Pets fill our homes with love and affection. But they also fill our houses with hair, dander, and other messes.
Every pet owner sees the effect their furry friends have on the carpet and furniture, but most don’t realize just how much pets can impact your HVAC system.
Most pets shed at least a little bit of hair from time to time, and as your HVAC system pulls in air from your house for treatment, that pet hair and dander can go right along with it. Once there, it can clog up your vents and filters and cause the system to work harder and less efficiently.
The pet hair and dander that collects in your HVAC system can then recirculate into your home and you’ll end up breathing dangerous particles that can irritate allergies, trigger asthma and even be harmful to your respiratory system. According to the American Lung Association, breathing in pet hair and dander can lead to a decline in the functionality of the lungs.
Now only can your electric bill go up because of poor efficiency, but your air quality also goes down at the same time.
Pets who spend time outdoors also bring in dust, dirt, and debris, all of which can end up in your HVAC system as well and cause clogs or damage. And pets have been known to chew on exposed wires or other parts of your HVAC system.
Protecting Your HVAC from Pets
There’s a few things every pet owner should do to minimize the impact of their furry friends on their HVAC system.
- Keep your pets well groomed. Regularly bathing and brushing your pet will help to keep shedding hair and dander at a minimum.
- Clean the crevices. Pet hair has a way of accumulating under and behind furniture and other nooks and crannies of the house. Go the extra mile to reach these spots when sweeping or vacuuming.
- Change air filters. It’s recommended you change out your air filters at least every 90 days, so pet owners may want to change them out a little more frequently.
- Enclose wires. If you have an indoor HVAC unit and a pet who likes to chew or scratch, make sure there are no exposed wires or crevices in the system.
Have Your HVAC Serviced
It’s wise to have routine maintenance performed on your HVAC system twice per year. The team at Mansfield Sales & Service can perform a spring and fall service check on your unit to make sure it’s free of pet hair and other debris and working as it should.
Schedule an appointment today to have your HVAC system cleaned and serviced and keep your home pet friendly.