Pet dander, pet hair, and even pet urine can significantly impact your home’s HVAC system. Without proper maintenance, your HVAC system could burn out faster than expected because of your pet. If you’re a pet owner and a homeowner, here’s what you must do to care for your HVAC system.
1. Replace the Air Filter Regularly
The air filter is one of the most valuable tools for cleaning the air that flows through your ducts. Your HVAC air filter can remove hair, dander, allergens, and other particles that impact your home’s indoor air quality. Failure to replace your HVAC air filter when the air filter is dirty can force your HVAC system to work harder than necessary to do its job.
Since you own pets, you might need to replace your HVAC filter more often than if you didn’t. So check on the air filter regularly, and replace it when it looks dirty.
2. Keep Your Dog Away From the Condenser
Dogs like to pick their favorite spots to urinate in the yard. Unfortunately, suppose your dog’s favorite spot is the air conditioner condenser. This could cause the condenser to become corroded and rusty because dog urine is slightly acidic.
The best way to ensure your dog does not urinate on the condenser is to keep your dog away from the unit. To do this, you can install a fence around your condenser. Keep the fence at least two feet away from the condenser to ensure that the condenser has proper airflow.
If the fence is closer to the condenser, install a chain-link fence that allows airflow around the condenser. Failure to allow airflow around the condenser could cause it to work too hard. It could ultimately lead to a prematurely broken air conditioner.
3. Clean Ducts Regularly
You’ve probably noticed that pet dander has a way of settling in your carpet, on your upholstery, and under the bed. But did you also know that pet dander can blanket the inside of your air ducts? This can have a serious impact on your indoor air quality. When your ducts are dirty, running your HVAC system will make your home dirty too.
In addition, dirty ducts can cause your air filter to become dirty faster than normal. Cleaning your ducts regularly can help you maintain an efficient HVAC system and prevent your HVAC’s air filter from getting prematurely dirty.
Not sure if your air ducts need to be cleaned? You can tell by removing the vent cover from a duct and peering inside. You’ll also know that your ducts are extra dirty if your home gets dusty when the HVAC system is running.
4. Bathe Your Pet and Clean Your House Often
Keeping a clean house will help keep the pet dander out of your home’s air ducts and, thus, out of the HVAC system. Dust regularly, vacuum, and sweep your floors often. Wash your pet’s bed covering when you notice it’s covered in hair.
Bathe your pet regularly to prevent dander and pet hair from floating around the air in your home. Comb or brush your pet’s hair and remove hair from your pet’s grooming brush regularly.
Too much bathing can dry out your pet’s skin. Talk to your pet’s veterinarian to determine how often you can bathe your pet without worry. If your pet has sensitive skin, cut back on baths and brush your pet’s fur more often.
5. Seal Your Ducts
Holes in your home’s ducts can lead to an unintentional exchange of air, which could make your ducts dirty on the inside. Sealing the ducts can prevent this from happening. You can seal minor duct leaks yourself using duct mastic. To do this task, inspect the ducts in your house’s attic and basement or crawl space. Install mastic in all places where the ducts are cracked and the inside is exposed.
Despite the name, do not use duct tape as it tends to fall apart quickly. If you don’t feel comfortable sealing your ducts, contact an HVAC professional to do it for you.
6. Get Regular Tune-Ups
Getting your HVAC system tuned up regularly can help ensure that pet hair and dander are periodically cleaned out from the system. In addition, your HVAC professional will check the system’s efficiency, remove any allergens and pet debris, and let you know if your HVAC system needs any repairs.
If you have questions about how you can maintain your HVAC system, contact Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll happily answer your questions or help you with any HVAC problems.
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