Category: Tips

Pets make our lives better by providing companionship, entertainment and even protection. For pet owners, their furry, scaly and feathery friends are as much a part of their family as the humans in the household. Pets today have almost all of the same privileges as people do.

But while pets make you happy, they can be a headache for your HVAC system. The main issue with pets and heating and air conditioning system is that pets shed a lot of hair. For pet owners, hair shed by their pets is not a problem. But for your HVAC system, those fine strands of hair are a huge problem.

Pet hairs float around the home and may eventually end up inside the heating and cooling system. Keyrenter Property Management Boise warns that if they are not removed from inside the AC, pet hair can block the system and prevent the HVAC’s proper function.

In addition to hair, pets bring a lot of dirt and dust into the home. That is an issue for your HVAC system because dust and dirt interfere with its normal operation. Blocked filters force your HVAC system to work harder to reach previous levels of efficiency.

Also, dogs in particular love to hide things and AC vents are a favorite hiding place for them. Small items a dog wants to keep away from other pets or its human family can easily end up inside a loose vent. If this happens, the AC’s issues will be compounded.

The point is if you have pets in your home, you must be extra careful to protect your HVAC system from those adorable creatures.

How can pets and HVAC systems coexist peacefully? Find the answers in the tips below.

 

8 HVAC maintenance tips for pet owners

 

1.     Groom pets often

Brushing your pets often will let you get to any loose hairs on their body before they get the chance to fall off and find their way into your home’s HVAC system. How often should you groom your pet? That depends on the kind of pet you have – cat, dog or rabbit. Some dog or cat breeds shed more hair than others.

 

2.     Don’t groom pets inside the home

In addition to grooming the pets often, you want to groom them as far away from your HVAC system as possible. It doesn’t mean you have to take your pet outside to brush it. Look for a part of the home, maybe the garage, where you can groom the pet without exposing your HVAC system to floating hairs.

 

3.     Keep HVAC filters clean

Dirty filters reduce airflow and make your HVAC system work harder than it should. It impedes the quality of cooling and heating in your home and raises your monthly energy bill. You want to clean/replace air filters regularly to get rid of pet hair that may have gotten into your HVAC system.

 

4.     Clean the ducts and air vents

In addition to cleaning or changing your filters, you need to clean the AC vents and ductwork. That does not have to be as often as you clean the air filters. Clean AC vents weekly by running your vacuum cleaner over them, and get a professional to clean the ductwork at least once a year.

 

5.     Vacuum carpets and furniture regularly

A vacuum cleaner equipped with high MERV-rated filters is a must for homes with pets. HEPA filters have a MERV rating of 17 or higher. They do a great job of picking up even the smallest particles on your floors, carpets and furniture. Get a good vacuum cleaner and use it often.

 

6.     Maintain your HVAC system regularly

Homes with pets need a heavier schedule for maintaining their HVAC than homes without pets. Proper HVAC maintenance may cost you now, but it will save you money in future. Well-maintained HVAC systems perform better and last longer. You can avoid expensive repairs when you maintain the HVAC on a schedule. But always use a qualified technician for HVAC maintenance.

 

7.     Get an air purifier

An air cleaner is not an absolute necessity for pet owners. But if you live in an apartment building with shared HVAC systems or you are dealing with a lot of dust in your home (what you call dust might be pet dander ), you need an air cleaner. This device will protect people with allergies by catching the dust out of the air.  We have some great options we can discuss with you.

 

8.     Build a barrier around your HVAC unit

Pets are not only a danger to the components of your HVAC inside the home, but they can vandalize the outdoor units too. If your pet is allowed to roam the yard, the outdoor unit of your AC might become its favorite place to hang out, play or hide stuff. You can protect the AC unit by building a fence around it.

 

Pets bring joy to your home but can also be a pain when they damage your property. Your pets and your HVAC system can exist together in harmony if you follow these eight tips.

HVAC Tips for Pet Owners

Pets make our lives better by providing companionship, entertainment and even protection. For pet owners, their furry, scaly and feathery friends are as much a part of their family as the humans in the household. Pets today have almost all of the same privileges as […]

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MTS Gas Fireplace Maintenance

 

Yes, your Gas Fireplace needs to be cleaned and inspected regularly. Regular cleaning and inspection will help keep your gas fireplace performing efficiently and safely for years to come.

Just like your furnace and A/C, your gas fireplace is considered to be a mechanical unit and therefore it needs regular maintenance just like every HVAC system out there. Components can and will wear out, especially when you operate the fireplace between periods of no use at all to very high use in the span of a year.

One thing you don’t ever want to take for granted year after year is that the equipment in a gas fireplace is operating the way it should. Over time, valves and connections could develop leaks. Thermopile and thermocouple could be worn and/or need cleaning. The ceramic logs should be checked to ensure they are properly placed and in working condition.  Ventilation is also an area of concern. If a fireplace has gone for a long period without being used, the vent, flue or chimney can become blocked without the homeowner realizing. A blockage can result in poor ventilation, which can result in dangerous fumes like carbon monoxide entering the home.

