Air Purifier Reviews: Good Air Cleaner for Dog Smell and Pet Odor

AllerAir 5000 Exec - Powerful Odor Control!

This story was posted by Bob from Ohio

"I recently got married and along with that came two very large dogs. With the two larges came an allergy that I did not know that I had, to say nothing about the odor in the bedroom from the dogs. With this new air filter system, the odor is gone and so are the sniffles. What a pleasure."

This story was posted by Sue from Killingly,CT

"We have 4 dogs living in our home with us and keep our purifier in the living room...our multi-level house is approx. 2200 sq. feet and we have NO dog odor at all. People have commented to that fact...we love it!"

AllerAir 6000 Exec Finally Clears the Air!
This story was posted by Kris from Fort Lee, VA:

"We have a small 1000 square foot house, with two dogs (Shar-pei) nicknames Stinky and Binky (real names Lucas & Loxie) I never knew how they could smell until I moved into a smaller house. Then we now have a baby going on 11 months old and diapers are another problem of course.

We bought a special Rubbermaid trashcan the Kind at the hospital to contain the smell, works as long as you don't open it. ($200) and my wife loves to cook seafood, besides my 90 gallon aquarium in the living room didn't help either. So I bought ORECK Air Purifier to help with the smell, yea right ($600+) gone! Then I bought a [...] Special, right special alright $100 gone and an Eden Pure $400 OK, for the bedroom with no traffic. Sharper Image Smalls ones x 3 for $750 Ebay, died or faded was not reliable.

I talked my wife into one more try, using charcoal AllerAir 6000 was the way to go. We found out the hard way. As you can see I was very skeptical at first. Surprised I had to do some assembling wasn't bad, just didn't want to break it. Sturdy, solid and heavy but the wheels make it no problem. The first week I notice a little change in the odor suppressed. But by the second week I did notice a difference, I did have to leave it on setting medium at night. I've placed it right by the dog bed and the trash can in the kitchen and it works. As for the noise level I really don't notice it on with the dogs barking, baby crying, TV on, stereo on, aquarium pumps LOL! I forget it was on. I'm not one to advertise stuff, but I'm returning the favor of the previous comment left by someone with two dogs and it helped me make a decision to buy one. God Bless, Kris"

Ask AllerAir: Do HEPA Air Filters Remove Dog Hair?

Answer:
Yes, an air cleaner with a HEPA air filter will remove dog hair. Larger particles such as hair will often be trapped by the pre-filter before it even reaches the HEPA filter. Therefore, having a convenient quick-change pre-filter is important for pet owners so that the filter can be vacuumed or changed as required (usually every three-months at minimum with dog hair). All AllerAir numerical series units (4000, 5000, 6000) have a quick-change pre-filter ---you simply reach under the unit and pull it out, no tools required!

It's important to note that air cleaners are designed to remove particles that are airborne. If you run your air cleaner 24/7 you will notice a difference in the level of dog hair and dander in your home, however it's wise to include a HEPA vacuum in your cleaning routine to remove hair that lands on carpets and furniture.

Do you have a question for us? Send me a message via Twitter, Facebook or e-mail: askus@allerair.com

Air Purifier Reviews: Best unit for MCS, Chemicals and Odors

This air purifier review was posted by Jason Richie: 

"The allerair 5000 is a fantastic air purifier. Within 15 minutes of turning it on the entire house is essentially beautifully filtered clean air. No paint or other types of chemicals, dust, or allergens. I have conditional mcs and the filtration allows me a very much needed normal homelife. On the low setting the product is barely audible. It becomes quit loud though on the two higher settings."

This air purifier review was posted by a client from Ashland,OR: 

"This Air Purifier made a big difference. We had a paint-type chemical smell in our house from some toxic sealant used on our floors and other outgassing. It definitely reduced the smell and was easy to move around on the wheels."

We found these reviews posted at Amazon.

Could Cleaner Air Actually Prevent or Slow Down the Progression of COPD? By AllerAir Air Purifiers

Researchers in Denmark have found that long-term exposure to low-level air pollution may increase the risk of developing severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

While several days of exposure to high level air pollution was known to be a risk factor for exacerbating an existing case of COPD, this is the first study to actually link long-term air pollution exposure to the development or progression of the condition.

Many COPD sufferers, and the public in general, are unaware that chronic exposure to low levels of air pollution is most likely to occur in their own homes.  The EPA reports that indoor air pollution levels, especially from airborne chemicals, can be 2 to 5 times higher than levels recorded outdoors.

The lead researcher for the new study, Zorana Andersen, Ph.D., says the results are significant on a number of levels.

“Patients, primary care physicians, pulmonologists and public health officials should all take note of our findings,” commented Dr. Anderson.

“We found significant positive associations between levels of all air pollution proxies and COPD incidence. When we adjusted for smoking status and other confounding factors, the association remained significant; indicating that long-term pollution exposure likely is a true risk factor for developing COPD.”

These associations between air pollution exposure and COPD were slightly stronger for men, obese patients and those eating less than 240 grams of fruit each day (approximately eight ounces, or just more than a single serving). But notably, the effect of air pollution on COPD was strongest in people with pre-existing diabetes and asthma.

“These results are in agreement with those of other cross-sectional studies on COPD and air pollution, and longitudinal studies of air pollution and lung function, and strengthen the conclusion that air pollution is a causal agent in development of COPD,” said Dr. Andersen.

The enhanced association between increased risk of COPD and air pollution in asthmatics and diabetics suggests the possibility of an underlying link.

“It is plausible that airflow obstruction and hyper-responsiveness in people with asthma, or systemic inflammation in people with diabetes, can lead to increased susceptibility of the lung to air pollution, resulting in airway inflammation and progression of COPD, but more research is needed in this area.” said Dr. Andersen.

