If you’ve been considering the purchase of an air purifier for your home, you might be asking if they are pet safe. The vast majority of them claim to be pet safe but are they really? Air purifiers work in a number of ways, let’s go through each of them and talk about their pet safety rating.
Filters
Typically part of a heating and cooling system, filters pass air through a filter that removes particles that are larger than the holes in the filter material. The denser the filter, the cleaner the air but the harder your ventilation system needs to work to pass air. You can purchase filters that are specifically designed to filter pet dander. This type of filtration is completely pet safe and highly recommended. The process of filtration does not add anything to the air, it simply removes particulate matter.
Ozone Generators
Ozone air purifiers use a process called oxidation to remove mold, bacteria and other pollutants from the air. While the process is rather complex, the ozone generator creates and circulates ozone which is extremely effective at neutralizing odors. Ozone unfortunately is a toxic substance and should never be used around pets or humans. If you must use an ozone generator, do it when you will be away from home for a few days and leave your ventilation system’s circulating fan on. You should never use an ozone generator with pets in the home, especially those with any type of respirator problems.
Ionizing Purifiers
All types of ionizing purifiers work by charging negative ions which bind to harmful particles in the air. As a byproduct, all ionizing purifiers also create ozone which can be harmful. While ionizing purifiers don’t create the same high levels of ozone which can be toxic especially to smaller animals. While they will be safer than ozone generators, they are still not recommended around animals and extended use for humans. As with ozone purifiers, try to use it when humans and pets will be away from the home if you must use one.
Conclusion
We all love clean fresh smelling air but ozone can be hazardous to animals and humans even at the lowest levels. The FDA and EPA both provide recommendations for ozone generating products like ionizing purifiers and ozone generators but these guidelines are designed for humans. Pets are much more sensitive to low levels of ozone. To be safe, consider using only products that use a filter to remove pollutants from the air in your home. If you must use another solution, do it while you and your pets are away and your home has ample time to ventilate before you return.
There really is no substitute for a clean, sanitized environment with traditional filtration and lots of air circulation. Barx Parx uses traditional air filtration with highly rated (MERV) filters that are changed frequently. The facility is cleaned and sanitized daily with pet safe chemicals. The walls of the park are painted with hospital rated antimicrobial paint which is proven to kill 99.99% of bacteria on contact. We are neurotic about providing the safest environment for humans and dogs alike.