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As much as you love your pets, they can do a number on your HVAC system. They won’t outright destroy your furnace or air conditioner, but dander and shed fur from dogs and cats can force your system to work a little harder to keep your home comfortable. This means that you need to work a little harder and be more diligent to maintain your HVAC system.
1. Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
Your HVAC system should receive at least one tune-up every year regardless of whether or not you own pets. Still, it’s especially important if you have furry animals in your home. An HVAC technician can complete an AC and heating system tune-up and ensure that you don’t have too much fur and pet dander building up in your ducts and your HVAC filter, but they will also tighten electrical connections, ensure that your thermostat is properly calibrated, and address anything else that your system might need to keep working properly. Schedule this tune-up in the spring or fall when you are less likely to rely heavily on your heating and cooling system, but you should call an HVAC contractor for a maintenance visit if you haven’t done so in the last year.
2. Replace Your Air Filter Regularly
Like scheduling a regular HVAC tune-up, you should change your HVAC filter regularly regardless of whether or not you have pets. The filter removes dust, dander, and other pollutants from the air in your home, and it gets quite dirty if it isn’t cleaned or replaced at least once every few months. It will get even dirtier if you have pets, so at least check it once a month even if you don’t replace it.
3. Groom Your Pets Regularly
If you have dogs or cats, you probably know that it’s impossible to get rid of all pet hair in your home, especially during shedding seasons. However, you can still cut down on the amount of pet hair in your home by grooming your pets regularly. Use a brush designed for dogs and cats that traps hair as you brush them for best results. Not only will this prevent loose hair and dander from getting into your HVAC system, but brushing your pet will help release oils that keep their coat healthy.
4. Keep Pets Away from Your Outdoor AC Unit
Your outdoor AC unit is already exposed to the elements at all times; it doesn’t need your pets, potentially making things worse. Outdoor AC units work by drawing in air so that it can be cooled and distributed throughout your home. They’re powerful enough to also draw in things such as debris and animal hair. If your pets spend a lot of time close to the unit when they’re outdoors, the unit could pull in animal hair and dander. All of that hair and dander would be channeled into your home, and the unit itself could become clogged if it happens too often. There’s also the issue of pets urinating on your outdoor unit. You can tell if this is the case by checking the unit for signs of corrosion.
The best way to protect your outdoor unit from pets is to build a fence or plant a hedge around it. As long as you leave at least 1 foot of clearance on all sides for your unit, your air conditioner should be safe from your pets and any wild animals that might get close to it. You should also inspect and clean your outdoor unit regularly, regardless of whether you have a fence around it. As always, don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC professional if you have any other issues with your outdoor unit.
5. Keep Your House Clean
No matter how well you groom your pets, they will leave hair and dander on your carpets and your furniture. Pet dander can cause problems as it settles into your floors and upholstery, but it will also become airborne and get into your HVAC system. Your HVAC filter will remove much of this hair and dander, but it can only do so much. Eventually, you’ll notice issues such as poor airflow from your vents or your air conditioner struggling to maintain a consistent temperature.
While you’ll never eliminate all the pet hair and dander from your floors and furniture, you can improve your indoor air quality and help maintain your HVAC system by cleaning your home regularly. Vacuum all carpeted floors and sweep hard surfaces at least once a week, and remove pet hair from furniture with a vacuum cleaner or lint roller. If you have more than one pet or pets that shed a lot, you might want to vacuum once every couple of days instead of once a week.
6. Invest in an Air Purifier
Air purifiers remove contaminants in your house that your HVAC system often misses, including dander and other particle contaminants that your pets might bring into your home. Modern whole-house air purifiers can remove up to 99.7% of pollutants that regularly pass through HVAC filters, making the air in your home safer to breathe, no matter how many pets you own. Most HVAC contractors can install a whole-house air purifier directly into your existing HVAC system, but you can opt for a smaller portable model if you live in a smaller space.
7. Take Your Pets Outside
While there’s not always much that you can do about getting your pets out of the house during the winter, you should get them out of the house during the spring and summer. That is when most dogs and cats shed the most, so simply taking them outside for a walk or allowing them to play in a fenced-in yard will improve your indoor air quality. You should still keep up on your cleaning and HVAC maintenance, but allowing your pets to do most of their summer shedding outdoors will make things much easier for you.
Call Atticman Heating and Air Conditioning, Insulation for Your HVAC Needs
Whether your dogs and cats are putting a strain on your HVAC system or you’re overdue for a tune-up, we at Atticman Heating and Air Conditioning, Insulation will be happy to assist you. We are a locally owned and operated HVAC company that provides excellent service to customers in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding areas. We place the satisfaction and comfort of our customers above all else, but we are also dedicated to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. That is why we prioritize electrification and energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions such as whole-house fans and heat pumps. Our HVAC technicians will work closely with you to make sure that you are satisfied with our services while recommending the most energy-efficient products and services.
For more information about our HVAC services or to learn more about how you can improve your indoor air quality and maintain your heating and cooling system, contact Atticman Heating and Air Conditioning, Insulation in Sacramento today.
