Our pets are members of our family, and just like any other family member, they have to be taken into consideration when it comes to the performance, care, and maintenance of our home’s heating and cooling system. Not that the fur from most of your other family members is likely to cause problems for your HVAC system (at least we hope not!). If you have a four-legged fur baby in your home, there are some things you need to be aware of when it comes to your HVAC system. Pickerington Heating & Cooling, located in Pickerington, Ohio, has some tips and advice to share with pet owners about caring for their HVAC system:
HVAC and Furnace Care for Pet Owners in Pickerington, Ohio
Clean Up the Pet Hair Around Your Home
No matter how much we adore our furry friends, we definitely don’t love the shedding. Having pet hair and dander all over the house is a surefire way to cause issues with your heating and cooling system. Nothing can cause nasty clogs and blockage like these substances. By keeping your home free of them as much as possible, you can avoid potential HVAC issues. Sweep/mop/vacuum/dust often, use lint brushes to keep furniture free of pet hair and other debris and wash curtains and bedding frequently.
Keep Your Pets Well-Groomed
Your pets can’t help the fact that they shed. It’s a perfectly natural process that is necessary in order for them to be healthy. Even so, you don’t want their hair all over your home and finding its way into your furnace. Grooming your pets will not only make them feel happy and loved, but it’s also a great way to prevent hair from getting everywhere. It will cut down on dander as well, so there will be less mess to clean up.
Treat Your Pets to Professional Grooming
If you aren’t sure how to properly groom your pets, or if your pets are not as enthusiastic about the idea as you are, take them to a reputable, professional groomer. Even if you brush them occasionally, taking them to a professional for a bath, flea dip, nail trim, etc., from time to time will ensure that you have a perfectly clean and content fur baby.
Consider Your Pets When Setting Your Thermostat
Just like the temperature setting in our homes can affect the quality of the air and leave our skin and hair dry, it could do the same for our pets. They are more comfortable when the temperatures in the house are a bit lower than we usually set them at. Instead of the upper 60s to low 70s that we are comfortable with, our pets prefer temperatures in the low to mid-60s or the low 70s at most. This keeps their skin and hair from getting dry and flaky and prevents a good deal of shedding and dander.
Keep Your Furnace’s Air Filter Clean
The air filter in your furnace collects all the dirt and debris out of the air before warming it and circulating it throughout your home. When you have pets, the air filter can become clogged with hair and dander quickly. It is generally advised to check your furnace air filter once every 30 days during the cold weather season to see if it needs to be changed; however, if you have pets, Pickerington Heating & Cooling recommends checking the filter twice per month and changing it whenever necessary. This is essential to the upkeep of your HVAC system. A clogged air filter can cause your furnace to become overworked, resulting in the motor overheating. This can cause permanent damage to your HVAC system.
Choose a Pet-Friendly Furnace Filter
Do your HVAC system – and your home – a favor by using special furnace filters that are specifically designed for homes with pets. These filters trap more pet hair and dander than standard filters. They are especially beneficial in households where someone suffers from asthma, allergies, etc.
Have Your HVAC System Professionally Cleaned
At least once a year (and preferably twice if you’re a pet parent), have your HVAC system professionally inspected and cleaned. If you are in Pickerington, Ohio, or the surrounding area, contact Pickerington Heating & Cooling to set up an appointment for one of our licensed HVAC technicians to perform a comprehensive inspection and thorough cleaning of your entire HVAC system, including the air ducts and vents. This will ensure that your system is in top condition and ready to keep your home and family, including the four-legged family members, warm and comfortable all year long.
Wrapping It Up: HVAC Care for Pet Owners
Keeping your furnace in excellent condition with pets in your home is easy with just a little TLC. Keep the pet hair cleaned up around the house. Take your pets to be professionally groomed and keep them brushed in between groomer visits. Change your furnace’s air filter frequently to keep it clean and free of pet hair and dander.
Make sure your heating and cooling system is in great condition and ready for any winter weather Mother Nature may throw our way. Call Pickerington Heating & Cooling at 614-837-4026 or visit us online to schedule your appointment for a professional HVAC inspection and cleaning. At Pickerington Heating & Cooling, our customers’ comfort and satisfaction are our number one priority.
