For most pet owners, their little four-legged friends can do no wrong, but even the most lovable animal can spell trouble for your home’s HVAC system. If you don’t take the necessary precautions, the system can experience damage both inside and out, becoming much more inefficient. Understanding how to avoid pet-related problems can save you money on AC maintenance and keep your home comfortable all year long.

How Can Pets Damage Your HVAC System?

Your home’s heating and cooling system doesn’t just maintain the temperature, but it also has a major impact on the indoor air quality. As your pets shed, the loose fur can be sucked into the system and clog the air filters and ducts. When this happens, it forces the system to work harder than it needs to and can lead to a rise in your utility bills.

Pets also track in dust, dirt, and allergens from outside, which can also infiltrate your system. This can diminish the indoor air quality, leading to itchy eyes, a runny nose, and respiratory issues. Your four-legged friend can also bite, claw, or use the restroom on the outdoor unit, which can damage the condenser coils or lead to costly corrosion.

How Can You Protect Your Home’s System?

Luckily, there are simple solutions to keep your home’s HVAC system safe from pet damage. To avoid clogging your filters and ducts, have your pets regularly groomed to minimize the amount of fur that can get into the system and vacuum your home weekly. You can stay safe from allergy symptoms by cleaning your pet thoroughly any time they’ve been outside and installing fresh air filters every month. You can also install an air purifier to your system if you want extra help maintaining the indoor air quality.

The easiest way to avoid damage to the outdoor unit is by putting up a small fence around it, leaving at least 2 feet of space around each side, so you don’t affect its airflow.

 

By following these tips, having a pet doesn’t mean it will damage your home’s HVAC system. To schedule a tune-up, contact the professional HVAC contractors at Blue Ox Heating & Air in Minneapolis, MN. Their experts always strive to provide quick and reliable AC repair services to ensure your home is comfortable and safe year-round, and they never quit a job until you are 100% satisfied with their work. Schedule an appointment by calling them at (612) 326-3837 or visiting them online today.