HVAC Maintenance Tips 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 households have one or more pets. Most of these family members are dogs, cats and other furry creatures 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. Replace Your Air Filter Frequently
The quality of your indoor air hinges on the condition of your air filter since it pulls dust, dander and other pollutants from the air. With pets, you may need to replace it sooner.
“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 supposed to last three months, you might want to check it every month. With pets, a filter gets dirty fast, particularly during shedding seasons.”
2. Consider an Air Filter Upgrade
You should also consider a higher quality air filter. Check the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to see the smallest particle size your air filter will trap. For residential use, the ideal MERV rating ranges from five to 13, and the higher the number, the better the filtration. It’s advisable to use a nine or higher to effectively filter out dander, Hughes added. A few pet owners sometimes upgrade to a more advanced 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 coils or heat exchangers that can slowly accumulate dirt and debris over the course of a year. Unfortunately, some pets even urinate on outdoor units, and if they are frequently near the unit, their fur may get pulled into the coils and clog them up.
“The urine’s acidity can actually cause the coils to corrode and may even cause a refrigerant leak,” he said. “And too much hair in the condenser will start to affect system efficiency.” If necessary, add a small fence around your outdoor unit, but ensure airflow remains unobstructed, 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 get rid of extra hair from their pets. That way you aren’t releasing the hair or dander you’re brushing off into the home,” Hughes mentioned.
5. Clean Return Air Vents and Stay on Top of Vacuuming
Running the vacuum more often can reduce the amount of hair and dander getting into your HVAC system. While you have the vacuum out, don’t forget to clean out what you can in the return air vents as well. The location of return air vents varies based on your home’s design. Regardless, every home has return air vents and supply air vents. Return air vents pull in air and then clean and circulate it back into every room using the supply air vents, so more vacuuming is another layer of protection against unwanted dust, pet hair and more.
6. Get an HVAC Checkup Biannually
Your HVAC system should be serviced by a professional technician two times each year to ensure everything is running its best, and this is doubly so for homes with pets. Once the HVAC specialist arrives, ask if there are other preventive steps to take to keep your system running smoothly.
“The visiting technician is another pair of eyes for you to monitor how pets affect your system,” Hughes said. “Every maintenance visit is the perfect time to develop a valuable partnership that supports the long-term health of your HVAC system.”
Explore Duct Cleaning Services
If the air filter gets clogged, contaminants and allergens can leak into the ducts, causing additional long-term air quality problems. 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 schedule duct cleanings every couple of years. For pet owners, it can be a smart investment,” Hughes said.
To get all the details about how to maintain indoor air quality when you own pets, head to ServiceExperts.com/indoor-air-quality/ or request a professional HVAC tune-up today.
