Us pet owners will quite literally do absolutely anything for our beloved furry friends–going into thousands of dollars of debt for surgery, $50 bags of high-quality pet food, and getting on a schedule of vacuuming the house 4 times a week to make sure your little buddy’s hair doesn’t cause a traffic jam in your air filters.
Having pets can be really fun: they’re great for your health and they can be just downright too cute. However, there are always a few side effects to having a pet, like scratched sofas, stinky surprises on the carpet, and the occasional clogged air filter. Here, we’ll impart some HVAC-care wisdom to our readers so that they can take care of their pets and HVAC systems in the same go!
Brush your pet! Just like with your own hair, it’s very important for your pet’s health and your HVAC system’s health that your pet is brushed regularly. For your pet, it can ensure that their fur doesn’t become matted and stays clean (and less stinky!). For your HVAC system, regular brushing means that you are getting out loose fur that could otherwise be expelled into the air and consequently sucked into your HVAC system. It’s a quick and easy habit that benefits all parties involved!
Change air filters frequently. While the average recommended life of an air filter rides on about 3 months, it’s important to change your filter out more frequently due to the presence of pet dander and hair. These things can clog up air filters very quickly and make your HVAC system work much harder than it needs to, using more energy, and possibly causing mechanical damage. Aim for changing your air filters every 2 months instead of 3 to ensure that you and your family are breathing in quality air.
Better air filters. Pet fur and dander can severely impact air quality and the respiratory health of sensitive populations (those with asthma or COPD, for example). Upgrading your air filter quality can help reduce the strain on your respiratory system while giving your air superior filtration. Pay close attention to MERV ratings on air filters, aiming for at least a MERV 10-12 rating to help filter out dander and pet-caused allergens.
Vacuum frequently. To elongate your air filter’s life and reduce the strain on your HVAC system, vacuuming frequently can really impact the amount of fur that’s getting sucked up into the air intake system. Plus, your home will look pretty nice.
Protect your outdoor unit. Building a fence or protective structure around your outdoor unit is important. As the outdoor unit sucks in the air surrounding it, cats and dogs rubbing on the unit can throw fur directly into it. Likewise, urine can also negatively affect your unit, as it’s very acidic and can damage the fins inside the unit.
Keeping up with maintenance! When you have pets, it’s extremely important to keep up with your HVAC systems maintenance. Having a professional come out twice a year is recommended for those with indoor pets. This ensures that your system isn’t being negatively affected by excess fur and dander, among other common pollutants. Technicians can also check to make sure that your system is running smoothly so that costly repairs don’t take you by surprise later on down the road.
Taking on just a couple of the habits presented above can really make a positive impact on your HVAC system, air filter usage, and the quality of air that you and your family are breathing. Have other tips or tricks that you like to use? Share them below, we’d love to hear them!
Call us
Have questions about pets, air quality, filters, maintenance, or anything in between? Please, don’t hesitate in giving us a call here at Tri-Point Refrigeration. We’re happy to hear from you and are excited to help you along the way. Ask us about signing up for routine maintenance checks with our experienced technicians!
For a direct line to any of our employees ready on the line to help you, please call…(512) 651-4565 for our Austin, Texas community (806) 686-0050 for our Lubbock, Texas community. Or check out our website at https://www.tripointrefrigeration.com
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