If your home has a fur-baby or two, you know that there are a lot of responsibilities that come along with having pets. One responsibility that you may be overlooking is how to maintain your HVAC unit properly. Here are our tips on how to keep your home safe for you and your pets.
- Enclose Outside Condenser Units: If your pet spends a lot of time in the yard there are a few ways that they can damage your outdoor unit. Dogs, especially, can cause damage by clawing or biting the condenser coils, which can not only damage your unit but can be dangerous to your pet. Additionally, dogs often mark their territory by urinating and your unit can easily become a target. Urine can cause the fins of the unit to erode over time. You can solve these problems by installing a fence or some type of barrier around your outdoor unit.
- Check for Exposed Wires: It is important to check for any exposed wires around your HVAC as they can become tempting “chew toys” for your pets. If you notice any exposed wires around your HVAC unit, enclose the wires in conduits.
- Change your HVAC System’s Air Filter: If you have a pet, then it is advised that you change your air filter more often than those without pets. You should be checking your air filter at least once a month to make sure that it is not getting clogged with pet hair. Having a dirty or clogged air filter can cause higher utility bills and can shorten the lifespan of your HVAC system.
- Keep it Clean: Last but not least, the easiest way to keep good air quality in your home is to keep your pet clean. Regularly bathing and brushing your pet can improve the quality of air in your home.
