It is essential to check your furnace air filter once a month, regardless of whether you have a pet in your house or not. This will help prevent a clogged filter from having a negative effect on your home's indoor air quality. Generally, an average filter should be replaced every two to three months. However, if you have a pet, it is best to replace the filter more often. The answer is yes, furnace filters for pet allergens are very effective.
The correct installation of the filter will help reduce the amount of airborne particles that cause allergies in pets. Your main concern should be to what extent the air filter will remove these unwanted air particles. All homes have problems with indoor pollution, but those with pets have more issues. Having more pets can reduce air quality. To help combat this, use a vacuum to remove pet hair from carpets, couches, bedding, and other surfaces.
Additionally, replace the air filter more often than required by the manufacturer. After all, pet owners have an above average amount of impurities in the air which causes the air filter to clog more quickly. This is especially true if you have a long-haired breed that sheds hair quickly. For standard 1 to 3 inch air filters, manufacturers usually recommend that you replace them every 30 to 90 days. If any member of your family has mild to moderate allergies, you can install a better air filter or replace it with more frequency.
For this reason, many medical experts recommend HEPA furnace filters to people who are allergic to allergens, dirt, or dust because of their excellent capabilities. However, remember that only an oven filter with a MERV 8 to MERV 13 rating will serve this purpose effectively, as the latter offers superior filtration. If you have a dog or cat that is hypoallergenic or does not shed hair, you may not need to replace the air filter as often. Although it's a good rule of thumb, you may want to check your air filter more often to decide if you need to change it. Fortunately, pet owners can avoid these air quality issues by choosing the right HVAC air filter for homes with pets. If this happens, replace the filter and seek help from HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technicians.
To further filter smoke, chemicals, odors, and gases, consider combining HEPA filters with activated carbon filters. The minimum efficiency report value (MERV) describes the ability of an air filter to block airborne impurities. These characteristics will affect the amount of particles the furnace filter will capture and the type of particles it will remove from the air. The MERV rating is a scale from 1 to 20 and calculates how well an air filter will remove particles from the air. On the other hand, even the best 1-inch furnace filters for homes with pets will require you to change them every 30 days.
These air filters have a layer of active carbon that attracts odor particles and traps them inside the carbon material. The first thing to consider is the MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) of the furnace filter. And if you have an older system, plan to replace the filter more often in order to preserve its lifespan. In conclusion, pet owners should be aware that their furry friends can affect indoor air quality and should take steps to ensure their home's environment remains healthy and safe for everyone living there. Regularly replacing your furnace air filter is one of those steps and should be done more frequently if you have pets in your home.
