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.