Most people have a pet of some kind. Whether you’re a cat person, a dog person, or you love both equally there’s one thing we can all agree on; their hair gets everywhere. Not only is pet hair annoying to clean up, but it can have negative effects on our health. Pet hair causes allergies and can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory conditions. That’s to say nothing of the odor.
What Does an Air Purifier for Pets Do?
The main thing that any good air purifier for pet allergies and asthma will do is eliminate pet dander. The dander is the reason that pet hair can be so dangerous. Contrary to popular belief, this dander is actually unrelated to the fur of your pet. That’s why you can still be allergic to hairless animals. The dander is a microscopic bit of skin that they shed. Animals such as dogs, cats, rodents, and birds all produce dander.
Pet dander
Given that dander is so small and light it can spread through the air easily. Whenever it comes into contact with someone with allergies it causes a range of allergic reactions including watery and itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing, skin rashes, shortness of breath, and more.
Some animals are known to produce a protein in their saliva that mimics the effects of dander and causes allergic reactions too. Given how often animals clean and preen themselves, these proteins often find their way on to the dander as well, which only makes it worse for allergy sufferers.
Air purifier for pet allergies
What you want is an air purifier for pet allergies; an air purifier that is able to eliminate dander from the air so that it doesn’t come into contact with an allergy sufferer.
How to Choose the Best Air Purifier for Pets
If you want to get an air purifier that works to counteract pet allergies then you need an air purifier for pet dander. That means that you have to get a True HEPA air purifier. These purifiers are guarantee to remove 99.97% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns. That includes any kind of pet dander from any animal. The reality is that the idea of a single best air purifier for pets is a bit subjective. You should be good with just about any true HEPA air purifier.
True HEPA air filters work by sucking particles from the air – including dander particles – and trapping them within the filter. After the allergens are collected and trapped, they aren’t released back into the air. So, they never reach your eyes, nose, or skin.
The longer you keep the air purfier going, the more pet dander it removes. If you can find one that can handle it, then leaving one on around the clock offers near-permanent relief.
If you don’t have an allergy to pets but you just want to get rid of the hair that is filling up the home, then you could consider going for a cheaper option. If you don’t need the benefits offered by a “True HEPA” filter then there’s no reason to spend more money on one.
An air filter with a “HEPA-type filter” is the best air purifier for pet hair that doesn’t get rid of dander. While they have a slightly different name, a HEPA-type filter captures particles between 2 and 4 microns in size. This is more than enough for actual pet fur but it won’t trap dander.
If you’re after an air purifier for pet odor then you should keep an eye out for air filters that have an activated carbon filter. These are the only types of air filters that are able to eliminate odors. Regular HEPA filters – true or not – aren’t able to do this. The activated carbon filter works similar to the HEPA filter, but with smells. It basically traps odor particles like a HEPA filter traps dander particles, preventing them from being released back into the air.
Key Features to look out for when buying an Air Purifier
Our checklist includes when choosing an air purifier.
– Price range: It depends on how much you want to invest in a suitable air purifier
– Filtration system: The different types of filters or other air purification systems used in an air purifier.
– Filter replacement indicator: Some air purifiers have indicators which notify you when you need to replace the filter specifically for the HEPA filter as it cannot be cleaned and reused.
– Air quality indicator: Some air purifiers have indicators which notify you of the air quality.
– Noise level: Air purifiers have different motor speeds which could get noisy especially if you want in on during the night whilst sleeping and something you should take into consideration. Measured in decibels.
– Coverage area: It is the square feet for air an air purifier can effectively filter
– Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): Indicates the number of tobacco smoke, pollen and dust an air purifier can remove in a certain area. Tests performed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).
– Cubic feet per minute (CFM) : How many cubic feet per minute this air purifier can filter this measures the air purification efficiency of the air purifier.
– Fan Speeds: This gives you the ability to s time to filter the air for example when there is cigarette smoke in the air and you want to get rid of the odor. Turn down the speed for when you sleeping and want the noise level as low as possible.