Here are the biggest signs your home’s gas fireplace needs maintenance as soon as possible:

1: Pilot light issues

Just as if you would use a gas furnace, there’s a pilot light built into your gas fireplace as well. Your gas fireplace’s manufacturer should have instructions for you about how to troubleshoot the pilot light if something goes wrong, but if your pilot light refuses to stay lit, even after following the instructions, that’s one sign of something gone very wrong.

Usually the cause is due to a broken or worn out thermopile, which is a component that does need to be replaced occasionally. Another more serious cause is faulty wiring, which you should not attempt to fix by yourself. If your pilot light won’t stay lit and you’ve already followed the manufacturing instructions to no avail, calling a professional for help is the only best solution.

2: A rotten egg smell

Anything that smells like rotten eggs means danger! If you hear a hissing sound or see anything else out of the ordinary, it means there’s a gas leak. The only reason you can smell anything is because of mercaptan, a harmless chemical added to natural gas which gives it its rotten egg or hydrogen sulfide smell.

If you see, hear, or smell any signs of a gas leak, stop what you’re doing immediately and evacuate your home. Don’t attempt to fix it yourself, or call about the leak on your cell while you’re in the house, or smoke, or light matches or even operate any light switches. Go outside ASAP, and call 911 or you can call Intermountain Gas 1-800-548-3679.

3: Too much soot

Unlike wood-burning fireplaces, soot buildup is not a sign of a healthy gas fireplace. In fact, it means something is very wrong, especially if there’s soot on the glass doors. It’s either because of the logs, the interior of the fireplace, or the outside venting (or maybe all of the above) contain buildup. However you look at it, if soot is what you’re seeing right now, then your fireplace needs professional attention immediately.

4: It switches on and off

This is one of the most frustrating common signs of a gas fireplace malfunctioning, and it is also the most difficult to solve without a professional technician’s help. Multiple causes can be the culprit as to this scenario:

  • The millivolt generator, usually placed in the path of the pilot light and the size of a AA battery, is old and worn out
  • Dirt and carbon have built up in the vicinity of the pilot light
  • Too much of a breeze is coming down the chimney, and the doors are open
  • There’s a jamming issue with the burner
  • A bad thermocouple or thermopile—the thermocouple being the sensor that senses heat and allows the pilot light to stay lit, while the thermopile allows gas to pass through the burner system and heat and light

Whatever the cause, this is another one where you shouldn’t DIY the fix yourself. Call in a professional.

Does Your Gas Fireplace Need Annual Maintenance?

MTS Gas Fireplace Maintenance

  Yes, your Gas Fireplace needs to be cleaned and inspected regularly. Regular cleaning and inspection will help keep your gas fireplace performing efficiently and safely for years to come. Just like your furnace and A/C, your gas fireplace is considered to be a mechanical […]

Read More

Seasonal Activity Tips

Seasonal cleaning and maintenance of your HVAC system is essential to keeping your family comfortable all year long. And while you may have to change the filters a few times throughout the year, the spring and fall are usually the best times to perform more thorough cleaning and maintenance. Doing so will ensure that your system is working well as you move into summer and winter, the seasons when you rely on your HVAC system the most. Use the tips below to plan your seasonal HVAC cleaning and maintenance.

Fall Seasonal HVAC Tips

As you get closer to winter, it’s a good idea to ensure your HVAC system is up to the task of keeping your family warm until spring. Here are a few tips to make sure your furnace will be running well throughout the coldest months of the year, and that your air conditioning system is protected against snow and ice:

  • Clean around the air conditioning unit. Making sure the central air conditioner unit outside is free of leaves, twigs and brush. You may want to purchase a cover to keep snow and ice off during the winter.
  • Replace air filters. A dirty filter restricts air flow, making your system work harder and reduce its efficiency. Replace the filer in all units with removable filters, which may include furnaces, air conditioners, air handlers, humidifiers or air cleaners.
  • Check the furnace and ductwork. Before you turn your furnace on for the winter, it’s a good idea to have your HVAC system and ductwork checked by a licensed HVAC Contractor who will make sure your system is running smoothly, and that your ductwork is free of blockages.

Spring Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

As the snow starts to melt and the spring season starts, you’ll want to re-examine your system to be sure it’s ready for the fair weather ahead. A few spring maintenance tips you may want to perform on your HVAC system include:

  • Replacing your filter. While you also did this in winter, changing the removable filter in each of your HVAC units every season helps to prevent pollen and other particles that can agitate allergies from getting into your home. You may also want to consider an air cleaner to further reduce seasonal allergies and particles in your home.
  • Testing and cleaning your cooling systems. Having a maintenance check and HVAC cleaning from a licensed HVAC Contractor can help to increase the efficiency of how your system runs. You can also identify and fix small issues with your HVAC system before they become expensive repairs.
  • Clearing your outdoor condenser. Making sure the outdoor air conditioning condenser is free of any weeds or vegetation, and that air can move freely around the unit.

Seasonal Activity Tips

Seasonal Activity Tips Seasonal cleaning and maintenance of your HVAC system is essential to keeping your family comfortable all year long. And while you may have to change the filters a few times throughout the year, the spring and fall are usually the best times […]

Read More