Taking your pet home for the first time is a momentous occasion. While they can change your life in a big way, they will also have a significant impact on your residential HVAC, in ways more than one. It’s essential to know how they can make a difference in your heating and cooling system and what you can do to mitigate the issue.   

3 Ways Pets Impact Your HVAC System

1. Reduce Air Quality

Furry pets like dogs and cats shed regularly. If you own one or several of these animals, expect to see lots of fur, hair, and dander floating around indoors. The same goes for when you have birds or reptiles as pets—they produce dander, too. Fortunately, these airborne pollutants get trapped in your HVAC’s air filters to improve indoor air quality. Over time, however, these filters become dirty and clogged, and failure to change them regularly can lead to polluted air, allergies, and respiratory illnesses.  

One way to keep dander to a minimum is to bathe your pets frequently. Grooming them may not prevent the shedding, but it can reduce the amount of fur and animal skin clogging up your residential HVAC system. Also, consider investing in an air purifier and having your ductwork cleaned once a year.  

2. Lower Energy Efficiency

Apart from diminishing the air quality indoors, fur-clogged filters force your residential HVAC unit to work harder than usual. As a result, it consumes more energy and performs less efficiently. Its long-term effect includes a shorter lifespan for your HVAC. Replacing or washing the filters will help to resolve this problem. Regularly vacuuming loose hair and wiping away dust in your home will also help matters. And, before letting your pet loose inside after their walk, brush off the dirt from their paws and bodies first.

3. Damage the Equipment

Pets are playful and curious, which means they’re likely to take an interest in loose wiring, vents, and registers. Secure HVAC components that might pique their curiosity. And if they have a habit of marking their territory somewhere near your HVAC equipment, put up a fence around it to keep them out.

When you decide to have pets, know that your residential HVAC system will require a bit more attention than usual. For top-notch upkeep, turn to Concord Heating & Air Conditioning. As the most trusted cooling and heating contractor in Cabarrus County, NC, they’ve provided HVAC repairs, installations, and maintenance since 1976. Call 704-786-6608 to set an appointment or visit them online.