Here’s What to Know When Buying Air Purifier for Pets

Having good, breathable indoor air is important for our overall health. We spend the large majority of our time every day indoors, so we want to make sure it is free of dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens. Polluted air can have some potentially serious health effects, both in the short term and long term.

Unhealthy air can sometimes affect our pets as well. They can experience difficulty breathing and suffer respiration problems and other potentially serious health issues. Fortunately, there are some solutions to this problem, such as having an efficient air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system or buying an air purifier.

There are many brands and models of air purifiers on the market today. Most of them can help filter out pet odor, cigarette and cigar smoke, dust, mold and other pollutants and allergens. You can read more about them online or examine different selections in person at your local home improvement or specialty retail store.

Here are a few things to know when you’re considering buying an air purifier for pets:

1. Keep all windows and doors closed when the air purifier is in use. Most air purifiers do a good job, but unfortunately, they’re not built to filter everything. Keeping the air purifier on in a designated room or hallway can clean the inside air and trap any potential allergens or pollutants. Keeping the windows and doors closed while the purifier is running helps to avoid the air that’s being cleaned from escaping outside.

2. Pick a location in your home that works the best. Different air purifier models come in different shapes and sizes. You want a model that works the best for your needs. In order for it to work efficiently, make sure it’s placed in an area where nothing is obstructing it. You may want to have it running in a room that is used the most often, such as a living room or kitchen. Most air purifier models are lightweight, so you should be able to move them from room to room as you need to. Also, make sure that your pet does not sit in a place that could block the machine.

3. Leave the air purifier running. You may be tempted to turn off or unplug the air purifier whenever you leave a room. However, if you live in a home with people who smoke, have asthma or other health-related issues, it’s best to keep it running whenever possible. This is better for improving the overall air quality in your home year-round. For your pets’ concern, you may want to hide any plugs or cords underneath a rug or carpet.

4. Change the air filters on a regular basis. Because you’re running the air purifier regularly, there’s more chances for dust, dirt, pollen, mold and other contaminants to accumulate in the air filter. Because of the pets in your home, their dander or hair may cause the filter to fill or clog quicker. That’s why it’s important to change them on a regular basis. Consult your owner’s manual to see how often the filters should be replaced for your particular model, and what kind or size of air filters work best for it.

5. Choose a model that does not emit ozone. When it’s time to buy an air purifier, there are plenty of selections to choose from. Whatever you choose, make sure the product does NOT emit ozone. This is a chemical that can be toxic to many animals. If the product has an ozonator or an ionizer, it can be dangerous to birds, cats, dogs and other pets, because it creates too much pure air for them to take at times.

These are just a few simple tips to think about when it’s time to buy an air purifier for your home. You may want to talk to your family veterinarian about your concerns. This can help you choose the product that works best for your indoor air quality needs and your budget. It’s an investment in improving the overall health for all of the people and animals who make your house a home.