Do air filters help with cat allergies
These days many of us have pets. If you have a dog, cat, or another furry friend, you may know that your home is full of pet hair, odors, and dander. A large number of pet lovers suffer from allergies. Wondering if an air purifier will work? You are in the right place. The Geniani team will show you all the benefits and risks of it.
Do air cleaners help with cat hair
More than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies each year. Cat and dog dander are the most common triggers according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Cleaning the couch and thick carpet with a vacuum may help. But you can rely on an air purifier to take care of all the cat hair wafted into the air.
It’s essential for you to realize a few things about pet hair and dander before you invest in an air purifier.
Allergy
Pet hair is not the culprit behind your allergies acting up. It’s the pet dander that’s attached to the hair that causes you to sneeze, your eyes to water, and your nose to get stuffy. Therefore, you should get rid of pet dander and hair as soon as possible.
The right filter
If you have allergies and want to remove pet hair and dander, you should invest in a “true” HEPA filter. It will eliminate the dander floating in the air. If you’re looking to eliminate pet odors as well as hair and dander, you should invest in an activated carbon + true HEPA filter which will reduce all kinds of foul smells your pet leaves behind.
Maintaining
You should aim for a pre-filter or a filter screen that is separate and can be removed and cleaned. The lifetime of the HEPA-filter will be much longer if you will follow the instructions for proper maintenance.
Cat dander and hair: what is the difference
It is essential for every pet owner to know the differences between pet dander and hair. This knowledge will help you to choose the right air purifier according to your specific needs. Knowing this will pay back dividends in the future because you’ll be able to buy the best pet air purifier for your home, save cash and be a happy cat or dog owner. The truth is that most people confuse pet dander with pet hair. While you may think that these two are the same thing, they really are different.
What is pet dander
Pet dander is actually microscopic pieces of skin. Pets shed it with hair or fur. Interesting fact: dander also comes from animals with feathers such as birds. Many people believe the myth that pet dander is only present in younger animals. But it is not true. In fact, pet dander gets worse as an animal gets older. He or she will shed a lot of dander as they age. Pet dander (and not hair) is the real cause of allergies that flare up in humans. Fortunately, a dedicated pet allergy air purifier can help reduce these particles.
What is pet hair
Pet hair is just hair. Are you surprised? People with pet allergies still think that they have allergic reactions to the pet’s hair. This is false. As we have already mentioned, people are allergic to pet dander, not the hair. However, animal hair is still an unsightly mess that collects around our homes. Luckily, a specialized air cleaner can help to get rid of it.
Why it matters
Knowing the difference between pet dander and pet hair will make it much easier for you to find the best air purifier for your home because you can get a device that’s specific to your needs. A person with dog or cat allergies will want to get the top air purifier for pet dander to eliminate it from a room, while someone who just wants to eliminate ugly pet hair from their house can use a simpler unit.
Does an air filter help with cat dander
An air purifier is so useful because it helps you get rid of the allergens in the air. This device will remove the particles that increase symptoms. If there are a low number of these particles in the air, you won’t suffer from a runny nose, itchy red eyes and sneezing all the time. You should understand that these allergens are not only present when your pet is in the room. They will be in the air all the time. Simply removing the pet from the room won’t help. That is why you definitely need to find a good air purifier. This device s 100% beneficial for every pet owner.
Air purifiers with true HEPA filters are effective in removing up to 99.97% of the particles. As you may know, these particles are so small that seeing them is impossible. A HEPA-filtered air purifier will destroy them, especially the larger particles.
7 things to know before buying an air purifier for pets
Before buying an air purifier to get rid of pet dander, smell and hair, you should learn everything about the device. These tips and information will help you to make the right choice.
The size of the room
The air purifier you purchase should have the capacity to cover your room or the home you live in. You will need to know the measurements—which doesn’t mean you have to get out your graphing calculator from seventh-grade math class. Simply estimate and multiply the length and width of the room to get the dimensions in square feet.
The placement
You need to find a location in your home where you will install the air purifier—which will probably end up where you and your family (and also your pet) mostly spend your time. Many people install the air purifier in the bedroom because you spend somewhere around 6-10 hours asleep every night, and clean air will help you sleep better. If you do choose your bedroom as the optimal location, make sure silence is a key feature of the purifier so it won’t disturb you while you’re sleeping.
Other common places to put your air purifier are the kitchen and living area. A kitchen is an excellent place for the air purifier if you want the purifier to filter out odors that come from cooking. However, if your primary goal for the air purifier is to filter out dust, then you might want to place it in the living area where most of the dust gets wafted into the air. Also, if you’re a cat owner, placing the air purifier somewhere near your cat’s litter box will eliminate the cat pee smell.