“In any case, sufficient data, including the results of this study, provide evidence that traffic-related urban air pollution contributes to the burden of COPD and that reductions in traffic emissions would be beneficial to public health.”

The Danish research study was published online and ahead of the print edition of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

AllerAir Industries is a respected manufacturer of high efficiency air purifiers.

Unlike other air cleaners, AllerAir units are known for their unique filtration systems that not only incorporate medical-grade HEPA filters for fine particles, but deep-bed carbon filters for airborne chemicals, gases and odors.

For more information on improving your indoor air quality, contact one of our Air Quality Experts today.

Hawaii’s Big Island and VOG Study: Respiratory illnesses rise when volcanic gases (VOG) increase

New research has shown a quantifiable link between upper respiratory problems and an increase in VOG, with children most affected by VOG polluted air on the Big Island.

Bernadette Longo, assistant professor at the University of Nevada Orvis School of Nursing, compared local health clinic records for the 14 weeks prior to the March 2008 eruption on the summit, to the health clinic records March through June 2008, when the volcano’s SO2 emissions tripled.

She found that there was a 56 percent increase in cough, and a six-fold increase in the odds of having acute airway problems. The clinic also saw three times as many headaches and twice as many severe sore throats after the increase in volcanic emissions.
“The results suggest that children and adolescents are likely to be the most sensitive to SO2 exposure, which is especially concerning,” Longo said. “Children tend to be mouth-breathers. When we breathe through our noses, our noses act as filters, removing about 85 percent of the harmful substances before they can reach our respiratory system and lungs,” she explained. “But, when children breathe mostly through their mouths, they don’t get the benefit of the nose’s filtering system.”

Longo said that in addition to children, the elderly, smokers and those with existing conditions such as asthma and emphysema are also especially at risk. She has been conducting research on vog for eight years and has identified those exposed to Kilauea’s vog are at greater risk of developing acute bronchitis than those not exposed to vog.
Longo also conducted studies published earlier this year in a Family and Community Health article, showing that a large percentage of the VOG SO2 was penetrating indoors, into the Ka’u schools and hospital, especially when air conditioning wasn’t installed or in use and windows were left open. As a result, the area’s schools have installed air conditioners and the hospital’s ventilation system has been improved, with more improvements planned as funding becomes available.

This past summer, Longo worked with local health-care agencies and emergency-room doctors to help provide education to the community about using air conditioners if they have them, closing windows and avoiding outdoor activity during the times of heaviest exposure, 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., each day.

“It is fairly safe for schoolchildren and residents to exercise, go fishing or play outside in the afternoons, when the trade winds keep the vog out of the area,” Longo said. “If people take the necessary precautions, they can lower the health risks posed by the vog, and ultimately, that is the purpose of our research,” she said.

The Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii’s big island has been erupting on its east rift since 1983. But, in March 2008, an additional eruption vent opened at the volcano’s summit, resulting in about triple the amount of sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) emissions drifting to the local community of Ka’u, raising health concerns over the risks associated with exposure to “vog,” as the islanders refer to this volcanic air pollution.

Best Air Purifiers / Air Cleaners for VOG
In response to the VOG increase,  AllerAir's engineers were the first air purification company to design and sell a specific air purifier to adsorb vog-specific chemicals, gases and odors. Our VOG series air purifiers feature between 18 and 27 lbs. of activated carbon (same material used by the military in gas masks) and a medical-grade HEPA filter for fine particles. For more information on these units click here, call to speak with an Air Quality Expert 1-888-852-8247 or chat live via the link on the left or the main page of our website.

Dealing with Pet Allergies: Keep your pet. Reduce your suffering!

Most commonly associated with cats and dogs, pet allergies can actually be triggered by a wide variety of pets including birds, gerbils, hamsters and even horses!

Pet allergies occur when your immune system reacts to proteins in pets' dander (skin flakes), saliva or urine. Inhaling these allergens triggers inflammation in the lining of your nasal passages, causing sneezing, a runny nose and other signs and symptoms usually associated allergies.

For some people, pet allergies actually lead to an asthma attack triggering contraction of airways of the lungs resulting in wheezing and shortness of breath.

As a pet owner, it's often frustrating when people suggest you "get rid" of your pet to combat your allergies. True, eliminating the source of the allergens seems like the most logical course of action, but for most pet owners this isn't a desirable or practical solution (although in the case of asthma it may something to seriously consider).

If you have pet allergies, but want to keep your pet, here are a few coping strategies:

No Pets in the Bedroom!

You spend more time in your bedroom than any other room in your home. That means the air in your bedroom should be as clean as possible and free from animal allergens.

Run a HEPA air filter 24/7

With pet allergies a high quality air cleaner is a must. Your home has constant supply of airborne allergens, therefore your air purifier should be providing constant air cleaning. AllerAir’s Air Medic series is designed for 24/7 operation and comes with a 10 year warranty on the motor! It features a medical-grade HEPA that removes 99.97% of even the smallest airborne particles, like pet dander and hair and has a large carbon filter for odors and chemicals.

Buy a HEPA vacuum and use it often
A good HEPA vacuum traps the allergens you vacuum up, preventing them from being blown back into the air. With pet allergies it’s really important to vacuum at least twice a week to help reduce the allergen level.

Bathe your pet and its toys once a week
Studies show that weekly baths can reduce the level of allergens on an animal by up to 85%. I speak from experience when I say wear gloves if bathing a cat --- I also did it in an enclosed shower stall which prevented wild escapes which could hurt both you and the animal.



Image credit: 
Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. No advice on the internet should ever replace that of a qualitfied physician.