HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

Pet hair and dander have a unique way of finding their way into every nook and cranny of your home, including your HVAC systems. Over time, this accumulation may hinder the efficiency of your air conditioning systems. Below are some HVAC maintenance tips specifically tailored for pet owners to address this issue. Through these HVAC tips, you can take preventive measures to keep your unit running smoothly and maintain a healthy living environment for you and your beloved pets.

Regularly Brush Your Pet
Regularly grooming your pets will help reduce shedding and dander. Brushing your pets outside can significantly reduce the amount of hair that ends up indoors. Doing so not only keeps their fur tidy but also helps minimize the amount of hair floating in the air and clogging up your AC.
Change Air Filters More Frequently
Pets with fur tend to shed continuously throughout the year, which means your air filters may fill up faster than in a fur-free home. It is wise to shorten the recommended filter change timespan to prevent clogged filters. Instead of waiting for the usual three months, consider changing your filters every two months or as needed. Keep a close eye on your filters for signs of excess pet hair accumulation.
Upgrade Air Filter Quality
Pet dander is a common allergen that affects a significant portion of the population. To minimize the impact of pet-related allergens, consider investing in higher quality air filters. Air filters have a rating called the MERV scale, which tells you how well they filter out particles. Opt for filters with higher MERV ratings, such as MERV 10-12, to trap smaller particles like pet dander and prevent them from circulating through your cooling system.
Vacuum Regularly
Aside from brushing your pets, regular household vacuuming is crucial for maintaining good indoor air quality. Vacuuming picks up loose pet hair and dander that may have settled on carpets and furniture, preventing them from being sucked into the unit through air intakes. By reducing the amount of hair in your home, you can extend the lifespan of your air filters and improve the performance of your HVAC system.
Use Air Purifiers
Consider using air purifiers in rooms where your pets spend the most time. These devices can help capture airborne particles and improve indoor air quality.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance Today!

As pet owners, you are responsible for ensuring that your furry companions are not adversely affecting your HVAC systems or indoor air quality. By following the HVAC maintenance tips for pet owners above, you can enjoy a clean, efficient cooling device and a healthy home environment for both you and your pets.

Pet owners should also consider scheduling HVAC inspections and tune-ups at least twice a year. Call us at Bounds Heating & Air in Gainesville, FL for an immediate HVAC preventive maintenance service! Communicate with our expert technicians about excessive pet hair accumulation and any concerns regarding your HVAC system. They will thoroughly inspect and provide maintenance services tailored to your specific needs.

Summer HVAC Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Air conditioning units can keep you comfortably cool, particularly during the Florida summer when the heat is intense. Given the situation, your HVAC system is used more frequently than usual. Thus, it may have trouble operating at a high enough level to deliver acceptable indoor air quality. So, you should include HVAC maintenance in your summer schedule.

Below are HVAC maintenance tips for homeowners like you to avoid unexpected AC breakdowns while coping with the hot weather. Read this blog to learn more.

Maintain the Cleanliness of AC Filters

Replacing the filter in your air conditioning system regularly keeps your unit working properly and your energy bills lower. Normally, most Heating and Air Conditioning companies and air filter manufacturers recommend replacing your air filter every 3 months. However, that can change based on if you have any pets, where your home is located (ex. dusty, pollen count), and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the home, you should consider changing your filter every 2 months, and for homes with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, it’s recommend changing your filter every 20-45 days. As you learn your HVAC system, start by checking your filter every few weeks, take out your filter and see if it’s covered in dust or is there is a musty odor. This will help you determine how often it should be changed.

Adjust the Thermostat Settings

Since summer is here, your thermostat should also be in line with the season. Adjust the program settings of your thermostat so that your cooling devices can regulate the hotter indoor temperature during the summer month. Available for purchase and installation are thermostats like the Nest. These thermostats quickly learn the temperatures your family prefers at different times throughout the day and adjusts itself accordingly. The Nest Learning Thermostat is proven to help save energy and lower bills. In independent studies, the Nest Thermostat saved users an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.

Remove Any Debris Stuck in the Condenser Unit

Debris that gets into the outdoor condenser unit of your AC can create problems, causing the device to struggle to operate efficiently. That’s why you should always ensure that potential blockages like grass clippings, mulch, dirt, leaves, and plants are properly cut and placed away from the outside unit.

It is best to have enough space for your outdoor condenser to avoid obstructions. Unblocking fins and keeping them clean allow airflow to circulate freely so that the AC can give off quality indoor air for your home regardless of the weather outside.

Call HVAC Technicians for Tune-Ups

A malfunctioning system leaves your family in the heat and your home unbearably uncomfortable. Preventative service plans are designed to keep an HVAC system in top peak performance. These plans are much more than just a simple cleaning and maintenance. The tasks that service technicians perform go way beyond changing air filters and testing the thermostat. Most HVAC contractors have a very long checkpoint list of items to inspect and tasks to perform.

So, if you want a trouble-free summer, schedule a preventive HVAC maintenance, AC tune-up or repair before the hot weather kicks in. Contact HVAC experts from Bounds Heating & Air in Newberry and Gainesville, FL for an appointment and let them inspect your AC to be summer-ready.

Tag: #HVACMaintenanceTips

Maintain the Cleanliness of AC Filters

Adjust the Thermostat Settings

Remove Any Debris Stuck in the Condenser Unit

Call HVAC Technicians for Tune-Ups