Whether a dog lover or a lover of cats, almost everyone enjoys their furry little pets at home. However, all that hair and dander drifting around the house can wreak devastation on your HVAC filter. And, they can harm the quality of air in your residence. Although this might seem like a minor cost for the companionship of a cat or a dog or both, experts say you should take some special precautions for the health of your HVAC system. We at Hilliard-Dublin Heating & Air suggest some preventative HVAC maintenance measures to protect your system from the damage created by animal hair clogs and dander.
SUGGESTIONS FOR KEEPING YOUR AIR QUALITY CLEAN WITH PETS IN YOUR COLUMBUS, OHIO, AREA HOME:
CHANGE YOUR HVAC FILTER FREQUENTLY
If you’ve got one or more pets shedding their fur in your house, it’s essential to check your furnace filter regularly and replace it as required because pet hair clogs and dander accumulation in your air filter is common. This buildup can significantly affect the performance and effectiveness of your system. If you discover that your air filter is clogging up frequently, you can opt to switch to a reusable filter that you can rinse out with water.
CLEAN OUT THE PET HAIR IN YOUR HOME
Preventing your air filter from getting pet hair clogs in the first place is the next best thing to replacing your HVAC filter. Depending on the number of pets you have with fur, you might want to vacuum every day or a few times each week to keep the hair from building up to keep it from getting into your filter.
KEEP YOUR PETS GROOMED
Shedding is a normal and healthy thing for your pets. However, you can help stop the hair from building up all over your house by grooming them frequently. Bathing, brushing, and manually “deshedding” your dog or your cat can hold their natural shedding to a minimum and decrease dander. This proactive measure will give you less to vacuum up around your place.
KEEP YOUR DUCTS CLEAN
Regardless of how thoroughly you clean, small hairs and particles are going to end up circulating through your whole HVAC system. This is especially true for your air ducts, where they end up first. After a short time, this pet hair and dander will build up inside the ducts and lead to a clog or harm your indoor air quality, which is why HVAC maintenance is so essential. Ideally, an HVAC technician needs to examine your ductwork and HVAC system annually. We recommend you remove accumulated pet hair and dander, in addition to anything else that might have landed in your ducts. This is essential to purifying the odors in your home, maintaining your indoor air fresh while preventing costly repairs in the future.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR EQUIPMENT
Pets can damage a lot of different things, and your HVAC system is no exception. One of the most typical ways a dog destroys an air conditioner is by urinating on the exterior condenser unit. The corrosive effects can lead to costly damage. And unless you ignore the problem, you are going to have to spend a lot of money to fix it. To avert this, we recommend you take some proactive measures to stop it from occurring in the first place. Building a barrier around the outside unit is one option. However, be very cautious not to build it too close because it can restrict airflow and hinder access. We suggest utilizing a fence-like barrier to enable air to get through. Just make sure you have a minimum three-foot margin encompassing the unit.
Additionally, dogs can chew on HVAC wiring. Be sure to hide any visible wires and schedule annual professional tune-ups.
Even if you maintain the cleanest home and groom your pets as necessary, your HVAC system still needs regular professional maintenance. We suggest scheduling a heating tune-up in the fall and a tune-up for your air conditioning in the spring.
THERMOSTAT SUGGESTED
People usually enjoy temperatures in the 60s or 70s, but animals are comfortable at distinctive temperatures. If you are out during the day, adjust the thermostat to the low- to mid-60s during winter and to the low- to mid-70s during the summer. Doing so allows you to save energy and money on your energy bills and give your HVAC system some rest.
AIR PURIFIERS
Is your indoor air quality compromised because of pet hair and dirt? Are you or any family members troubled with allergies? If so, air purifiers can help your air, and your residence remain clean and clear from dirt and dust. This is not only better for your health but also better for your pet’s health. There are a variety of different options available to accommodate your home’s size, the number of pets you have, and your budget.
PROFESSIONAL HELP PAYS OFF
An HVAC maintenance agreement from a local trusted provider can help you keep your system running efficiently and prolong its life. With preventative service, you can keep your system free of pet hair and dander problems and limit emergency repairs throughout the busy seasons. If you would like to know more, or if you have a question, please call Hilliard-Dublin Heating & Air today at 614-490-7520, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here! We are a five-star-rated family business built on values. And we always love hearing from you!
