As a pet owner there are extra precautions you should take to protect your system and your beloved animals. Your pet has a direct effect on the indoor air quality of your home. As an AC repair expert, we discuss a few HVAC maintenance tips that will ensure your system provides comfort and stays efficient for you and your pets.
Give Your Pet Regular Baths
Pet hair can cover the surface of your air filter and can even clog air ducts. Having your pets regularly groomed, can reduce the amount of shedding and dander from your indoor environment. Furthermore, pollen and other debris can accumulate on your pets’ fur which are major potential causes of allergies and reduce air quality in your home. Giving your pet regular baths and keeping them clean can help avoid indoor discomfort and health risks caused by poor indoor air quality.
Replace Your Air Filters
Replace your filters regularly to help improve your HVAC’s performance and indoor air quality. In addition to pet hair, you also should consider pet dander. Pet dander are tiny particles of dead skin that comes off your pets and end up on the air filter. As dust, pet dander and pet hair buildup on the filter, airflow decreases. This means your AC will work harder to cool and heat your home therefore increasing your energy bill. To improve efficiency and save money make it a priority to change your filters often. The more pets you have the more often they should be replaced and more frequently if anyone in your home suffers from allergies. Choose a filter with a high MERV rating of at least 8 which filters out allergens, pollutants, and contaminants.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Regular professional HVAC maintenance can help ensure your system is thoroughly cleaned and performing efficiently. Routine maintenance can help prevent the spread of allergens, dirt and debris that enters your home by having pets. During routine maintenance, technicians can also help detect any minor issues that could turn into costly repairs. Keeping your system on a regular HVAC maintenance schedule will improve efficiency and help extend its lifespan.
Keep Your Home and Carpets Clean
Pet hair and dander can end up in almost every corner of your home. Unintentionally, we may bring in allergens into our home not only on our pets, but on children, shoes, and clothing. To prevent hair, dander and other allergens from affecting you and your HVAC system make sure to regularly clean your home and carpets. We recommend washing laundry, mopping, and vacuuming furniture and carpets often to remove allergens from your home. When cleaning, do not forget to vacuum around air vents as well to suck up hair and dander that may clog the vents. Do so regularly to prevent worsening of allergies or other respiratory illnesses. Cleaning is an important action to take to improve your indoor air quality.
Inspect Your Duct System
Inspect your duct system to make sure there are no leaks present. Pet hair and dander can end up in your duct system if there are any leaks present. The duct system will then transport the air through your HVAC system and throughout your home. Contact a professional if you find any damaged ducts or are unsure.
Hide Exposed Wiring
Keep any exposed wiring hidden and away from your pets reach to avoid any hazardous situations. Your pets especially puppies or kittens may find exposed wiring fun to play with. Not only could this affect your safety but could also cause issues with your HVAC system. To keep your pets and home safe, its best to enclose wires in conduits.
Create A Barrier Around Condenser Unit
If your pets have free use of your yard, where your condenser unit is located, the may cause damage to the condenser. They can damage condenser coil, fins, urinate on the unit all which can cause future issues with your system such as refrigerant leaks. Be sure to create a safety barrier around the condenser to help avoid your pet from injuring themselves or damage to the condenser.
Inspect Pet Door
Ensure the pet door in your home properly installed and caulked to prevent hot or cold air from escaping your home. It is important to find and repair any drafts in your home to prevent an extra strain on your system as part of HVAC maintenance. Keep in mind, when you are away from home to program your thermostat accordingly. Pets do not need the temperature set at the same levels, but you always want to consider their safety and comfort too.
Consider An Air Purifier
An air purifier can be a great addition to any home, but especially in one that has pets or if anyone in the home suffers from allergies. An air purifier or air scrubber can improve your indoor air quality and have a positive health impact on your family. Signs of poor indoor air quality include frequent headaches, sneezing, coughing or flu-like symptoms. There are several options available that can fit your specific needs, space limitations and budget.
As a pet owner, you want to take care of your furry friend by ensuring your HVAC system is not a danger to your pet. Taking simple precautions mentioned above can help keep your pet and HVAC system happy, safe and healthy for years to come. LA Construction Heating and Air is your source for Furnace and AC services in the Los Angeles area. We can help you keep your pets and home safe and comfortable.
