No matter how much you love your pet, dealing with funky odors and excess hair is unpleasant. It’s one of the less fun parts of being a pet parent. If you have an old pal who has gas problems or a kitty who enjoys roughing up the litter box, then an air purifier might be what you need.
Not only will an air purifier reduce lingering odors, but it will also remove excess hair. The elimination of both creates a more comfortable living space, while those dealing with allergies will feel relieved.
The Importance of Air Purifiers when You Have Pets
Even if no family member has pet allergies, an air purifier can still benefit your household’s health. While many people blame pet hair for allergies, there’s another air pollutant that can cause this discomfort.
Pets shed microscopic protein flecks known as dander. When pets clean themselves through scratching or licking, dander is released into the air. Dander is also the reason why many pet owners still suffer from allergies even though they’ve chosen a hairless cat or dog.
Blood, saliva and urine are also pet allergens. They quickly spread through the air and can’t be spotted with the naked eye. These three allergens also stick to surfaces like carpets, counters and furniture. They can even stick to your clothes and leave a lingering potent odor.
Inhaling pet dander or the odor of other allergens can cause coughing, sneezing, or wheezing. Although vacuuming your house can keep these at bay, it’s not always enough.
How Does an Air Purifier Work?
Air purifiers draw air through different filters and release it once purified. It is through this process that odors and chemical vapors are absorbed and eliminated.
Some air purifier models have a two-stage (or more) filter, including pre-filters, activated carbon filters and HEPA filters.
Pre-filters are designed to catch large particles. Carbon filters absorb odors, vapors, and VOCs. HEPA filters thoroughly capture the most minuscule particles like dust mites and pet dander. Some air purifying models don’t have all three filters, but they still work exceptionally well.
NOTE: If you have allergens caused by pets, then a true HEPA filter is a must. If not, then a HEPA-grade filter will do. True HEPA filters are more thorough than HEPA-grade filters, which only capture 99% of pollutants. While large particles will still be removed from the air, a true HEPA filter will deliver the cleanest result.
Features to Look for in an Air Purifier
Besides activated carbon and HEPA filters, there are other features of air purifiers that you should note. These include:
Size: Purifiers come in various sizes, and this generally determines how big of an area they can cover. Some of the smallest units only cover 100 – 360 square feet. Before purchasing an air purifier, decide which size you’ll need for the area you’d like covered.
Location
While some purifiers can be stood on a kitchen counter, shelf, or table, others require more space. Big models need clearance and work better next to a sofa or in a corner.
Settings
Some air purifiers are automated. This is an excellent feature if you’re someone who likes to pre-set run times or want something that will automatically operate as needed. Many air purifier models include sleep or auto modes, and some even indicate when a filter replacement is required. More advanced units can detect the severity of air pollution in the area through special sensors and then automatically adjust their fan speed to purify it. While many disapprove of bright nightlight features that can’t be turned off on some units, sleep mode usually runs with a lower fan speed and reduced sound levels to accommodate a quiet environment.
Pre-Filter
If your air purifier has a pre-filter, check that it is washable. Because pets shed a lot of unnoticed hair that lingers in the air, on clothes or furniture, the pre-filter should be washed to clean the hair it catches. Although pre-filters are great at catching hair and large particles, they can quickly get clogged. If it feels like your air purifier isn’t working efficiently, it probably needs a rinse.
The Best Air Purifiers for Homes with Pets
While compiling the list below, we kept the features mentioned above in mind. It is based on real customer reviews from people who own pets. After diligent research, we compiled this list of the best air purifiers for homes with pets.
Winix 5300-2 Air Purifier
The Winix 5300-2 is best suited for medium-sized rooms up to 360 square feet. It is similar to the Winix HR900 model, but can cover a larger area.
This model is equipped with a three-stage filtration system which consists of a pre-filter, carbon filter, and a true HEPA filter. It has different modes, four fan speeds, and smart sensors. The Winix 5300-2 breaks down allergens and odor molecules with PlasmaWave Technology.
What We Like
The true HEPA filter has an efficiency rating of 99.97%. It can remove micro allergens, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen from the air and capture other pollutants like mold spores and chemicals. Thanks to the high and turbofan speeds on this unit, large amounts of air can be purified in one go.
PlasmaWave Technology is highly efficient at breaking down odors at molecular levels. The activated carbon filter also absorbs foul odors, ensuring that lingering pet smells are a thing of the past! Another benefit of PlasmaWave Technology is that it also destroys allergens, bacteria, and viruses. Furthermore, Winix claims that it doesn’t produce any ozone.
Auto modes on this purifier utilize smart sensors to monitor air quality and adjust fan speeds accordingly. It also has a sleep mode that only reaches 27 decibels and no nightlight to ensure a relaxed rest.
What We Disike
The Winix 5300-2 is large and takes up a lot of space.
Its replacement filters are expensive.
