Here at Efficient Home Solutions, we know pets are an important part of your family. They enjoy a comfortable indoor environment as much as we do, so you’ll want to take additional care when it comes to pets and your HVAC system. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure you and all of your family members can be happy in your home.
Lots of Grooming and Brushing
The most basic way to keep your HVAC system well maintained in a pet household is to keep them cleaner. That means regular grooming, especially by a professional. In between appointments you should brush them often as well. If pets have long or thick hair it’s even more important, because your air filters can get clogged very quickly. Frequent grooming can help lessen the amount of hair and dander in your home.
Keep Your Vents and Ducts Clean
People are usually pretty good at remembering to change their air filters, but they don’t always think about the vents and ducts. If you only change the filters, pet hair and dander can still clog up your system. You should vacuum both kinds of vents – supply and return, in other words, the ones that blow air as well as the intake vents. When vents stay clear, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to circulate air.
Pet hair can collect in and block your ducts as well as your vents. You can take care of cleaning them yourself to a certain extent, but to truly clean them it’s best to call in the professionals. DIY only goes so far without having specialized equipment.
But Yes, Change Your Air Filters Often!
We’ve discussed the importance of changing your air filters before, and it bears repeating. Most filters should be changed every one to three months; when you add a furry family member, it’s best to keep the frequency monthly. Just like with your vents and ducts, keeping filters clean and new allows your HVAC system to run more efficiently and maintain better airflow throughout your home.
There are many options for air filter quality, so choose wisely. If you spend less on your filters, you’ll have to change them more often. High-quality filters such as HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) will not only remove more pet hair and dander, but help improves allergies issues.
Clean Your Carpets and Floors
Another place for a HEPA filter is in your vacuum because keeping your carpets clean will really cut down on pet dander. Otherwise, it will be recirculated throughout the house by people walking between rooms. You should plan on weekly vacuuming for the best results. In addition, you should regularly sweep hardwood and tile flooring, especially near vents that are close to the floor. Pets often like to sit or sleep close to the vents as well, so make sure they aren’t blocking them off. Overall, cleaning whatever material makes up your floor is always important. Somebody has to do chores, right?
Keep an Eye Outside
Our final tip is for the outdoors: specifically, keep your pets away from the outdoor unit. Male dogs in particular are likely to “mark” it, which can cause long-term damage. You need to block their access to it while also keeping the unit’s airflow unobstructed. One elegant option is latticework, which can protect while allowing for good airflow.
EHS Can Help With Fido and Fluffy
Want more suggestions? You can always contact us for ideas on keeping your home cool and comfortable this summer, for people as well as pets. If you’d like your home’s air analyzed, we can help with our Indoor Air Quality Testing. We’ll make sure everyone in your family can enjoy the indoors!
