Essential HVAC Maintenance Advice for Pet Owners
By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts
As reported by the American Pet Products Association’s 2024 National Pet Owner Survey, more than 82 million families own a pet. The majority of these beloved pets are dogs, cats and other furry friends who can shed or produce dander in their homes. While it’s a joy to care for a family pet, you should take a few extra measures to maintain your HVAC system. Follow these seven tips for pet-friendly HVAC maintenance:
1. Clean or Replace Your Air Filter Regularly
Your indoor air’s overall quality hinges on the state of your air filter because it pulls dust, dander and many other airborne particles from the air. If you own pets, you might need to change filters more often.
“It starts with checking the filter more regularly,” said Jim Hughes, Director of Field Training with Service Experts, one of the nation’s largest HVAC service and repair companies. “If you, for example, have a filter that’s expected to last 90 days, you may want to consider replacing it each month. Filters get clogged more quickly with pets, particularly when your HVAC system runs most often.”
2. Look into Upgrading Your Air Filter
You should also think about getting a higher-rated air filter. Look for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to learn the smallest size of particles the filter can catch. For residential use, filter ratings range between five and 13, where higher numbers mean better filtration. It’s advisable to use a nine or higher to capture dander well, Hughes added. Many pet owners sometimes upgrade to a higher-end whole home ventilation and air purification system.
3. Keep the AC’s Condenser in the Best Possible Shape
The AC unit, especially the part of the system that’s outdoors, should be cleaned as part of a comprehensive HVAC tune-up. These systems have heat exchanging coils that gather dirt and other yard debris throughout the year. In some unfortunate situations, some pets even urinate on outdoor units, and if they are around it often enough, their fur may get pulled into the coils and clog them up.
“The urine’s acidity will damage the AC coils and may even cause a refrigerant leak,” he said. “And a lot of hair in the condenser will start to affect system efficiency.” If necessary, add a small fence around your outdoor unit, but be sure not to block or restrict airflow, Hughes suggested.
4. Keep up with Your Pet’s Grooming
When you brush your pet often enough, you’ll reduce the amount of hair clogging your vents. “I tend to suggest pet owners use a vacuum brush to pull off as much fur as they can from their pets. This way you aren’t dispersing the hair and dander you’re brushing off into the home,” Hughes mentioned.
5. Increase How Often You Vacuum and Clean Return Vents
Increasing how many times you vacuum each month can limit the amount of hair and dander making its way into your system. As long as you’re already vacuuming, don’t forget to clean out what you can in the return air vents as well. The placement of return air vents will vary according to your home’s layout. But your home will always have return air vents and supply air vents. Return air vents bring in air and then filter and redistribute it back into every room using the supply air vents, so more vacuuming is added defense against unwanted dust, pet hair and more.
6. Schedule a Maintenance Call Every Six Months
Your HVAC system should be serviced by a professional technician twice a year to ensure everything is running its best, particularly for pet owners. Once the HVAC specialist arrives, it’s a good idea to ask them about additional steps you can take for your system to run more efficiently.
“The visiting technician is an extra set of eyes for you to assess the effects of pets on your system,” Hughes said. “A tune-up is a chance to establish a beneficial relationship that ensures a longer-lasting HVAC system.”
Explore Duct Cleaning Services
If the air filter gets clogged, dust and common allergens can reach the duct system, causing more trouble with your home’s air quality. If you are concerned that pet hair and dander aren’t under control, you might want to consider professional duct cleaning services.
“I know some pet owners who have their duct work cleaned every few years. For pet owners, it can be a smart investment,” Hughes said.
To find out more about maintaining indoor air quality with pets, go to ServiceExperts.com/indoor-air-quality/ or schedule your HVAC maintenance tune-up today.
