How to Choose the Best Air Purifier for Pet Owners

Owning a pet isn’t all fine and dandy. Ask any of the 85 million American households, and they’ll tell you upfront. Pets are breathing factories of dander and nasty odors, in addition to the endless hair and waste cleaning.

As a pet owner, you have likely come to terms with all the work involved, but when the health of family members comes into play, you have to re-evaluate the options altogether. For example, a kid in the household may have asthma or some form of allergy. Dander, the microscopic patches of skin discarded by our hairy companions, is the principal reason for pet-connected allergic reactions.

 

Understandably, kissing our pets goodbye is not an option and never will. The simple solution for that problem is air purifiers that aid in removing nasty particles in the air, including dander, that set off allergic reactions. How potent are air purifiers in stamping out dander and other allergy-inducing particulates? What are the best options available in the market?

Before answering those questions, let’s get up close and personal with allergic reactions.

How Allergies Develop

Allergic reactions happen when the immune system wrongly identifies a substance as harmful. These substances, or allergens, trigger the immune system to release chemicals that lead to symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and shortness of breath.

Dander particles are tiny and often not seen by the naked eye, so they easily get trapped in the rugs, corners, and furniture, while staying airborne for extended periods. Pet hair does not often cause allergic reactions, but it gets entangled with dander particles or may be in contact with the pet’s bodily fluids.

Does an air purifier actually eradicate allergens in the air? Yes, but its effectiveness rests on the technology it implements. Let’s review some of the most common implementations:

Types of Filters Used by Air Purifiers

Carbon Air Filters. Carbon has long been utilized to dispose of certain types of gases in the air, and there is no question regarding its effectiveness. Nonetheless, it’s not the best option when it comes to airborne particles. Carbon air filters eliminate odors, but dealing with allergens in the air is not their cup of tea.

Ionizers. Ionizers sanitize the air by electronically charging its molecules. However, they do not actually eliminate dander and also emit ozone, which can be unsafe for people and pets alike. Truth be told, ionizers are not worth the money and the headache that comes along with it.

HEPA Filters. A HEPA filter catches the majority of airborne particles that are 0.3 micrometers in size. Anything smaller could get past without a problem. Nevertheless, HEPA filter technology has developed significantly in recent years and sometimes traps as small particles as 0.1 micrometers in size. Because of their efficiency and practicality, HEPA filters are treated as the yardstick of air filtration systems.

PCO and PECO. PCO (photocatalytic oxidation) and its cousin on steroids, PECO (photoelectrochemical oxidation), are robust air purification technologies. PCO has been used to clean contaminated air and water since the 1990s, removing particles in the air as small as 0.001 microns by means of oxidation.

PECO is a boosted version of PCO but claims to do it faster and more efficiently. While PCO uses UV-C light to break apart oxygen so that it becomes ozone, PECO utilizes UV-A light to fragmentize ozone to become oxygen.

Things to Consider Before Choosing an Air Purification System

If the most important benchmark for you is the hit on your wallet, you can scratch off the 800-dollar PECO technology altogether as a viable option. Gladly, there are much cheaper yet effective options in the market that combine two or even three technologies in the price of one.

Besides the price, here are some things to ponder when deciding on the appropriate air purifier:

• Size of the room
• Type of filter combinations
• Unit placing
• Maintenance
• Noise level and power consumption
• Warranty
• Brand reputation
• Strong CADR (clean air delivery rate)

There is no all-encompassing approach when it comes to selecting an air purifier. Circumstances vary, and what’s satisfactory for one may not be necessarily applicable to others.

5 Best Air Purifiers for Pet Owners

Health Protect 7770i

The BlueAir Health Protect is the absolute cream of the crop without busting a hole in your wallet. The technology it possesses far surpasses its monetary value. It uses a Smart filter technology that separates particles 0.1 micrometers (most only handle 0.3 microns), so aside from pet dander, bacteria and viruses have met their match with the BlueAir Health protect. It comes with a pre-filter, electrostatic charging, and super-efficient HEPAsilent technology.

Winix HR900

Nobody in their right minds would say no to value, so we’re not going to stop with BlueAir Health Protect. The Winix HR900 also offers something to the table, and while it’s priced a little higher than No. 1, perhaps you’ll find its features more appealing for your current circumstances.

The Winix HR900 offers what they call five stages of True HEPA filtration, a coated deodorization Activated Carbon filter, and a Smart Sensor. These features are particularly beneficial even if you don’t have pet-related allergies.

he activated carbon filter is guaranteed to reduce 97% of nasty smells while the Smart Sensor acts as a barometer of indoor air quality, as indicated by its AHAM-certified CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate. The Smart Sensor acts as an air quality inspector, providing evaluation in real-time. Using this information, the user consequently tailors the filter’s fan to appropriately handle the amount of air allergens.

LeVoit LV-H132 Air Purifier

The LeVoit Air Purifier is small and compact, but don’t let its small stature fool you! It can adequately deal with allergens and nasty smells in small to medium-sized rooms with no problem. It is also a power saver, using 30% less energy than most air purifiers. The only downside is the white noise, but if you can handle it, the trade-off is its combination of power and handiness.

Coway Airmega 400

The Airmega 400 is now the flagship product of Coway, and for a good reason. It boasts the characteristics of the other air purifiers, but it can do so around a wider area. (The unit is tested to clean a 1,560-square-foot space without trouble.) What’s more, the motor produces only 22 decibels of noise — literally quieter than a whisper.

BreatheSmart FIT50

Could the Alen BreatheSmart FIT50 be the right product for you? That’s up to you to decide, but let us count the ways. One, it boasts four types of HEPA, so it’s more than capable of handling all possible allergens. Two, it comes with 2.7 pounds of activated carbon that eliminates any undesirable smells. Lastly, it operates using WhisperMax technology that converts vibrations into pink noise, ensuring a deep and restful sleep. What’s not to like?

The Verdict: Best Air Purifiers for Pet Owners

Pets are virtually members of the family. But caring for them requires a lot of effort, not to mention the potential pet-related allergies it brings along.

 

To competently deal with these troublesome situations, the air purifiers discussed above are manufactured to filtrate minuscule particles, including pet hair and dander. What’s more, they are laced with technology that essentially eliminates odors while promoting deep sleep. As far as technology goes, several air filtration products come with smart sensors that give their own air quality assessment, allowing you to regulate the controls to sufficiently deal with the number of air contaminants in real-time.

If your family’s health is non-negotiable to you, there are worse things you can do than getting an air purifier designed for pet owners.