Being a pet parent is one of life’s greatest pleasures–but it also means a little extra care when it comes to maintaining your HVAC system and keeping up your indoor air quality. If you have a furry family member or two living under your roof, follow these tips to help extend the life of your HVAC equipment and reduce the amount of pet-related pollutants in your indoor air.
- 1. Groom Your Pet on a Regular Basis
How does this help? By grooming and bathing your pet regularly, you’ll reduce the amount of hair/fur and dander that they release into the air. The pet hair and dander that does get released tends to collect on your air filters and inside your air ducts, which means that those things will have to be cleaned more frequently than might otherwise be necessary.
- 2. Check and Clean/Replace Your Air Filters Frequently
It’s always important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each air filter that you use. Just keep in mind, the instructions will usually say something like, “replace every 90 days or sooner.” If you own a cat or dog, you’ll probably need to replace a disposable air filter sooner than the standard 90-day mark.
The reason you’ll want to check and change/clean your air filter so frequently is to avoid an air filter clogged with pet hair. An overly dirty air filter restricts the airflow through your HVAC system. When this happens, your air conditioner or furnace can stop working, and your compressor may end up with a severe mechanical issue.
If you own one or more cats or dogs, check your disposable air filter 30 days after replacing it. If it doesn’t need to be replaced yet, check it again every 15 days after that.
- 3. Clean Your Vents
This is not only a good practice to get rid of the pet hair collecting in your vents but to clear away the dust and other debris that gets in there as well. You’ll want to pay attention to floor vents in particular if you have any, as pets often like to lay on top of them.
- 4. Protect the Outdoor Condenser Unit
When dogs are left in the yard or let outside to do their business, sometimes they’ll choose to urinate on your AC system’s condenser unit. Over time, this can cause your unit to corrode, leading to damage that’s expensive to repair. If your dog has an affinity for your condenser unit that can’t be trained away, consider installing a fence-like barrier around it with about 3 feet of clearance around the unit on all sides to allow proper ventilation.
- 5. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Not only will this save you money on your energy bill and make your HVAC system more efficient, but with a programmable thermostat, you’ll also be able to keep your pet comfortable while you’re away from home for long periods of time. Smart thermostats are especially great for pet owners because they allow you to monitor your home’s temperature and adjust it in a pinch from a mobile app.
With or without pets, HVAC maintenance is the key to making your system run as long as possible (and as efficiently as possible). If you can’t remember the last time your HVAC system had a tune-up, now is the time! Making an appointment with Woodward Heating Air Plumbing is fast and easy!
