Our companion animals are amazing!
Somehow our furry friends can sense when we’ve had a bad day and need a cuddle. They can give us an excuse to get off the couch and exercise even if we don’t want to. They can be our best friends and keep us company and yet, despite bringing us joy and companionship, pet ownership comes with a few considerations that can affect your HVAC system. With shedding hair and dander now floating in the air, there are more particles potentially entering your HVAC system and directly impacting your indoor air quality. And while frequently vacuuming your floors and dusting your home can certainly help with the amount of hair and dander, there are a few other ways you can improve your indoor air quality and maintain your HVAC.
Change Your Filters Frequently
A dirty air filter will reduce airflow throughout your HVAC system and put your indoor air quality at risk. If it gets bad enough, your air conditioner could malfunction or develop condensation leaks if the filter becomes too clogged for it to operate properly. Changing your filter frequently will not only improve indoor health and lower the operational costs of your HVAC system, but it also filters the hair, dust, and dander that comes with our furry friends.
If you have companion animals, or if you suffer from asthma or allergies, you should consider checking your filter every month and replacing or cleaning it if necessary. Keep in mind that some high-efficiency filters are designed to last for up to 6 months or more before replacing.
Groom Your Animals Frequently
Your pet’s health and comfort is the biggest reason you should be bathing and grooming them of course, but you and your family can also benefit from this habit as it will help to control odors and allergens. Now, of course, the frequency at which you groom your pet is going to depend on a number of factors including the type of animal and type of fur but you should go for sooner rather than later.
Even just brushing your pet is beneficial. This will not only help to support healthy skin and fur but will also remove dirt, pollen, excess hair, and any little creatures or briars that might have stuck on your pet since it was outside. Being proactive can make a big difference in keeping that dust, pollen, and dander out of your heating and air system.
Consider A System That Purifies Itself
HVAC systems are getting more and more intuitive to the point where different types of indoor air cleaners can target specific types of contaminants. The Air Scrubber Plus, for example, is an active air filter. It doesn’t just filter out the allergens and particles that circulate through itself. It actually sends ActivePure “scrubber molecules” out into your home to clean the surfaces holding on to whatever you, your family, and your pets have transferred inside. That includes contaminants like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and bacteria.
Take Special Care of Your HVAC Equipment
You know what isn’t great? When your dog is wandering around your whole yard, looking for a new place to mark its territory, decides the spot for today is on your air conditioning unit, and well, you know…
If this is repeated behavior, it could lead to trouble. Dog urine is highly corrosive and can adversely affect the finish and parts of the condensing unit. If it is necessary to place any sort of temporary barrier, keep in mind that you will need a three-foot minimal clearance around the unit and that a service technician will always need unobstructed access to the system. All such temporary barriers should optimally be used only when the animal is in the yard, thus not obstructing airflow to the unit.
Animals also may also chew on the HVAC external piping, insulation, or wires, so it’s important to schedule regular maintenance to ensure measures are being taken to avoid this or make repairs if necessary.
Even when you take all of these steps, your heating and air system will still need periodic professional maintenance. To set up a home maintenance plan, give us a call: 757-427-0016!
