Those among us that have furry friends living with us are okay to put up with a lot of extra annoyances, both literally and figuratively. You know anyone with cat allergies and still owns cats? I know at the very least three people!
Pets that live in our homes offer such great benefits as friendship, playmates, exercise, pleasure, teach duty to our youngsters… but they also have their drawbacks, especially when it comes to our home’s cooling and heating systems.
Pets release fur and dander into the indoor air of our houses, landing on all exposed surfaces and getting sucked into our cold air returns and cooling and heating systems. Somehow, your pet will affect your HVAC.
Following are our tips for dealing with our home HVAC systems when you have household pets in your home.
Change Out Filters Early and Often.
Pets or not, you should be replacing your HVAC filters at the very least four times per year, more frequently if you have a long hair breed like a German Shepherd Dog or Collie living in your home. You’ll typically find it matted with pet hair, in addition to other particles (like “dander” or skin cells) discharged by the pet into the atmosphere.
If you find your home’s furnace filters clogging up frequently, you might consider switching to a reusable filter that can be rinsed with water. Consult one of our HVAC service techs for best advice on a filter style if you’re having this issue.
Keep Your Home Free of Pet Hair with Regular House Cleaning.
You’ll find the filter will clog less often if you dust and vacuum often, preventing the air from reaching the filter. Try keeping a lightweight cord-free vacuum (like a Dirt Devil) handy for easy, frequent vacuuming.
Good Grooming Habits for Your Pet.
Keeping in mind the health of the pet first, you should bathe and brush your pet as frequently as recommended by your vet. There are several pet washes nearby where you can do it yourself to bathe your pet, or a number of groomers that accept appointments. There are also mobile groomers that will come to your home to minimize your pet getting terrorized by a visit to a noisy groomer.
Ask your vet or groomer about special brushes or other tools that make it easy to keep the pet hair under control. One device is this cool pet hair glove that allows you to just run your hands over the back of your cat or dog, then peel the hair off into the trash.
Consider Duct Cleaning Service.
Believe me, if it resides in your carpet, on the surfaces of your house, it resides in the ductwork. Often times it will settle when the furnace or AC isn’t being used a lot (like in the early fall or late spring). We recommend a duct cleaning at least every two years, more often if you have long hair breeds.
Adjust the Thermostat for Humans.
Keep in mind your pets can handle cooler or warmer temperatures than humans, so a couple of degrees cooler in the winter to save a few bucks on the heating bill is well worth it. Just be sure rover has his own warm bed and blankets to keep comfortable, especially if he’s a short hair breed.
Build a Barrier Around Your AC Unit.
Use fencing or other natural barriers to keep your pets away from outdoor AC units and compressors. You can keep both your pet and the unit safe by having a “breathable barrier” around the unit. Keeping pets away will be sure cats won’t claw at the fins and dogs don’t chew on the cables or relieve themselves on the cover!
Keep your pets safe and comfortable, save energy and extend the life of your home’s heating and cooling system with these tips. When you are ready to get those ducts cleaned, upgrade your HVAC filters, or switch to a smart WiFi thermostat, contact us. You can schedule an appointment using our convenient online appointment page, or call (614) 636-5002 to speak with one of our friendly, helpful customer satisfaction specialists.
