HVAC Maintenance For Pet Owners

Feb 25, 2020 | Blog

If you have pets, you know that they are also beloved members of the family. When it comes to the performance, maintenance, and care of your home’s HVAC system, your fur babies definitely have to be taken into consideration. If you have pets in your home, you need to take special precautions to ensure that your heating and cooling system will be protected from becoming clogged with pet hair and dander. Centerville Heating & Cooling, located in Centerville, Ohio, has the following tips for all of our pet parent customers out there for taking care of your HVAC system:

HVAC and Furnace Care for Pet Owners in Centerville, Ohio

Keep the Pet Hair in Your Home to a Minimum

We all adore our fur babies, but we are not so crazy about all their shedding. Pet hair and dander (which is basically pet dandruff) can accumulate in your house before you know it, and this can cause major problems for your HVAC system. Pet hair can quickly cause clogging and blockage in your home’s heating system. This can be prevented with consistent and thorough cleaning to keep excessive pet hair out of your home. Vacuum/sweep/mop frequently, clean furniture with lint brushes, wash bedding and curtains often, and keep pet beds and blankets clean.

Groom Your Pets to Eliminate Excessive Shedding

Pets can’t help the fact that they shed. It’s a natural process for them, and one that is necessary in order for them to be healthy. That being said, you still want to avoid having pet hair all over the place and having it find its way into your HVAC system. Grooming your pets is an excellent way to keep their hair from getting all over your home, and it will make them feel happy and loved.

Get Your Pets Professionally Groomed

If you don’t know how or don’t have the time to groom your pets yourself, find a reputable professional groomer. Even if you do groom them yourself, treat them to a professional grooming occasionally for the full treatment: bath, nail trim, flea dip, etc.

Remember Your Pets When You Set Your Thermostat

Everyone in your home is affected by the temperature setting on your thermostat. It affects the moisture in the air and can leave our skin and hair feeling dry and flaky. It can also do this to your pets. Pets are actually happier and more comfortable in temperatures that are just a little lower than we generally keep them set on. Whereas humans are most comfortable with the temperature set in the upper 60s to lower 70s, our pets much prefer temperatures in the low to mid-60s, or in the low 70s at most. These temperatures are healthy for their skin and hair and will help prevent shedding and dander.

Always Keep a Clean Air Filter in Your Furnace

Your furnace’s air filter cleans the dust, dirt, and other debris out of the air that flows through it before the air is heated and circulated in your home. This includes collecting pet hair and dander, which can clog the air filter quickly. The usual recommendation for furnace air filters is to check them once every 30 days during the winter months and to change them if needed. However, if you’re a pet owner, Centerville Heating & Cooling recommends increasing the filter check to twice per month and changing it each time the filter is dirty. If the air filter becomes clogged with pet hair and other debris, your furnace can become overworked as it attempts to force air through the filter. This will cause the motor to overheat and can result in irreparable damage to your HVAC system.

Choose Pet-Friendly Furnace Filters

If you have pets, it’s a good idea to use pet-friendly furnace filters that are designed especially for homes that have pets. These filters are designed to trap pet hair and dander more efficiently than standard furnace air filters. This type of filter is especially beneficial if you have a family member who suffers from allergies, asthma, or other types of respiratory issues.

Schedule a Professional HVAC Inspection and Cleaning

Another recommendation is to have an annual HVAC inspection and cleaning performed. However, if you have pets, this should be done twice per year to maintain your heating and cooling system in it’s best possible condition. If you are in Centerville, Ohio, or the surrounding area, contact Centerville Heating & Cooling for an appointment to have one of our licensed HVAC specialists visit your home and perform a complete inspection and cleaning of your entire HVAC system, including vents and air ducts. This will reveal any potential issues that may affect your HVAC system during the time it is in use, as well as anything that may become a problem later on. Our trained HVAC technician will make any necessary repairs so that you can avoid having to deal with any issues during extreme weather season.

Wrapping It Up: HVAC Care for Pet Owners

You can keep your HVAC system in top condition and keep everyone in your home – fur babies included – warm and comfortable easily. Clean up the pet hair around your home frequently. Have your pets professionally groomed and keep them brushed yourself in between grooming appointments. Keep the air filter in your furnace changed frequently and schedule a professional inspection and cleaning of your HVAC system once or twice per year.

Give Centerville Heating & Cooling a call at 937-353-1169 or visit us on the web for all of your heating and cooling needs. We pride ourselves on providing only the very best service to our valued customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.