens from the air, you may be eligible to file a class action lawsuit.

Join a Free Molekule Air Purifier Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

Did you pay more for a Molekule Air, Molekule Air Mini, or Molekule Air Mini+ than you would have had you known the truth about the product? If so, you may be able to join this class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

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4 thoughts onDoes Molekule Work?

  1. Brian Stamper says:

    Constantly replacing filters it seams. I wish I knew how much the filters and interval changes were going to be relative, money spent into the trash can 3-4 times a year. Square footage is a lie so I moved it from the living room, into the bedroom. I use to buy used cars in the 90’s for this 700-800 dollar price per unit. ADD ME to this Class ACTION

  2. Kelly feigum says:

    Add me please

  3. Agnes Craine says:

    Add me please

  4. Robert J Goudin says:

    Add me please

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