Household pets like birds, cats and dogs are sensitive to many of the same air-borne allergens and irritants as humans. In fact, in many cases, your pet may be even more sensitive to the toxins in indoor air than you are.
Choosing the right air purifier can keep both you and your pet safe and healthy at home. By learning how air purifiers work, you can easily choose an air purifier that is safe for pets.
Let’s face it: our furry and feathered friends deserve the healthiest possible environment! After all, they can’t just move somewhere else if they are not comfortable, and unless we can find a person who can communicate with animals, we may not know what is bothering them.
It has been estimated that indoor air pollution is 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor pollution. Although they have a less dramatic effect on humans, many common household pollutants can severely impact our pet’s health and life expectancy.
In addition to helping your pet live a healthier and longer life, an air purifier can also help eliminate unwanted pet smells such as litter box odor, and pet-related allergens like pet dander.
Signs that your pet is suffering from the air quality in your home can be easily confused with symptoms of other types of poisoning, so be sure to take your pet to the vet immediately if they show any unusual symptoms, including:
Never leave your pet alone in a place with potentially harmful products or materials, or in a room with a strong odor such as paint, varnish, primer, wax, essential oil, detergent or air fresheners.
Some examples of harmful airborne chemicals and substances that can be removed by an air purifier are:
Different types of air particles work in different ways. While every type of air purifier makes indoor air cleaner, not every method is safe for pets.
Air purifiers to avoid if you have a pet
Some air purifiers rely on oxidization or ionization to purify indoor air. Unfortunately, these processes also release ozone, which is harmful to both human and animal health.
Ozone is especially toxic to birds, but it is bad for humans and other pets too. If you must rely on either of these methods for cleaning your indoor air, make sur you and your pets are away from your home while the purifier is functioning.
Air purifiers that are safe for pets
To choose an air purifier that is safe for pets, look for an air purification system that uses a HEPA filter or carbon filter.
HEPA filter
A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is the best choice for getting rid of pet dander and dust mites. Some studies have shown that 80% of pet allergies are caused by dust mitesL, whose feces and carcasses can linger in upholstery, carpeting and bedding for long periods of time, bursting into the air when any of these items is touched. Dust mites are a common trigger of allergies in humans also.
Made from a very fine paper, a HEPA filter traps over 99% of allergens from the air, including dust, pollen, mould, smoke particulates and bacteria. HEPA filters are safe to use with pets.
Carbon filter
Carbons filters are another type of pet safe air purifier. Carbon filters are great for removing odors and also toxic chemicals including VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
VOCs are released into the air in various types of smoke and other chemical fumes. These gaseous chemicals include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, benzene and formaldehyde. They are dangerous to both pets and humans, but they can be removed with the right type of air purifier.
UV light air purifier
Some air purifiers rely on UV to safely remove VOCs, odors, viruses and bacteria from the air.
Choosing a residential air purifier that combines all three methods will guarantee you the best possible air quality for you and your pet, with no risk.
Choosing an air purifier that is safe for pets means understanding what the air purifier does and how it works. Some air purifiers work by pushing air through a filter that traps the unwanted particles and returns fresh air to the room. Others release a substance into the air which neutralizes toxins. A third type uses UV rays to destroy viruses and other unwanted elements directly within the air.
Choosing the right air purifier means making sure it does the job without posing an additional risk to your pet.
Sanuvox offers a range of powerful, high-performance household air purifiers that effectively remove toxins and allergens from the air in your home. Contact us today to select an air purifier that is safe for pets!