5 HVAC Tips For Pet Owners
You love your cats and dogs, but you might not love all the fur that they shed. Fur and pet dander can cause allergy symptoms to worsen. Plus, it can cause your air conditioner and furnace to need more maintenance. You can’t keep your pet from shedding. But, by using a few of these steps, your HVAC system will run better and last longer.
Brush and Bathe Your Pets
Most cats and dogs shed. Reduce the amount of fur that clogs your vents and HVAC system by grooming your pets often. Cats love when you brush them. You’ll make your feline friend purr while trapping most of their fur in the brush. Dogs usually aren’t as excited about this type of grooming, but you should brush them often, too. This is very helpful if you have a breed with long fur or a dog that’s shedding its winter or summer coat. You should also give dogs baths on a regular basis to control dander.
Clean Often
When you have pets that shed, you need to adjust your cleaning routine for the extra fur and dander. One of the main areas you should clean often is your pet’s bed. This is especially true if your dog or cat enjoys spending time by the heat or cool of a register. Also, you’ll need to dust and vacuum more often so that dander and fur are less likely to be in the ductwork.
Maintain Your Vents and Ductwork
An HVAC professional can clean out your ducts on an annual basis. This is especially necessary when you have pets. You can also have your ducts sealed to prevent fur and dander from entering through the cracks. You might also save on your energy bill because you’ll lose less heated and cooled air through gaps.
Change Your Filters
Changing the filters should be one of your top priorities. You need to change most filters once every three months but some might need it more or less often. If the filter is gray and dusty, it’s time to switch it out for a new one. When you change your filter, your system won’t need to work as hard. You’ll be keeping more contaminants out of the system.
Buy an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can filter out some of the dander that can build up on your HVAC system. It will also make breathing easier for people with allergies. The units are small, so you might need to buy more than one, especially if your home has many levels.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
One of the best ways to maintain your HVAC system is to have an HVAC professional look at your system. They will fix small problems before they become larger and more expensive. Keeping your heating and cooling system working should be your priority all year. Adjust your maintenance, grooming, and cleaning to reduce the amount of fur in your home. When you do this, your furnace and air conditioner will work longer with less repairs.
