4 Ways A Pet Air Purifier Can Help You
We all love our pets, treating them as a family member. We cuddle them, use them as a stress reliever. Living with pets have a multitude of benefits but they can also seriously impact your health. Does your pet make you sneeze? Do you suffer from red, itchy eyes? If yes, you may be suffering from pet allergy and could do with a Pet Air Purifier.
But don’t worry you are not alone. As many as 3 out of 10 people have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. Cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies. But don’t blame your furry pet for that. It could be pet dander that’s causing the allergic reaction. Pet dander is the microscopic dead skin cells that your pet sheds.
What causes pet allergies?
Allergic reactions are caused by your immune system overreacting to something that is otherwise not harmful to you. Pets produce several different substances that can trigger allergies. The immune system reacts to the protein molecules of the allergen.
It is also worth noting that pet allergens cause very small particles. Once they float in the air, they can stay there for hours. They can get into your body through inhalation. Although microscopic, they are still large enough to get picked up by certain kinds of filters. Aside from dander, there are other kinds of allergens that cause allergic reactions.
Pet Hair
While pet hair itself rarely causes an allergic reaction, it helps trap the particles of dander. This can become problematic if it collects on the floor, furniture, or into the air. It collects other animal products such as saliva or urine, which can also cause allergic reactions.
Dust Bunnies
Dust bunnies can often be home to accumulated pet dander, hair, and saliva aside from other common household allergens like pollen and mold spores. These feed on pet dander, multiply and produce more allergens that can become airborne and cause even more allergic reactions.
Pet saliva and accidents
Pet saliva is another common animal-related allergen. When your pets lick themselves, the protein in the saliva can stick to their fur resulting to allergic reactions. Also, if you do not wash your pet regularly, the proteins in their urine can accumulate in their fur as well.
How does a Pet Air Purifier Work?
Whether you or your loved one is allergic to your dog, cat, or pet, you need to get rid of the allergens that causes it. Getting a home air purifier can do a great job in removing these tiny particles and providing relief from allergy and asthma triggers.
Depending on the technology, air purifiers uses a filter to remove particles that can have a significant amount on the amount of pet allergens. These tiny particles stay suspended in the air for a long period of time even if your pet is not home. Removing them can help reduce the symptoms of allergy as much as possible.
HEPA Filters
Air purifiers utilize High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system. These air purifiers are designed to remove 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 micrometers in size. They are capable of capturing and removing airborne particulates on the sub-micron level.
A HEPA filter can capture stands of pet fur or skin flakes but needs to be safely and regularly changed so as not to release particles back into the air during replacement. Pet dander and pet hair can clog the filter which may reduce its effectiveness.
Ionizers
Ionizers utilize an electronic charge to pet allergen particles that flow past. The charged particles will then stick to nearby surfaces like walls or furniture. However, ionizers usually do not contain a fan and not much air can pass by leaving plenty of space that your pet occupies unaddressed. Aside from that, the charged particles of pet dander or allergens can deposit on floors or other surfaces. They can be easily be disturbed by someone who is walking or a vacuum cleaner. Also, ionizing air purifiers could produce ozone which is itself a harmful pollutant.
Carbon air filters
Other purifiers are equipped with an activated carbon filtration system which helps remove cat smell left by your pets in your home. Carbon filters are designed to remove specific types of gases in the air. They are not designed to remove small and large particles which makes them ineffective for pet danger and pet hair. However, carbon filter is still preferred by pet owners to help them remove dog smell
PECO.
There are also molecule air purifiers that contain a proprietary technology called Photo Electrochemical Oxidation or PECO. These air purifiers are designed for the allergens carried on small particles of pet danger or pet hair. These allergen-producing articles break off and pass through traditional filters. These particles remain suspended in the air and are normally not addressed by traditional filters.
At the Pre-Filter stage large particles of pet hair or pet dander is stopped from passing through. In Stage 2, PECO works by destroying the smallest allergy-producing proteins carried by pet dander or pet hair.
Choosing the Right Pet Air Purifier
When it comes to air purifiers for pets, not all of them are created equal. You may want an air purifier that will stop pet allergies on their tracks or you may want a product that will help remove cat urine smell. This article will guide you on what to look for in an air purifier.
Fit the Pet Air Purifier to the size of the room
The efficacy of an air purifiers depends on the maximum space that it can cover. You will want to make sure that the size of the room matches the right unit. If you will install it in a bedroom, an air purifier designed for covering 300 square feet will do a great job. However, that unit will not be effective in a large living room or entire basement area.
Filter replacement indicator
Look for units that comes with an indicator that will alert you when it’s time to change the filter. In your hectic schedule, you may forget that your filter needs some changing for it to be able to help remove dog urine smell.
The right purifier will help you feel the effects within hours. This way, you won’t have to get rid of your pet canine or feline and co-exist with them.