An air filter’s primary role is to trap and filter airborne contaminants at the entrance of your HVAC system. Dust, dirt, fur, pet dander, mold, and other contaminants get trapped on the air filter’s surface, resulting in a clean HVAC system. This helps increase the lifespan of the heating and cooling system. It is believed that a Carrier filter can block even the smallest allergens or contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, or pet dander—being ideal for those with respiratory conditions.
There are more than 76 million dogs and over 56 million cats living in homes in the United States. It’s easy to understand why so many people have pets; they bring joy and alleviate stress. They’re companions. However, the drawback of keeping pets inside is that they carry fur, dander, or allergens. This results in lower indoor air quality, triggering allergies, asthma attacks, and other respiratory issues. Let’s see which air filters block pet fur the best!
Air Filters That Block Pet Fur
Many filters can block pet fur—from disposable to HEPA to electronic air filters. Regardless of the manufacturer, choosing an air filter with a higher MERV rating is best. For example, MERV 1-4 provides the least protection. MERV 5-8 can trap and filter dust, mold spores, and pollen. But MERV 9-13 can capture smaller contaminants and allergens, including fur and pet dander. Ratings of MERV 13-20—the highest level air filters can go—are primarily used in nuclear power plants, hospitals, or industrial structures.
Pleated Disposable Filters
Pleated disposable filters might be what you are looking for to block fur efficiently. Pleated filters are generally electrostatically charged to provide superior filtration, keeping your home free of fur and pet dander. Compared to fiberglass filters that only trap debris and lint from reaching your furniture, pleated furnace filters offer excellent performance. If you have multiple pets or severe allergies, changing the air filter monthly is best. However, if you have few pets or no allergies, you should replace the filters every two months.
Carbon Furnace Filters
If your problem goes beyond fur and pet dander to include odor, you may want to consider carbon filters. Carbon filters considerably reduce the number of impurities in your home, along with pet or seasonal allergens. MERV Carbon 10 air filters feature a carbon layer that attracts odor particles and traps them inside the carbon material.
Tips to Reduce Pet Dander Accumulation in Your Home
If you or someone in your home suffers from asthma or allergy attacks, you want to take extra measures to minimize pet fur and dander in your home as much as possible. Follow these tips to ensure your home’s air quality is pristine.
Clean Your Home Regularly
To reduce the accumulation of fur in your home, you should clean the flat surfaces with a lint roller, clean HVAC’s air ducts and registers, vacuum surfaces, and clean your pet’s toys and accessories. If you’re running a regular cleaning schedule, it will help keep pet fur under control.
Bathe and Brush Your Pets Regularly
A great way of reducing pet dander is to brush and bathe your pet often. Depending on the furriness of the animal, it may require a daily or weekly brushing.
Use a Higher MERV Rating Air Filter
Air filters trap fur, keeping it from circulating in your home. Air filters with a higher MERV rating can trap up to 99.7% of particles (0.3 microns or larger), producing clean and high-quality air.
Change HVAC Filters Regularly
Undoubtedly, a dirty air filter is bad for your health and your HVAC’s lifespan. Dirty filters force your heating and cooling system to run longer than usual. The more it runs, the more debris will circulate in your home. Moreover, if debris clogs the air filters, a substantial amount of that debris can find its way back into your home’s air. To avoid these issues, replace your air filters once every 30-60 days if you have furry friends.
Bottom Line
Regardless of the air filter’s brand, it is vital to seek an air filter with a high MERV rating. Anything from MERV 8 up will efficiently trap and filter pet fur and other airborne contaminants. If you want to buy disposable air filters, try a 4″ filter instead of a 1″ filter, as it has a broader surface area to catch pet dander, mold spores, dust, cockroach mites, and other contaminants. As a bonus, a 4″ filter can last up to six months without being changed.
