How to Care for your HVAC when you have Pets at Home

Could your pet be behind the need for your recent call to the local HVAC repair service? Many new (and even some seasoned) pet owners can overlook the effect their four-legged friends can have on their health and home.

Dander Dilemmas
Resulting in a variety of problems from minor itching to debilitating respiratory irritation, built-up pet dander can have a negative effect not only on your health, but on the health of your cooling and heating unitsas well. And nearly every pet sheds dander, tiny particles of skin, fur or feathers. What’s a pet-loving homeowner to do?

Improve HVAC Performance & Air Quality with These Pet-Friendly Tips:

• Make Air Filter Changes a Priority
  Because pet hair and dander can easily clog HVAC filters, spreading allergens, those with pets should check and change them more often than the average homeowner. Left unchecked, a clogged filter can rob your system of efficiency, forcing it to work harder than necessary to heat/cool your home. This not only needlessly inflates energy costs, but severely shortens the lifespan of your system. Monitor your system and develop a schedule, marking air filter changes on your calendar if need be.
• Groom Pets Frequently to Reduce Dander
  Eliminating the problem at its source by regularly grooming your pet can significantly cut down on dander and allergen distribution in your home.
• Clean Your Home Regularly
  As with grooming, removing dust and dander with the regular vacuuming, mopping and dusting of surfaces will likewise reduce debris and improve air quality and HVAC performance.
• Don’t Neglect Your Ducts
  In addition to cleaning the parts of your home you can see and touch, you should also clean the ones you can’t: Specifically the inside of ductwork, and internal heating and air components such as coils. This is easily accomplished by scheduling an annual system tune-up with your local HVAC technician, and asking them to check your ductwork for signs of pet hair, dust, and mold, which impact air quality and indicate the need for duct cleaning.
• Keep Properly Secured
  Prevent injury to your pets and damage to ductwork. Properly screw down all vents, ensuring adequate coverage to prevent pets from climbing within. Calling for emergency heating repairs in the dead of winter after a pet has sought shelter within ducts will not be a fun day for you or your pet.
• Fence-In Your Outdoor Unit
  Adding a fence around your outdoor unit can help prevent area pets and wildlife from chewing, scratching, or urinating on HVAC system components. The nature of animal urine can cause coils to degrade prematurely, increasing the likelihood of refrigerant leaks and system damage. If installing the fence yourself, ensure enough distance from the unit to provide sufficient airflow. If unsure where to install your fence while allowing proper ventilation, ask a pro. Too little airflow and the performance and lifespan of your system can be significantly impacted.

Safeguard the health of your family, your pets, and your HVAC system. Contact H&H heating and air service to schedule your annual cleaning and maintenance today for a healthier, happier home today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/hvac-maintenance-with-pets/