Best Air Purifiers for Pet Allergies and Asthma
Research suggests that 50 million people suffer from allergies in the United States alone. This includes dust, pet dander, mold and other airborne allergens.
Taking medication for allergies, although helpful isn’t always the best option.
Luckily air purifiers have shown to reduce a number of allergens in the air offering relief for allergy sufferers.
Contents
Quick comparison: 5 Best Air Purifiers for Pet Allergies and Asthma
| Brand | Filters used | Coverage area | Unique Features | Price on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winix WAC9500 Our Best Pick | Comes with washable pre-filter True HEPA | 300 Square feet | Plasma wave technology Washable pre-filter Smart sensor detects air quality | Check Price |
| AeraMax 300 | Carbon pre-filter True HEPA | 300-600 Square feet | Special mode for cold and flu season Ionization mode Auto detects air quality | Check Price |
| IQAir HealthPro Plus | Pre-filter V5 gas and odor filter Hyper HEPA filter | 1000 square feet | Uses HyperHEPA filter LED display tells life cycle of filters | Check Price |
| Honeywell UV | Pre-filter True HEPA | 170 square feet | UV technology Oscillation | Check Price |
| GermGuardian AC4825 | Carbon pre-filter True HEPA | 150 Square feet | UV technology Energy Star rated | Check Price |
Things to consider before your purchase
With hundreds of air purifiers on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is best and which features to look for. Here are important things to consider.
True HEPA air filtration
When choosing an air purifier, it is best to go with one that has a true HEPA air filter, and certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
A true HEPA filter will filter 99.97 percent of air contaminants.
HEPA filters will collect air particles down to 0.3 microns, capturing dust, pet dander and microscopic viruses and bacteria.
Ozone Emission
Do not get a purifier that emits ozone. Ozone can cause respiratory problems and lung irritation.
There are purifiers that emit ozone that is within safe governmental regulation levels, it is still advised to steer clear of ozone emitting purifiers. If a purifier includes ionization, it emits ozone as a by-product.
There are similar warnings associated with UV technology used in air purifiers. Depending on the UV design, it could emit ozone as well.
Size of your room, budget, noise
Now that you know a HEPA filter is the way to go, what else should you look for in an air purifier?
Much of that will depend on preferences such as what size room are you going to place it in, what is your budget and can you deal with a louder one.
There are many with advanced features, but the more features it has, the higher the cost.
Below are the 5 Best Air Purifiers for Pet dander, Asthma, Mold, Dust, and Allergies.
1. Winix WAC9500 Ultimate Pet True HEPA Air Cleaner
Marketed strongly toward pet owners, the Winix air purifier is designed to get rid of pet odors as well as dander. It has a 5 stage filtration system and uses plasma wave technology. It comes with a pre-filter and true HEPA filter. The pre-filter is washable, which is a huge bonus since you won’t have to spend money to replace it as in the other models.
It comes with a remote control and an LED display that will tell you when to change the filter. Another bonus is that the LED display will automatically dim when it’s dark in the room, allowing for a better night’s sleep when used in a bedroom. It is about the size of a small end table and is for use in large size rooms of about 300 square feet or less.
Pros
- For use in larger rooms
- Comes with a washable pre-filter
- Uses plasma wave technology
- Auto mode that utilizes smart sensor to detect air quality
- LED controls tell you when to change the filters
- LED panel dims when the lights are low, which is ideal for bedrooms
Cons
- Replacement filter is a little pricey
2. AeraMax 300 Air Purifier with 4-Stage Purification
About the size of a small end table, the AeraMax 300 purifies the air in rooms up to 600 square feet.Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, this purifier can remove 99.97 percent of airborne particles.
It is equipped with a carbon filter to remove odors and a true HEPA filter.
This unit is equipped with an ionizer, but it can easily be turned off with the push of a button. The AeraMax is about 12 pounds and also comes with a 3 year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
It comes with an auto mode and a sensor to scan the air in a room in order to know when to purify it.
Pros
- For use in large rooms
- Air monitoring technology
- Certified by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Replacement filters have a good price
- Includes high performance mode for cold and flu season
- Has auto settings as well as manual settings
- Comes with replacement filters
- Is reasonably priced
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Has ionizer, which can cause a strange smell and can emit ozone, but it can be turned off
- No remote control
3. IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier
The IQAir has been featured in consumer best buy digest and is touted as the best air purifier for asthma and allergy sufferers. The IQAir can pick up smaller particles thanks to its HyperHEPA filtration, which is supposed to be 100 times more efficient than a regular HEPA filter.
It also comes with an LED display to inform you when the filter needs to be changed. The down side to this series is the costly replacement of filters.
Some filter replacements for the HyperHEPA filteration system can be costly. At 35 pounds, and also about the size of a small end table, the IQAir is designed for larger rooms.
Pros
- Rated best air purifier by Consumer Best Buy Digest
- Uses HyperHEPA filtration that filters 100 times better than a regular HEPA
- Energy efficient
- Has an auto mode that detects air quality
- LED display that tells you when filter needs to be changed
- Comes with extra replacement air filters
- For use in large areas
Cons
- Expensive
- Filters are expensive
- Heavy and bulky
- Warranty only covers if it is bought from manufacturer or certified dealer
4. Honeywell UV True HEPA 5-1 Allergen Remover Tower
With UV technology, the Honeywell UV True HEPA has 12 cleaning levels and a timer that can be set for up to 18 hours. A more compact size, this filter will fit in tighter spaces. It is for smaller rooms up to 170 square feet.
It weighs 17 pounds and comes with an oscillation feature. It is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It also has a pre-filter that helps reduce odors.
Pros
- Uses UV technology
- Does not emit ozone
- Compact and lightweight
- Comes with filters
- Has 12 cleaning levels and comes with a timer
Cons
- No air detection or automode
- Oscillation has been known to break
5. GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 Air Cleaning System
Similar to the Honeywell discussed above, the GermGuardian is a a tower air purifier designed for smaller rooms and can be used in more compact spaces. Equipped with a pre-filter and charcoal filter, this purifier helps reduce odors as well as any other purifier.
A UV-C light activates titanium dioxide to eliminate bacteria in the air and decompose odor molecules. Rated as energy efficient by Energy Star, the GermGuardian is also very quiet.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Has good Energy Star rating
- Compact design
- Has UV-C technology
- Does not emit ozone
Cons
- Does not come with extra filters
- No auto mode to detect air quality
- Only has 3 speeds
- Only for use in smaller rooms
Conclusion
Considering these are all decent air purifiers, it depends on what your needs really are. If you plan on using the purifier in a larger room, I would go with the Winix WAC9500 Ultimate Pet True HEPA Air Cleaner with PlasmaWave Technology.
It is great for people with or without pets. It offers 5 stage filtration, an auto mode and dimming LED display.
Although it works in a smaller space than the AeraMax 300 or the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier, it has many of the same features.
Compared to the AeraMax 300, it does not include an ionization feature, which can emit ozone. It is about a third of the price of IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier. Making it perfect for those on a budget.
If you are not looking for something with a lot of features, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a unit, the GermGuardian AC4825 3-in-1 Air Cleaning System with True HEPA Filter Air Purifier is the obvious choice. It may only have 3 settings, and it doesn’t have an auto mode, but it will purify the air.
It is perfect for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot and only needs it for a small space. It would be perfect for a small apartment or dorm room, considering how gross dorm rooms can be and how broke most college students are.