How to Keep Pet Hair From Damaging Your HVAC System

Pets are cute, cuddly and unfortunately, sometimes destructive. Follow these HVAC maintenance tips for inside the home and outdoors to keep everyone in the family happier and healthier. These tips will also help you reduce allergens, improve the quality of the air inside your home and reduce the chance of damage to your HVAC unit.

Pet Proof Your HVAC System: It’s important to keep pets away from your condenser unit. Although the equipment is located outside, dogs may mark their territory by urinating on it, clawing the outer fins or chewing wires, which is not only dangerous but can also cause corrosion, damage to the blades and expensive problems in the future. A fence or other barrier can help protect the condenser unit from damage. If you do put up a barrier, make certain to allow a 3-4 foot perimeter around the unit.

Change Air Filters Regularly: Living in Arizona means lots of dust and dirt circulating in the air, especially during the dry summer months. Even if you don’t have pets, changing the HVAC filters every 1-2 months is vital to keeping your system functioning well for years to come. Pet owners should remember that hair and dander can quickly build up in the filter, blocking airflow and straining your HVAC system and raising your electricity bills. Set a recurring reminder on your phone or calendar so you don’t forget!

A Clean Home and Clean Pets Mean Cleaner Air: Maintain a consistent cleaning schedule. Dust, vacuum, and mop surfaces frequently – and don’t forget the furniture! There are great tools designed specifically to help pick up pet hair, from microfiber cloths and lint rollers to rubber rakes and grooming gloves. Pollen and dirt can also build up quickly in your pet’s coat, so regular baths and grooming are a must. In-home and professional grooming of your pets helps reduce shedding ad keeps pets looking and feeling their best. Grooming also helps reduce the number of allergens in the air, as well as build up in the HVAC system filter. Pet owners should use higher-grade HVAC filters with a MERV rating of 8 or higher to capture airborne allergens, pollutants, and contaminants.

Seal Air Ducts. Pet hairs and dander can find their way into your air ducts, especially if leaks are present. Air ducts help circulate the air from your HVAC system throughout your home. Make sure there are no leaks and regularly clean your AC ducts to help extend the life of your unit, and keep the indoor air cleaner and free from allergens and other contaminants.

Schedule Regular Maintenance for Your HVAC System. Checking your heating and cooling system frequently as we’ve advised above can help prevent potentially costly system breakdowns. It’s also important to schedule annual preventative maintenance service for the system to help keep everything in proper working order.