Best Furnace Filter For Pets (2022 Review)

If you’re a pet owner looking for the best furnace filter for reducing odors and dander in your home, look no further!

In this proHVACinfo guide, you will learn the following:

  • What are furnace filters for pets? (are they any different?)
  • What are the different types of furnace filters for pets? (the right filter makes a big difference)
  • How do furnace filters for pets work? (learn what to focus on)
  • What do you look for in the best furnace filters for pets? (what separates the best from the rest?)
  • Our reviews of the best furnace filters for pets

And much more!

In a hurry? Below is a quick round up of all of our top recommendations, keep scrolling to learn more!

ImageProduct
digital-business-prep-table__image
Filtrete Clean Living Odor Reduction
  • MERV 11 Rating
  • Activated Carbon Odor Control
  • Allergen Defense
  • MERV 11 Rating
  • Activated Carbon Odor Control
  • Allergen Defense
View on Amazon
digital-business-prep-table__image
Arm & Hammer Max Allergen And Odor Reduction
  • Advanced Odor Control Technology
  • Dust Spot Efficiency Of Up To 65%
  • Made in the USA
  • Advanced Odor Control Technology
  • Dust Spot Efficiency Of Up To 65%
  • Made in the USA
View on Amazon
digital-business-prep-table__image
Nordic Pure Pleated Furnace Filters
  • High Quality Construction
  • 1500-1900 Odor MPR
  • Hypoallergenic Media
  • High Quality Construction
  • 1500-1900 Odor MPR
  • Hypoallergenic Media
View on Amazon
digital-business-prep-table__image
K&N Washable Furnace Filter
  • Lifetime Guarantee
  • Washable And Reusable
  • Increases HVAC Efficiency
  • Lifetime Guarantee
  • Washable And Reusable
  • Increases HVAC Efficiency
View on Amazon
digital-business-prep-table__image
FilterBuy Gold
  • Advanced Synthetic Filtration Media
  • Sturdy Beverage Board Frame
  • Excellent Dander Protection
  • Advanced Synthetic Filtration Media
  • Sturdy Beverage Board Frame
  • Excellent Dander Protection
View on Amazon

What Are Furnace Filters For Pets (are they any different)?

Like any other furnace filter, filters for pets consist of a (usually mesh) screen bound in a frame, located at the intake end of your furnace system.

When you’re shopping with your pet in mind, you must address two of the most common issues that pet owners face in the home; control of dander and other pet generated allergens, as well as odors or bad smells.

What Are The Different Types Of Furnace Filters For Pets?

There are a few of different types on the market, let’s take a look at the most common ones:

Activated Charcoal/Carbon Coated

These filters are coated with a layer of activated carbon, which is effectively charcoal that has undergone a series of heat and chemical treatments in order to “activate” it.

Once activated, it takes on a porous chemical structure that allows it to capture and neutralize odors by adsorbing them.

That isn’t a typo – activated carbon doesn’t absorb, it adsorbs, a process by which impurities are chemically bound to the carbon layer, capturing them and changing their structure to effectively remove the smell.

Say goodbye to that smell from the nearby litter box!

Baking Soda Treated

A little less common than activated carbon, but no less effective, are furnace filters that have been treated with baking soda.

Baking soda has been used in households for decades to remove odors from pantries, refrigerators, cupboards, bathrooms, etc. because it’s natural and effective!

If you’re the type that prefers a more natural approach to your home environment, and don’t like the idea of your air passing through chemicals before it’s circulated, you might prefer this option.

Baking soda is a base, and as such it pH neutralizes the typically acidic VOCs that cause odors.

When a filter has been treated with baking soda, it takes this odor destroying power to a whole other level, all through your home’s HVAC system.

High MERV Rating

MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and this is an indication of how well your filter is able to capture airborne particles between 0.3 and 10 microns in diameter.

Furnace filters for pets tend to have high MERV ratings (generally anything 10 or above) as they are specifically targeting dander, hair and other allergens that pets in the home are responsible for.

How do Furnace Filters For Pets Work?

By using one, or even better, a combination, of the above technologies in their construction, furnace filters for pets target the allergens and irritants in the atmosphere that your pets are likely responsible for.

They are able to significantly improve the quality of air in your home, and can even reduce symptoms of asthma or allergies like shortness of breath or wheezing, caused by things like pet dander.

If the filters are fitted with odor neutralizing technology, they will have the added benefit of tackling the smells commonly associated with pets in the house.

From damp dogs, to used kitty litter, odors like these can be removed with the right filter.

Even if you believe you don’t have an odor problem in your home, it may not seem this way to visitors!

What Do You Look For In The Best Furnace Filters For Pets?

The qualities of a good furnace filter for pets are reasonably straight forward, keep reading to learn a little more about what separates the wheat from the chaff.

Build Quality

Of course, a good build quality is something we look for in most of our every day purchases, but when it comes to furnace filters for pets, it’s especially important.

Have you ever changed a cheap furnace filter to find that it has bent and buckled under the suction of your HVAC system?

When this happens, large gaps in the mesh are created, where air passes by completely unfiltered.

As air flow tends to follow the path of least resistance, the chances are that almost none of the air going through the system is getting filtered.

Getting a sturdy furnace filter for pets means that your air will be following the correct path through the filter media, which will actually enable it to reduce the airborne dander, hair, and odor causing particles.

One thing that often goes overlooked when purchasing a furnace filter is that you get one with a sturdy frame!

Furnace filters with weak frames are more apt to get sucked into the furnace itself after extended periods of use.

Sturdy frames also make it much easier to remove the frames when it’s time to change them, saving you a headache!

Longevity

If you’re new to pet ownership, we’re sure you’re already starting to learn about the many expenses involved beyond vet bills and food – furnace and HVAC filters need to be included in that list of ongoing costs!

Many pets shed, and most of them spread dander into the air when they shake, scratch, run around, etc.

This all leads to hair and fine particles collecting on your filter media at a significantly higher rate than a non-pet owner would experience.

It therefore stands to reason that you will need to change your filters at shorter intervals, too.

A good filter for pet owners will still allow good air flow through, despite the debris it captures, allowing you to squeeze extra life out of the filter, and lower your ongoing costs.

proHVACinfo | DYK Furnace Filters

Some homeowners don’t want to deal with the expense and hassle of replacing furnace filters every few weeks. If that’s you, you might prefer a washable furnace filter.

Check out our review of the Best Washable Furnace Filters!

Particle Capture

Of course, you want your furnace filter to capture as much airborne debris as possible. If it could actually be done, you’d want your filter to capture all of these contaminants!

While we wait for the scientists to develop such a media, we suggest you look at getting a furnace filter for pets that captures over 99% of particles smaller than 10 microns.

Our Reviews Of The Best Furnace Filters For Pets

Final Thoughts On The Best Furnace Filters For Pets

Pets can make our lives better in so many ways, but their dander, shedding fur, and ‘interesting’ odors can put a strain on our relationships with our furry friends!

Choosing the right furnace filter can make an enormous difference to the air quality in your home if you do have pets.

Keeping your home clean is a great start, but if you’re not cleaning the air, your work is for nothing, and those allergens just end up recirculating through the air, and winding up on surfaces, causing health issues for the whole family.

We hope that this proHVACinfo guide to the best furnace filters for pets has given you some insight into the importance of proper air filtration in homes with pets, and how this can make a difference to the air quality, and the health, of your entire household – no matter how many legs they have!

Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

Leave a Comment

Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

About proHVACinfo

You’ve got HVAC questions. We have the best answers from a network of seasoned pros.

Recently Published Guides