Learn Our Best HVAC Tips for Pet Owners

There is just about nothing like your pet’s “always happy to see you” tail-wagging excitement when you walk in the door. After time away from home, that greeting is both welcoming and comforting. And, of course, you are sure when you leave the house that your pet will be comfortable while you are gone. That is why TRUST Heating and Air offers these HVAC tips for pet owners.

So many people just don’t think about the care and planning needed to ensure you and your pets live comfortably in the home. Have you ever considered your air conditioner from the perspective of your pet? Who does, anyhow? TRUST knows it is vital to consider maintaining your heating and AC systems when there are pets in the house.

Keep reading to learn HVAC tips for pet owners.

HVAC and Pet Owners in Georgia

In states of the south like Georgia, pet owners simply must take the extra steps to ensure their air conditioners are running well. Like us, the temperature can really take a toll on animals, and Georgia is one of those states where our pets need to stay safe in the hottest months.

Clearly, you know about heat exhaustion and its toll on a person. But some people do not realize how heat can also affect our furry family members. In Georgia, your pets will likely need air-conditioning throughout most of the year. The extreme temperatures and humidity are more than enough to take precautions. Then pet owners should consider the chance of dehydration in summer as much as hypothermia within the year’s colder months.

That is why TRUST lets customers know how their air conditioners affect their animals and how your pets will affect your unit in return. TRUST Heating and Air is here to help you learn the relationship between your HVAC units and your pets.

Preventative Maintenance for Pet Owners

To get the most out of your unit while pets are in the home, you should be diligent in maintaining your AC system and your household. Preventative maintenance for your HVAC system aims to provide the best tips and guidance possible. TRUST seeks to assist your HVAC system in upholding its lifespan and efficiency while making your pets happy and comfortable.

While pet hair lying around may seem harmless, it is annoying. It can severely damage your air conditioning filters and is more common than you think. You see, dander build-up and pet hair that clogs the filter are two of several things that can keep your system from keeping your living space comfortable and energy efficient. Pet owners that take a few simple precautionary steps save a lot of headaches and money down the line.

Consider these HVAC tips for pet owners:

• Add regular grooming for your pets to your to-do list.
• Change your HVAC filter as directed.
• Ensure your air vents/ducts stay clean.
• Fence off your outdoor unit.
• Clean your house with regular dusting and sweeping.

Regular Grooming For Your Pets:

Grooming your pets effectively ensures there isn’t as much hair around your household. It’ll not only prevent hair from being scattered in bunches all around your home, but it’ll also keep your pet’s dander in check. You don’t run as high of a risk when loose pet hair clogging your AC’s filter.

And generally, the less hair or dander you have clogging your system, the better your HVAC system will run and the better your indoor air quality. You guarantee a significantly lower chance of anything airborne causing you or your furry friends to get sick.

Change of Your HVAC Filter:

Routine changing of your HVAC Filter is a necessary essential step in terms of your AC’s performance and overall maintenance of your unit. It would be best if you were changing your filter at least 4-5 times a year, and possibly more frequently than that, depending on the number of pets you have living in your household.

If you have pets at home that does shed, it would be a great idea to check your filter before the date it’s due to be replaced. There’s a high probability that your filter will be considerably entangled with pet hair and skin dander. This build-up will heavily affect the performance of your unit because when clogged, the system has to work harder to maintain the temperature and the airflow.

If you find your filter is prematurely stopping well before its due date to be replaced, you can consider swapping to a reusable filter that you can efficiently wash with water. Moreover, HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can help you increase the air quality inside your home.

Keep Your Air Vents and Ducts Clean:

Keeping your vents clean is a good rule of thumb to have is to clean your vents as often as you clean your AC filter. Cleaning your ducts will help keep your pets at the desired temperature and improve the efficiency of your HVAC system.

The air return vents will constantly suck up the air inside your home, circulating back to your HVAC system. If it’s dirty or clogged, the unit’s efficiency will be reduced, and your indoor air quality will decrease.

Fence Off Your Outdoor Unit:

Fencing off your outdoor unit is a significant step for pet owners regarding HVAC maintenance. Not only can the cables to the system be clawed or chewed through, but the last thing you want is your pet urinating on your unit; it will corrode the fins and coil.

Not only will fencing off your outdoor unit protect your system from any possible damage or corrosion, but it will also make it safer for your pets due to any exposed wires or cables being unreachable.

Frequently Clean Your Home:

Keeping your home clean is also very important for obvious reasons. The less pet hair and dander around the household equals less of the latter reaching your unit’s filter and interrupting its effectiveness in keeping your place cool.

If you have carpet in your home, it more than likely has some form of pet hair build-up. Inevitably, debris will eventually get kicked up and into the air at some point or another, causing a deficiency in your system. Frequent vacuuming and dusting remove a lot of this pesky debris before it has a chance to get into your system and cause real damage to it.

Your Pets’ Comfort is Key

Many factors come into play when discussing what temperature to leave your thermostat on before leaving the house.

• The age of your pet
• The type of coat they have
• Any health conditions
• And even weight

…to name a few. Maintaining an ideal temperature for your pets can be challenging, even considering these few factors.

Furthermore, air conditioning costs have a significant impact on your energy bill. It is more than necessary always to keep the temperature of your area and your house in mind when leaving the house with your beloved pets at home.

Though there is no ‘meta’ temperature to keep your home at when living with pets in the household, running your AC somewhere between 77-80 degrees will ensure your pets stay comfortable while keeping your energy costs lower.

Smart thermostats are a good alternative, allowing you to control your home’s temperature from anywhere on the fly.

TRUST Heating and Air is Here for Our Pet Owners and Air Conditioners, too.

Do you need more tips for maintaining your HVAC system or an inspection of your unit? Give TRUST Heating and Air a call today. Our team provides AC repair and maintenance, system inspections, parts replacement, HVAC installation, indoor air quality checks, and more. We are here to help you care for your home and your pets.