Do you have any four-legged, furry family members in your household? If so, no matter what type of pet you may have in your home, have you considered the impact owning a pet or even multiple pets can have on your HVAC system’s performance? At Finneytown Heating & Cooling, we value each member of your family – pets included! Pets bring so much love and a sense of companionship to the home. But it’s also crucial for you as both a homeowner and a pet owner to understand the effects pets can have on your HVAC system.
Why Should You Use a Barrier to Protect Your Units?
Since safety should be a top priority, we will discuss this point first. If you have a pet with free-range of your house and backyard, you should consider protecting your heating and cooling units. Suppose you have an exposed furnace in your home (usually the basement), then you should try using a barrier to protect your pet from getting too close to the pilot light. Doing this is two-fold; you protect your pet from getting too close to the unit and keep the vicinity around the furnace from accumulating too much dust and pet hair. Dust and pet hair can quickly build up in a short time, thus causing a fire hazard. Never thought about it that way before? No problem! A simple way to fix this issue is by using a pet gate or pen around your furnace to protect your pet and HVAC system.
If you have a particularly territorial male dog, or perhaps even outdoor cats, you never know where they will choose to relieve themselves. Ideally, it would not be on your outdoor unit in the backyard. But you never know! Therefore, using a fence to box your condenser in and keep your animals out is something you should think about doing. Just remember that the fence should be a few feet away from the unit, and don’t forget to make sure it is still easy to access with a gate of some sort.
When Should You Change Your Air Filters?
Loose fur and pet dander can negatively affect the indoor air quality in your home. In addition, fur and dander can clog your HVAC air filters, thus reducing your system’s performance and efficiency. Generally, we suggest changing your air filters every 1-2 months; however, some breeds of cats and dogs shed a little more than others, so you may need to check your air filters more often, especially if you own multiple pets.
Why Should You Use an Air Purifier?
There are so many different models of air purifiers available on the market that it’s almost impossible not to find one that would be suitable for your budget and need. Air purifiers remove free-floating particles, contaminants, and other airborne pollutants such as pet fur and dander from your home. Of course, this raises the IAQ within your home and enables your HVAC system to function at its best capacity, which prolongs your system’s lifespan. We highly suggest utilizing an air purification system if you have multiple pets!
When Should You Get Your Ductwork Cleaned?
Per industry standards, you should get your ducts professionally cleaned every 3-5 years. Of course, we know every home is different. How often you will need to get your ductwork cleaned will depend on a few factors, such as your house, lifestyle, and the number of people and pets in your home. It also depends upon the breed of pet you have and whether or not they frequent going outside. Dogs and outdoors cats tend to track in a lot of dirt on their paws from the outside. So over the years, your ducts will collect and hold dust, hair, loose debris, pet fur and dander, and dirt. For this reason, having your ducts cleaned is essential, as dirty ductwork can have adverse effects on your HVAC system and the IAQ in your home. Call us to see if we are offering this as a service this season!
As a pet owner, the benefits of preventative maintenance will go a long way in keeping your HVAC system running at a high-efficiency level. It’s in everyone’s best interest to keep your pets bathed and groomed. On top of that, routinely brushing your pet’s fur will keep shedding at a minimum. Don’t forget that pet fur likes to hide in the most inconspicuous places. So regular dusting and vacuuming behind furniture and in nooks and crannies will further help to alleviate stress on your system. You can trust your Finneytown Heating & Cooling family to handle all of your HVAC concerns! You, your family, pets, and your home are in good hands with us! Give us a chance and call us today at (513) 935-0440, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