Type of filtration
If the main reason for the purifier is to reduce pet hair, odor, dander, dust, smoke, and pollen, find an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Filters that meet HEPA standards must remove 99.97% of particles that have a size greater than or equal to 0.3 µm. If you have allergies or sensitivities, it is especially important to find an air purifier with a HEPA filter, because it will filter out those allergens that trigger your symptoms. However, if the main problem is viruses or bacteria, an air purifier with UV-C technology, ozone purifiers or ionizers will be ideal.
Maintenance cost
To help with your budget (and bank account) an air purifier that is easy to maintain, clean, and operate can save you money in the long run. This will save both your time and effort. Also, check the availability of spare parts and the cost for replacement; otherwise you might end up with a purifier that is expensive to fix and maintain. It might be a good idea to buy a few spare filters when buying the air purifier. That way you have an extra one on hand when you notice it is time to change the filter.
The level of noise
If you can sleep through heavy rain, vacuum cleaning or any other noise, then chances are you probably won’t have a problem with a noisy purifier. However, if you can’t handle too much noise and still get a quiet night’s sleep, then consider getting yourself an air purifier that emphasizes more silent operation.
Effectiveness
The purifier’s Air Change Rate or ACR is also an important feature. This is the number of times the purifier can clean the air within a given space in an hour. Choosing a product from a well-known company is a good idea because they often have the best customer service.
Warranty
In the long run, the air purifier might break down. Instead of throwing it away, you may want to know if the company covers parts or the full product on the warranty. It could be lifetime free service or replacement of the entire product or damaged parts of the air purifier. Always check out any guarantee before purchasing the purifier.
Other ways to get rid of pet dander and hair
While a dedicated air purifier for pet dander and pet hair is highly effective, there are other ways to help keep these pesky particles under control. By following these additional tips below, you can guarantee that your home remains free of animal dander and hair.
Bathing
One of the best ways to keep pet dander under control is to bathe your pet regularly. In fact, up to 85% of dander can be removed from a household pet by bathing it weekly. Unfortunately, the truth is that not many of us have that kind of free time to keep up with a weekly wash. If you can bathe your pet at least every two weeks or at a minimum every month, you’ll be much better able to control the pet dander inside your home. Combining this cleaning ritual with an air purifier will keep your home pet dander free for years to come. In order to control pet hair in between baths, it’s important to start at the root of the problem – your pet’s fur.
Brushing
Brushing your cat or dog once per day or at least 2-3 times per week will drastically reduce the amount of pet hair that accumulates inside your home. While yes, an air purifier can collect pet hair and remove it from a room.
Tape
Finally, for stubborn pet dander and hair that has attached itself to your furniture, a simple way to get rid of it is to use a roll of packing tape or clothing tape roller to remove lint. If you have a clothing tape roller then you should already be accustomed to how to use it. Just use it to pick up hair on furniture instead of your clothing.
Will an air purifier help with cat odors
Yes, an air purifier can get rid of pet odors as long as it includes true HEPA and activated carbon filters. These filters are types that remove pet odor particles from the air and trap them inside. The result is fresher smelling air. For best results from the air purifier here are some tips. We put together the top 5 tips to get the best possible results from your pet air purifier.
5 tips on using your pet air purifier
After you buy an air purifier, there are a few things you can do to maximize its efficiency. In order to get the most out of your new air purifier for pets, follow these tips:
Space to breathe
Air purifiers need space around them to ensure proper airflow. Therefore, keep at least two feet of space around all sides and the top of the unit. Also, be sure all four sides are unobstructed for proper air circulation. Unobstructed air circulation will allow it to collect the highest amount of pet dander and hair from the room.
Location
Household pets prefer to spend a lot of time in certain areas of a room rather than others. Therefore, to cut down on the most dander, hair, and odors, it’s a good idea to put the air purifier close to the area your cat or dog hangs out the most. For example, next to a couch, a favorite corner, or special pet bed on the floor.
Run it 24/7
You may be tempted to turn your pet air purifier on and off in order to conserve energy. However, that is not the most efficient plan. In order to keep pet dander, hair, and odors under control try to use this device all the time. Today’s air purifiers are very energy-efficient, so you don’t have to worry about it costing much to operate.
Keep doors and windows closed
When you’re trying to combat pet dander and odors with an air purifier, it’s important that you keep everything closed. Opening windows may seem like a good idea to let those types of particles float outside. Unfortunately, it actually forces your air purifier to overwork itself. When doors and windows are kept closed there will come a point when the air purifier has removed all of the airborne contaminants. At that point, a room’s air can stay up to 99.97% clean while operating on its lowest setting.
Stay on top of filter changes
Every air purifier manufacturer will recommend how often you should clean or replace the internal filters. Some filters may require cleaning or replacement every three to six months. Others may not need to be changed for twelve months or more. The product’s manual will guide you for the best results.
Is a HEPA filter really helpful for cat allergies
Living with pets doesn’t have to be a pain as long as you know how to keep your house healthy and clean. We hope that this guide has helped you to choose the best air purifier for pets and get the one that serves your needs as a cat or dog owner.