If you are an animal lover, you may be overwhelmed when it comes to the best air purifiers. Great units like the Filtrete Fap02 air purifier, Winix 5500, and the Levoit Core 300 and 350 are great at cleaning the air. But, do air purifiers help with pet allergies? We are here to help answer that question and give some necessary information.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Pet allergies are typically activated when pet dander is released into the air and breathed in.
- Air purifiers can help reduce the symptoms of pet allergies by drawing in pet dander, trapping it or destroying it, and then releasing filtered air back into your home.
- HEPA air purifiers are generally considered the best choice when it comes to reducing pet-related allergens.
What Is Pet Dander?
Pet dander is material that is shed from a beloved pet, such as a dog or cat, as they go about daily life. This dander is not dissimilar to dandruff on a human. When people say they are allergic to an animal, they are usually referring to the animal’s dander. So, if you know how to use the air purifier in your home, it will help you to reduce pet dander and ease your allergies.
Insider Tip
Pet dander is material that is shed from a beloved pet, such as a dog or cat, as they go about daily life.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Allergies?
Yes, most modern air purifiers will help reduce the amount of pet-related allergens in the home or office. Pet dander can often be found floating in the air, where it can be filtered, trapped, and destroyed by a high-grade air purifier. Unfortunately, if the unit isn’t working as intended, you may ask yourself why is my air purifier not working.
Air purifiers can work with a central air unit, but their efficiency is dependent on their power. They’re similar to how commercial air purifiers work since they are bigger units. Don’t forget that duct work needs to be clean for an efficient system. You can read more about how important this is in our article on duct cleaning vs an air purifier.
But also, it requires that you clean its HEPA filter regularly and make sure your air purifier works for your allergies.
Tips to Decrease Pet Allergens
Here are some tips to help you reduce the amount of pet-related allergens in your home, so you spend time with your furry friends without worry.
Choose the Right Air Purifier
You should take some time to shop around to choose the best air purifier for pet-related allergies. You can read our comparison of an electrostatic air purifier vs HEPA to see which one may help. Most air purifiers will handle pet dander to some degree, but a purifier equipped with a true HEPA filter will likely do the best job. HEPA filters can be pricey, however, as they cannot be cleaned and must be disposed of and replaced every six months to a year. Disposing of a HEPA filter also means that you will dispose of any pet-related allergens trapped inside.
Insider Tip
Most air purifiers will handle pet dander to some degree, but a purifier equipped with a true HEPA filter will likely do the best job.
Use the Purifier Correctly
If you live in a multiple-pet household and are looking for quick relief, consider running the air purifier continuously. Modern air purifiers will suffer no ill effects from being left on all of the time, as long as you keep the purifier on one of the lower settings and learn how to clean your air purifier properly. This will make short work out of pet allergens. And, if you know what is the CADR rating of the device, it will work great. Of course, keeping an air purifier on continuously will hasten the need to replace or clean the air filter.
Groom Your Pets
Eliminate pet-related allergens at the source by having your furry friends regularly groomed. You can do this with a professional or by yourself using any number of high-grade grooming tools. This will limit the amount of pet dander that gets in the air.
When selecting an air purifier, such as the one in our Honeywell Home review, it’s beneficial to review the product to ensure it meets your needs and preferences.
Warning
When people say they are allergic to an animal, they are usually referring to the animal’s dander.
F.A.Q.
What type of air purifier is best for reducing pet dander?
HEPA-based air purifiers are considered the best option for reducing pet dander, though they only trap these allergens. You may want to consider a hybrid unit that features a HEPA filter to trap the particles and some kind of mechanism that works to destroy them.
Do air purifiers help with cigarette smoke?
Yes, most air purifiers will help with cigarette smoke, cigar smoke, and other types of smoke. The smoke will be drawn into the air purifier and filtered.
Where is the best place to put your air purifier?
You should put the air purifier as close to the source of the air pollutants as possible. In the case of pet dander, keep it in the room where pets spend most of their time.
STAT: According to The Humane Society, 62% of American households have at least one pet. (source)
