In most homes, pets enjoy a place of honor. They’re allowed on the furniture. Sometimes they even sleep in the same beds as their humans. Having a pet means your home is filled with love. And pet dander. When you brought your pet home, you never imagined how quickly they would take over. You also didn’t imagine the damage they would cause to your HVAC system. HVAC systems in homes where pets live need extra care. Read our tips to help protect your system from the four-legged members of your family.
Grooming and HVAC Systems
Regular grooming doesn’t only benefit your pet. It also benefits you. You know your pet’s fur is always floating in the air inside your home. You may not see it but so is their dander. Pet dander consists of tiny particles of dead skin. Many pet owners are allergic to dander and suffer multiple respiratory and skin reactions. All the fur and dander in your home eventually end up in your HVAC system. The dander is blown out through your supply vents and right back into the air your breathe. Regular grooming reduces the amount of hair and dander that accumulates in your HVAC system. It doesn’t only protect you, it can extend the life of your heating and cooling system.
Change Your Air Filter
Even one pet can produce enough hair and dander to clog the air filter in your HVAC system. Combine that with the normal dirt particles your filter picks up and you have a potential for a reduction in air flow. Anytime your HVAC has an airflow issue, it doesn’t run efficiently. In a home without pets, HVAC experts recommend changing your air filter every three months. If you have pets, the guidelines are different. Depending on the size of your system and the filter it requires, you may need to change your air filter as often as every month.
Put a Fence around It
If you have outdoor pets, keep them away from the outside AC unit. The worry isn’t that they’ll get inside the unit and injure themselves. The primary concern is with male dogs who like to mark their territory by urinating on the AC unit. If pet urine comes in contact with the copper coil and aluminum fins on the AC unit, it causes some serious corrosion. It might not seem like a big deal but repairing fins and/or coils can cost as much as replacing the entire outdoor unit. You can create a barrier around the unit to keep pets away from it. A fence or dense shrubs should do the trick. A simple, cost-effective method to prevent problems.
Inspect the Wiring
Pets chew, and some of them chew on anything that looks interesting. For some dogs and cats, the wiring is a favorite chew toy. Both inside and outside, you can prevent electrical hazards posed by pets who haven’t outgrown the urge to chew. Take a few minutes and inspect for exposed wiring for your HVAC system. If you find any, make sure it’s safely enclosed in conduit. If your HVAC system is in a room without a door, consider installing one to keep pets out.
Inspect the Wiring
Pets chew, and some of them chew on anything that looks interesting. For some dogs and cats, the wiring is a favorite chew toy. Both inside and outside, you can prevent electrical hazards posed by pets who haven’t outgrown the urge to chew. Take a few minutes and inspect for exposed wiring for your HVAC system. If you find any, make sure it’s safely enclosed in conduit. If your HVAC system is in a room without a door, consider installing one to keep pets out.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
In addition to changing air filters and keeping pets away from the outdoor unit, the best thing you can do to protect your HVAC system in Dacula, GA, is maintain it. Regular cleaning and inspection helps save on energy bills and may save you from needing costly repairs. For pet owners, it’s a good idea to at least schedule maintenance yearly.
Spring is the ideal time for HVAC maintenance. If you’re looking for an HVAC contractor near Dacula, GA, contact Triad Mechanical.