– Item Dimensions: The width, length and height of the air purifier and how it fits in the room.
– Power Consumption: How much electricity the air purifier uses and what wattage it is suitable for.
– Warranty: You warranty this is primarily for the motor of the air purifier since you may be leaving the air purifier on for long periods, you want your motor to be of great quality. And not die in 2 or 3 years of use.
Other features which manufacturers add to air purifiers
Unique features: Some air purifiers have UV lights, ion generators, eco modes, specifically designed HEPA filters and other features such as interchangeable covers.
Types of Air purifier filtration systems
Common air filtration system
Unusual air filtration system
True High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter (HEPA)
Pre Mesh Filter
Active carbon filter
UV-C light
PlasmaWave®
Air ionizer
PhotoElectroChemical Oxidation (PECO)PhotoCatalytic Oxidation (PCO)
Titanium dioxide (TiO2)
Ozone generators (O3)
Electrostatic precipitators
Thermodynamic Sterilization (TSS)
Oxygen Plus Technology
Best Air Purifiers for Pet owners
That is exactly what we have presented here for you!
Air Purifier for pets Comparison Table
Comparison Table | Rabbit Air Minus A2 SPA 700 |
Winix 5500-2 |
Germ Guardian AC4825 | Alen Breathe Smart |
Honeywell HPA 300 |
Winix 5300-2 |
Blueair Classic 480i |
Coway AP- 1512HH |
Dyson Pure Hot + Cool |
Price range | High | Low | Low | High | Mid | Mid | High | Low | High |
Warranty (Years) |
5 Years Complete Warranty | 2 year | 3 Years | forever | 5 Years | 2 year | 1 year | 4 Years | 2 Years |
Filtration System | 6 - stage Ion | 3 - stage | 3 - stage | 5+ Ion | 3 - stage | 3 - stage | 3 - stage | 4 - stage Ion | 2 - stage |
Filter Replacement Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Air Quality Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Noise Levels in dB | 20.8 - 45.6 dB | 26.6 - 58 dB | 40 - 55 dB | 41.5 - 56 dB | 39.3 - 61 dB | 28 - 58 dB | 33 - 52 dB | 24.4 - 53.8 dB | 35 - 57 dB |
Item Dimensions | 20 x 21 x 7 inches | 23.6 x 14.9 x 7.8 inches | 21.5 x 5.5 x 9.25 inches | 17.8 x 26.8 x 10 inches |
20.8 x 22.4 x 10.8 inches | 23.6 x 14.9 x 7.8 inches | 20 x 11 x 23 inches | 16.8 x 18.3 x 9.6 inches | 8.7 x 6 x 24.9 inches |
Coverage Sq ft | 815 | 360 | 167 | 1100 | 465 | 360 | 520 | 326 | 500 |
CADR Scores | Dust: 193 Pollen: 200 Smoke: 180 |
Dust: 243 Pollen: 246 Smoke: 232 |
Dust: 118 Pollen: 125 Smoke: 108 |
Dust: 276 Pollen: 301 Smoke: 256 |
Dust: 320 Pollen: 300 Smoke: 300 |
Dust: 243 Pollen: 246 Smoke: 232 |
Dust: 300 Pollen: 300 Smoke: 280 |
Dust: 246 Pollen: 240 Smoke: 233 |
Dust: N/A Pollen: N/A Smoke: N/A |
Special Feature | Segment leading warranty and filtration technology as well as unique design | PlasmaWave Technology | HEPA filter and UV-C at low price | Customizable designer panels and HEPA filters to choose from and the forever guarantee. | Great coverage for the Price - Great value for money | PlasmaWave Technology and Great Value for money | Sleep mode, Remote, Timer, Portable, wifi enabled with mobile app to monitor air quality | Small powerfull and 2 colors to choose | 350˚ oscillation,acts as an air conditioner cooling and heating the air, with a timer and remote to manage the device. |