When you have a pet, they are more than just an animal living in your home. They are family, too. But when you have pets, they can add strain to your air conditioner because of fur, dander, and a natural curiosity for getting into things they shouldn’t.
Having pets means keeping up with air conditioning service and staying ahead of problems is even more important. Whether you need maintenance, repairs, or HVAC installation in Eugene, our team is here to help. You can keep reading to learn about some ways that you can help protect your air conditioner from pets, including maintenance steps that can help alleviate strain on your unit.
Changing the Air Filter
Your air conditioner does have a filter in place to help capture particles like dust, pet dander, and pet fur. But since pet dander and pet fur are adding to the other dust and dirt already present in your home, you may need to change out the air filter a little more often than is recommended. For example, if your air filter is rated to last for a month, you may want to check it around the three-week mark.
If your air filter is rated to last for three months, you may want to check it around 2 1/2 months. Changing the air filter out a little early can go a long way toward protecting the inside of your HVAC system from pet dander and further. No matter what, you should be changing out the air filter on time each month. Leaving a clogged filter in place is bad for your system and also reduces your indoor air quality.
Keep Up with Vacuuming and Dusting
You can also be proactive to prevent dust, dander, and fur from building up to begin with. The easiest way to do this is to have a schedule for vacuuming and dusting. The cleaner that you are able to keep your house, the less of a chance there is that these particles will clog your air filter or enter your HVAC system.
Protect the Units
You also want to be diligent about protecting both your indoor and outdoor units from pets. Most of the time central air conditioning units are housed inside small cabinets to keep them protected. If this is the case, it’s probably pretty easy to keep your pets away. The bigger concern may be your outdoor unit if you have dogs that go in and out.
If you have pets that won’t leave your outdoor unit alone, you can install a small fence, allowing at least three feet of space around your entire outdoor unit to keep your dogs away from it. Keep in mind that this three feet of space helps your unit to maintain optimal airflow while also being protected. You don’t want to place a barrier too close to the unit and potentially block airflow.
Your comfort is our business! Comfort Flow Heating serves all of Oregon, so contact our team today to schedule your appointment.
