When someone brings a four-legged friend into the home, it quickly becomes a member of the family, but taking care of a pet is a big responsibility. One such obligation that many new pet owners don’t think about is how their furry friend affects a home’s HVAC system and the steps to take to keep your home and family happy and healthy. To keep the system operating efficiently and protect the rest of the family, HVAC contractors recommend understanding the effects pets have on a central air system and how to mitigate any damages.

Pets & Your Home’s HVAC System

When pets go outside, they can get dust, dirt, and allergens embedded in their fur, and when they come back inside, they bring all of those with them. Those contaminants, combined with shedding fur, tend to enter the ductwork and become clogged inside of the HVAC system’s air filters. This leads to a less efficient cooling and heating installation, and it lowers the overall indoor air quality. This can cause health concerns like a runny nose, itchy eyes, or even respiratory issues like asthma. They can also cause problems with a system’s outdoor unit as well. If they mark their territory on the outdoor condenser, it creates significant challenges for the electrical units inside and leads to expensive heating and AC repairs.

How to Prevent Pet Damage to Your HVAC System

For the outdoor unit, the best course of action is to train your pets to stay away, and for added precautions, install a small fence around it. Just be sure to keep this barrier at least two feet away to prevent obstructing the airflow. For indoor solutions, it’s crucial to regularly bathe and groom your pet to remove the harmful contaminants and excess fur. This lowers the chance of these things getting stuck inside of the air filters and causing problems. HVAC contractors also recommend changing the system’s air filters more often than homeowners who don’t have a pet, sometimes as often as once a month. However, there are special filters that are designed specifically for pet owners that last longer. Finally, be sure to vacuum regularly to keep contaminants out of the ducts, and if possible, replace carpeting with hardwood, vinyl, or tile flooring.

 

If you’re having issues with your home’s HVAC system, contact the experts at Reading Heating & Air Conditioning in Cincinnati, OH. For more than 70 years, this family-owned and operated company has helped residents keep their systems operating at peak efficiency, and their team of N.A.T.E. certified technicians can provide a professional diagnosis of your home. They offer solutions specialized to your home and pets to keep you comfortable all year long. Schedule an appointment by calling (513) 821-1633 or learn more online today.