Everyone needs to take care of their HVAC system no matter how old or new, or whether you have three pets or none. Having pets, though, means you may need to clean your HVAC unit more often, or, take care of the unit in different ways. When you have pets, their hair can clog the unit. This creates air quality issues due to their shedding and messes. Here are a few tips on how your HVAC unit can run effectively when you have pets!
Regularly Groom Your Pets
If your pet sheds frequently, has lots of dander, or you have multiple pets, it’s a good idea to regularly groom them. You don’t necessarily have to spend tons of money and send them to a top-notch groomer. Simply just give them a brush and bath weekly. This ensures that there won’t be tons of fur flying through your HVAC system. That way it will help keep your air quality purer.
Change the Air Filters
We talk about air filters time and time again — but trust us, they really are THAT important! The air filter is such a simple, but important part of the HVAC system. Normally, you would want to change your filter every three months or 90 days. With pets, you need to do it more often. Depending on the number of pets you have and how much they shed, you may want to change the filter anywhere from every two months.
If you have multiple pets or heavy-shedding pets, change your filter monthly and use a high quality HEPA filter. If you only have one pet or a couple of short-hair pets that rarely shed, you may be able to change your filters every two months. Do not go over three months, though, because the filter will become full of hair, fur, and dander. Clogged filters cause improper and insufficient airflow and could result in damage to the HVAC system.
Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are meant to target various contaminants in your home. Many are capable of eliminating up to 99% of impurities in the air, including pet dander. By using internal fans, air purifiers pull the air in your home through filters in the machine to remove the harmful contaminants. Then, the air purifier circulates the air back into the room.
Using an air purifier is a simple and cost-effective way to help the quality of air in your home.
Clear the Air Ducts and Vents
If there are hair and dander in your carpets and on your furniture, then it’s in your ducts and vents, too. Hair and dander easily fall into the vents and flies into the air ducts throughout the day.
While you’re vacuuming, use the hose tool to reach into vents to clean them out. This is a simple fix to prevent the build-up of pet hair that can clog your ducts and HVAC system.
For the air ducts, we recommend calling us out to make the job easier and safer.
Regular Maintenance to the HVAC System
Lastly, every HVAC system needs regular maintenance no matter the condition or age of the system, but especially if you have pets. Here at Fahnestock, we offer Preventative Maintenance Plans just for these reasons. Our various plans can suit whatever needs you have while keeping your home healthy through well-maintained HVAC systems. You also won’t have to worry about other issues with your HVAC unit as they will be covered within the plan. Call us today to learn more (316) 943-4328!
