A Pet Owner’s Guide to HVAC Maintenance
By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts
According to the American Pet Products Association’s 2024 National Pet Owner Survey, more than 82 million families have one or more pets. The majority of these cuddly family members are cats, dogs and other animals who tend to shed or produce dander in their homes. While it’s a joy to care for a family pet, you’ll want to take a few extra steps to ensure your HVAC system continues to run smoothly. Follow these seven tips for pet-friendly HVAC maintenance:
1. Swap Out or Clean Your Air Filter Consistently
The quality of your indoor air depends on the working condition of your air filter because it filters dust, dander and allergens from the air. If you own pets, you might have to replace filters more frequently.
“It starts with knowing when to clean or replace the filter,” said Jim Hughes, Director of Field Training with Service Experts, one of the nation’s largest HVAC service and repair companies. “For instance, if you have a filter that’s rated to last three months, you may want to take a look once a month. With pets, a filter gets dirty fast, particularly when your HVAC system runs most often.”
2. Look into Upgrading Your Air Filter
You may also think about getting a higher-rated air filter. Look for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to know the smallest particles your filter can capture. For residential use, the ideal MERV rating ranges from five to 13, with higher numbers providing better filtration. Consider at least a nine or higher to trap dander effectively, 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
Your air conditioning system, particularly the part of the system that’s outdoors, should be cleaned as part of a comprehensive HVAC tune-up. AC condensers have heat exchanging coils that can slowly accumulate dirt and debris over the course of a year. In some unfortunate situations, pets may use the outdoor unit as a place to urinate, and if they are around it often enough, hair or fur can collect on the coils.
“The acidity in pet urine will damage the AC coils and may even cause a refrigerant leak,” he said. “And if there’s a lot of hair in the condenser, it will start to affect system efficiency.” If required, add a small fence around your outdoor unit, but make sure airflow isn’t blocked, Hughes suggested.
4. Maintain a Regular Grooming Schedule for Your Pet
By brushing your cat or dog regularly, you’ll reduce the amount of hair clogging your vents. “I tend to suggest pet owners use a vacuum brush to remove excess hair from their pets. That way you aren’t dispersing the hair and dander you’re brushing off into the home,” Hughes said.
5. Increase How Often You Vacuum and Clean Return Vents
Running the vacuum more often can limit the amount of hair and dander being pulled into your system. As long as 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 according to your home’s layout. But your home will always have return and supply vents. Return air vents draw in air and then filter and redistribute it throughout your home using the supply air vents, so some extra vacuuming is added defense against unwanted dust, dander and hair.
6. Schedule a Maintenance Call Every Six Months
Your HVAC system should be serviced by a professional technician twice a year for peace of mind that all components are operating properly and safely, and this is doubly so for homes with pets. As the technician visits, ask if there are any extra precautions you can take for your system to run more efficiently.
“The technician is an extra set of eyes for you to see how your pets are impacting the system,” Hughes said. “Every maintenance visit is the perfect time to build an important relationship that supports the long-term health of your HVAC system.”
Explore Duct Cleaning Services
If the air filter gets clogged, contaminants and allergens can reach the duct system, causing more long-term air quality issues. 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 have their duct work cleaned every couple of years. It can be well worth the investment whenever pets are involved,” Hughes said.
To get all the details about maintaining indoor air quality with pets, visit ServiceExperts.com/indoor-air-quality/ or request a professional HVAC tune-up today.
