Caring Pet Owners Pay Attention to HVAC Needs
Pets are loving additions to our families, as we all know. Our furry family members get all the love our humans get, and sometimes even more. And if you have more than one pet, there is even more love to go around. But, with animals come other particular conditions and specific needs. Today’s pet owners take better care of their fur babies better than they ever have in the past.
Pandemic Pets
In fact, it has become trendy to own certain pets, as seen on social media. And pandemic pets are a real thing! The increase in pets purchased and adopted skyrocketed in March of 2020 and continues when we realized the coronavirus was not going away any time soon.
So, yes. Other areas of the home are affected by the pandemic, besides the humans and the pet. Did you ever stop to think about the appliances and the HVAC in your home? If you are one of the folks staying home more than ever and adopting a new pet or spending more time with the ones you already had, you know what we mean. Your HVAC system is probably filtering more air, more CO2, and more pet dander and fur than ever. So what’s a homeowner to do?
Thankfully, we are noticing and dealing with the surge of pets in Veterans AC and Heat homes. That is why we have put together this guide to help you pay attention to your HVAC needs as you love on your pandemic pets and more.
HVAC Maintenance for Pet Owners
They don’t mean to, and you try your best to keep it under control. But having pets includes taking in their dander, fur, feathers, and more. And staying home more means even more importance is on air quality in the home. This means it is essential to take additional steps to maintain good quality and prolong your HVAC unit’s life.
Follow these steps to keep your HVAC system running for the unit’s life and your family’s air quality.
Replace Air Filters
Shedding and dander is an inevitable part of pet ownership. How that shedding affects our HVAC systems is a part we can control in the war to fight the shed. Most homeowners know it is essential to check your air filter regularly and replace it as needed. But with pets, it is even more critical. You see, pet dander and fur can build up in the filter and clog the system. This build-up will negatively affect the efficiency and overall operation of your HVAC unit.
Be sure to check the packaging of your filters and change as recommended. Some types require a change every three months, and others need changing monthly. With pets, we recommend checking and changing often to avoid clogs.
So, whether you own pets or not, if you feel your HVAC system is continually getting clogged and needing replacement, there may be something you can do about that. HVAC professionals can recommend certain products to help your HVAC unit run smoothly. For instance, you may consider changing to a reusable filter that can be rinsed with water. In any case, contact your local HVAC team to maximize your AC and Heat efficiency.
Pet Grooming
Avoiding clogs and build-up in your air handler, filters, and ductwork requires routine grooming. According to the Animal Humane Society,
“Regular brushing removes dead hair, distributes natural oils for a clean and healthy coat, stimulates the surface of the skin, gets rid of dead and dry skin, and helps you become familiar with your dog’s body. You should brush your dog every couple of days, no matter the length of his coat. Sometimes your brushing can have a specific purpose, such as removing hair mats or helping your dog shed his seasonal coat, but most often you’ll be doing general-purpose brushing or combing.”
We agree. While shedding is a natural and normal process, you can take steps to prevent it from taking over your home. Bathing and brushing your pet can help pet owners to keep the shedding of fur and dander to a minimum. Regular brushing, combing, and bathing can reduce pet effects on your air filter, and the amount of cleaning your home requires. Regularly vacuuming and dusting the house can also prevent it from getting into the system.
Suppose you need a good clean out of your AC system now that you have begun a regular grooming schedule. Why not also schedule preventative maintenance for your AC and Heating system? Contact a professional to get you started to healthier air quality for you and your pets.
Watch Out for Puppy Chewing and Marking
Again, it is no blame on the pet owner or the pet, but chewing and marking can be a real issue when you have a new pet. We know chewing is an issue for young pets to ease their boredom or separation anxiety. Likewise, urinating on areas to mark territory is something young pets do and then outgrow as they mature. If your new pandemic or other pets do happen to chew on the wire attached to your HVAC system, it can be very damaging. Additionally, urinating on the outdoor machine can pose a serious risk to the system. No one wants that. To prevent this, pet owners can encase electrical lines and create barriers to keep their pets from getting close to the system.
If you notice one of these puppy blunders has happened, be sure your pet is out of harm’s way and call a professional repair technician. They will provide a judgment-free zone for your pup and ensure the area is fixed. Then they can suggest ways for you to keep it from happening again.
Veterans AC and Heat Cares about Your Pets
At Veterans AC and Heat, we are people and pet lovers as well. Our furry family members are just as important to us as they are to you. So, we get it. It is our goal to keep your home as comfortable as possible for you and your pets.
Our technicians know just what to look for when inspecting your HVAC unit and all its components. Additionally, we understand how critical your AC is in Florida because we live here too. When we come out to inspect your AC, you will be greeted by our friendly technicians, and they will leave you with a longer-lasting and clean running system. What’s more, we will advise you on how to ensure your system keeps running as long and as well as it can.
For more information on pet owners and their air conditioning systems, contact the pros at Veterans AC and Heat. We are proud to serve the Pinellas County area with exceptional service and HVAC care.
