Columbus HVAC Q/A: What Type of Air Cleaner Is Best for People with Pets?

Lots of people have pets, and they are a great addition to your family. However, pet ownership has one very obvious drawback: dander. The fur, dry skin cells, and other debris that pets carry flakes off of their bodies and onto your furniture and rugs. This also means that this debris inevitably winds up in your air, recirculating throughout your whole house via your Columbus HVAC system.

Or at least, that’s what happens if you don’t have an air cleaner or some sort of air filtration system. This leads many pet owners to ask, “what is the best air cleaner for me?”

With all the choices for air cleaners, this decision can seem daunting. But if the goal is specifically to filter out pet dander, it becomes somewhat easier.

Pet dander is quite large in relation to other indoor air pollutants, so many air cleaners are equipped to do the job. You can use an air cleaner with a standard pleated HEPA filter, or one that uses electrostatic technology. You will want to make sure that the HEPA filter is rated to handle pet dander. A MERV rating of 8 or more is recommended.

Once you have an air cleaner installed, make sure to change or clean the air filter frequently, in accordance with manufacturer instructions. A clogged air filter won’t be able to help eliminate pet dander from your household’s air and can actually degrade the operation of your HVAC system’s air handler.

In addition to installing a high quality air cleaner with a HEPA filter, you can also help reduce the amount of pet dander floating around your home by keeping the place clean. Vacuuming often and dusting hard surfaces weekly keeps pet hair and dander from being drawn up into the HVAC system, which in turn reduces wear and tear on the air cleaner.

For more tips on how to improve the air quality or HVAC system in your Columbus home, give Quality Air Heating and Air Conditioning a call today!