We love our furry pets, but the hair and dander floating around can wreak havoc on your HVAC filter and can have a negative impact on the air quality in your home. While this may seem a small price to pay for the enjoyment of having dogs or cats, there are some special considerations for having pets in your home.
Here are some preventative HVAC maintenance steps you should take to protect your HVAC system from the damage caused by pet hair clogs and dander.
REPLACE YOUR HVAC FILTER REGULARLY
If you have one or more pets shedding in your home, it’s important to check your HVAC filter on a regular basis and replace it as needed. It’s common to see pet hair clogs and dander buildup in your filter that can significantly impact the efficiency and operation of your HVAC system. If you find that your filter is clogging up too often, you can switch to a reusable filter that can be rinsed with water.
KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAR OF PET HAIR
The only thing better than changing out your HVAC filter is preventing it from getting pet hair clogs in the first place. Depending on the number of furry pets you have, you may need to vacuum every day or every other day to keep the hair under control and keep it from ending up in your filter.
GROOM YOUR PETS
Shedding is a natural and healthy process for your pet, but you can help prevent the hair from ending up all over your home by grooming your pets regularly. Bathing, brushing and manually deshedding your dog or cat can keep their natural shedding to a minimum and reduce dander, giving you less to clean up around your home.
CLEAN YOUR DUCTS
Regardless of how diligently you clean, small hairs and particles are bound to circulate through your entire HVAC system, which includes your air ducts. Over time, this pet hair and dander can build up inside the ducts and lead to a clog or affect your indoor air quality, which is why HVAC maintenance is so important. Ideally, an HVAC technician should inspect your ductwork and HVAC system every few years and remove accumulated pet hair and dander, as well as anything else your ducts may have picked up. This is vital to deodorizing your home, keeping your indoor air fresh and preventing costly repairs in the future.
PREVENT CHEWING
While most dogs and cats outgrow chewing, some pets will continue to chew out of boredom or separation anxiety. If they happen to chew on the wires to your HVAC system, however, they’re not only at risk of injury, but they can also cause a serious malfunction with your system. To prevent this, encase your electrical lines in a conduit to keep pets away.
PREVENT URINATION
Like chewing, male dogs’ marking is something that they usually outgrow. Still, some adult male dogs will continue to mark, whether indoors or out, and urinating on one of your HVAC components can pose a serious risk to your system. If this is an issue with your pet, put up barriers to keep you dog from getting close enough to the system to urinate on it.
ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT
Humans generally enjoy temperatures in the high 60s or low 70s, but pets are comfortable at different temperatures. When you’re out during the day, keep your thermostat in the low- to mid-60s in the winter and the low- to mid-70s in the summer, so you can save energy and money on your utility bills and give your HVAC system a break.
FENCE OFF YOUR OUTDOOR AC UNIT
If your pets have unsupervised access to areas of your yard, keep them and your outdoor air conditioner safe by creating a breathable barrier. Outdoor AC units are generally safe for your dogs and cats, but restricting their access will prevent the risk of damage or injury.
CONSIDER AN AIR PURIFIER
If your indoor air quality is poor from pet hair and dirt, or you or your family members are suffering from allergies, an air purifier can be a worthwhile investment. Air purifiers can help your air and your home stay clean and free from dust and dirt, which is not only better for your health, but better for your pet’s health as well. Many different options are available to suit your home’s size, the number of pets and your budget.
GET PROFESSIONAL HELP
An HVAC maintenance plan from professional HVAC providers can help you keep your system operating efficiently and extend its life. With preventative maintenance, you can keep your system free of pet hair and dander issues and prevent emergency repairs during the busy seasons.
At LEGACY, we offer a club membership for HVAC maintenance, which acts as an insurance policy for homeowners. This membership includes:
- A 15-percent discount on parts.
- Guaranteed 24-hour response time.
- A discounted service fee.
- Complimentary maintenance for your heating and air conditioning systems prior to the winter and summer seasons.
- Four sets of filter changes.
- A lifetime warranty on most parts and labor after joining and maintaining a club membership.
- A 15-percent discount on indoor air quality products and duct cleaning services, perfect for pet owners.
- The benefits of our HVAC maintenance club membership include:
- Better efficiency.
- Lower energy bills.
- Lower repair costs.
- Extended equipment life.
- Protection against property damage.
CONTACT LEGACY
Though we enjoy them, dogs and cats can cause a lot of headaches in your home. Fortunately, preventing damage or repairs to your HVAC system is as simple as following these steps and ensuring that your HVAC system is always running its best.
If you would like to learn more about our HVAC maintenance club membership, or if you have concerns about your HVAC system, LEGACY can help. We’ve been providing heating and air conditioning services to homeowners in the Las Vegas area for many years, so give us a call or stop by today to learn more about what we have to offer!
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