Winix HR900 Air Purifier
The Winix HR900 was designed with common pet issues like dander, hair and odors in mind. It has a five-stage washable filter with advanced odor control. If one of your primary issues is hair that has been shed, then this model will make a huge difference. The unit also has PlasmaWave Technology to break down any allergens, chemical vapors, or odors lingering in the air.
What We Like
The Winix HR900 was designed with pets in mind and this sets it apart from other models. After its pre-filter has removed hair, its true HEPA filter captures pet dander and the most delicate strands that escape through the other filters. The carbon filter absorbs dog urine or cat litter odors and can be washed when needed.
This model can purify a room of approximately 300 square feet. Although it’s big, this model has a modern and sleek design, so you don’t have to worry about it becoming an eye-sore.
Its PlasmaWave Technology instantly breaks down allergens and odor particles at a molecular level.
Automated features monitor the air quality of your room and notify you of the pollution levels via a color-changing light display.
What We Dislike
While this model has a sleep mode, its fan is reduced to a barely functional speed.
Bissell MyAir Personal Air Purifier
The MyAir is one of the best air purifiers you can purchase on a budget. While it’s cheaper than other options, it still delivers excellent results. The MyAir purifier has a three-stage filtration system, quickly catches hair and pet dander, and eliminates unpleasant odors. It’s recommended that you use the unit in rooms no larger than 100 square feet.
What We Like
The unit is small enough to fit on a desk or bedside table, making it a perfect buy if your pets sleep in bed with you or if want to run a purifier in a nursery.
It runs quietly, at a whisper, which is perfect for night-time use. Also, its nightlight can be turned off.
It has a few different modes that you can choose from for your room and air quality needs.
The MyAir is easy to maintain and the unit will even notify you when a filter replacement is due.
Its activated carbon filters absorb any odors.
The unit is also travel-friendly.
What We Dislike
The unit only has a low and high fan speed setting.
Medify MA-50 H13 Air Purifier
The Medify Ma-50 is an excellent choice for large rooms. Its three-stage filtration system is specifically designed to deal with pet allergies and capture anything from large pollen particles to fine hair.
What We Like
The MA-50 has a medical-grade three-stage true HEPA filter, one of the most efficient filters available. It can remove pet dander, the tiniest particles, hair and smoke.
This model can efficiently get rid of all odors in a 1,100 square foot room within an hour.
The purifier monitors air quality and adjusts itself according to the needs of the room it’s placed in.
The MA-50 has a dimmable control light.
This purifier model also has child-lock features.
What We Dislike
The MA-50 air purifier has a costly filter that can leave a gap in your bank account when it needs to be replaced.
CowayAirmega 400 Air Purifier
The CowayAirmega is a perfect purchase if you have a large area that needs purifying. It can clean the air in a 1,560 square foot room twice in one hour! Thanks to its Max2 filter with true HEPA and activated carbon features, the Airmega 400 effectively removes odors and other airborne pollutants that can cause discomfort.
What We Like
The broad coverage of this purifier is a definite selling point.
The Airmega 400 monitors air quality through its different sensors and notifies you of the changes through its LED ring located on the front of it. When you set the unit on auto mode, it changes its fan speed automatically as the air quality does.
Unlike many other models, this purifier draws air in from two sides and lets clean air out at the top.
The Airmega 400 will notify you through a light when its primary filter needs to be changed. Its pre-filter is washable, ensuring that you get rid of all the dust, hair and pollen it collects.
Although this unit covers such a broad area, it has a sleek design.
What We Dislike
The Airmega 400 is extremely loud, even when it’s in sleep mode.
Levoit PUR131 Energy Star Air Purifier
If you’re in search of an eco-friendly air purifier, then the Levoit PUR131 Energy Star is for you. Unlike other air purifiers, the PUR131 uses less electricity while still performing efficiently. It uses only 40 watts which ensures that it is Energy Star certified.
The PUR131 is best suited for rooms up to 360 square feet, such as bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens. It has a three-stage true HEPA filtration system that quickly removes allergens, dander, hair, mold and odors.
What We Like
The PUR131 can service medium to large rooms with a complete cycle 4.5 times per hour.
This unit effectively removes large and tiny particles with its honeycomb activated carbon and true HEPA three-stage filtration system.
For further savings, you can set a timer on the PUR131 and choose anywhere between 1 – 12 hours.
Once the filter requires replacement, a notification will be displayed. The unit runs a smart sensor to calculate the air quality, fan speed and run time to determine when the filter change is needed.
The PUR131 has a night-time setting with an optional LED light, so you can turn it on and off as you like.
What We Dislike
When the PUR131 operates at high speed, it has a humming sound that can be a tad annoying.
In Conclusion
Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, keeping dander and hair particles out of the air can improve breathing. An air purifier keeps these common irritants at bay.
When you’re searching for an air purifier that will work best for you, first consider its size. A washable pre-filter that is easy to clean is also recommended to ensure that your air purifier is always efficient.