It’s estimated that approximately 68 percent of all households in the U.S. have at least one pet. Unbeknownst to most pet owners, having one or more pets inside the home can have a drastic impact on the average HVAC system. If you’re already a pet owner or plan on having pets, then there’s plenty you should know about how pet ownership can affect your HVAC system.

Pet Hair and Dander Can Affect Your HVAC Performance

Most pets shed hair – it’s just something that comes with the territory. That often means an ongoing battle to keep pet hair and dander off your floors, carpets and upholstery. But pet hair and dander can also impact your HVAC system in more ways than one:

Your HVAC air filter will likely become clogged faster due to the pet hair and dander it picks up. A clogged filter means your HVAC system has to work much harder and use more energy to keep your home cool and comfortable.
If your air filter isn’t designed to tackle pet hair and dander, both can easily slip past the filter and migrate further into the HVAC unit.
Pet hair and dander can also impact your home’s indoor air quality, especially if large quantities are lurking inside your HVAC system. Pet hair and dander can easily trigger allergies and asthma symptoms in some people.

Tips for Keeping Your HVAC System Safe

Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to keep your four-legged friends from becoming a liability to your HVAC system:

Replace the air filter(s) as recommended by the manufacturer. This simple step can help prevent pet hair and dander from infiltrating your HVAC system.
Keep pet hair and dander to a minimum by cleaning and vacuuming upholstered furniture, as well as your wood, carpeted and tiled flooring.
Schedule regular maintenance tune ups (twice a year) where the technician will inspect and clean your HVAC system, as well as provide options for indoor air quality solutions.

For more information on how pet owners can keep their HVAC systems in great shape, turn to the pros at Jackson & Sons Heating and Air. Keeping homes and businesses comfortable for 43 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).