HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts

As reported by the American Pet Products Association’s 2024 National Pet Owner Survey, more than 82 million families have pets. The majority of these beloved pets are cats, dogs and other animals who can shed or produce dander in their homes. While it’s a pleasure to care for a family pet, you’ll want to take a few extra steps to keep your HVAC system running properly. Start with these seven tips for pet-friendly HVAC maintenance:

1. Swap Out or Clean Your Air Filter Consistently

The quality of your indoor air depends on the state of your air filter because it pulls dust, dander and allergens from the air. When you have pets, you might need to replace it sooner.

“It starts with keeping an eye on how the filter is doing,” said Jim Hughes, Director of Field Training with Service Experts, one of the nation’s largest HVAC service and repair companies. “If you, for example, have a filter that’s rated to last three months, you may want to take a look once a month. With pets, a filter gets dirty fast, especially during shedding seasons.”

2. Look into Upgrading Your Air Filter

You may also consider a higher quality air filter. Find the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to see the smallest size of particles the filter can catch. For residential use, filter ratings range between five and 13, where higher numbers mean better filtration. It’s advisable to use a nine or higher to trap dander effectively, Hughes added. Many pet owners even opt for a high-efficiency whole home ventilation and air purification system.

3. Don’t Let the Air Conditioner’s Condenser Break Down

The AC unit, namely the outdoor unit, should be cleaned as part of a comprehensive HVAC tune-up. AC condensers have heat exchanging coils that collect their share of dirt and debris over the course of a year.  In some unfortunate situations, some pets even urinate on outdoor units, and if they are frequently near the unit, fur or hair could be pulled into the system, clogging the coils. 

“The acid from pet urine will corrode the air conditioner’s coils and may even cause a refrigerant leak,” he said. “And a lot of hair in the condenser will reduce system efficiency.” If required, place a fence or other barrier around the unit, but make sure airflow isn’t blocked, Hughes suggests. 

4. Maintain a Regular Grooming Schedule for Your Pet

If you brush your pet often, there’s less hair that can make its way into your home’s ventilation system. “I tend to suggest pet owners use a vacuum brush to pull off as much fur as they can from their pets. This way you aren’t dispersing the hair and dander you’re brushing off into the home,” Hughes added.

5. Clean Return Air Vents and Stay on Top of Vacuuming

Running the vacuum more often can reduce the amount of hair and dander making its way into your system. As long as you have the vacuum out, it’s also a good idea to vacuum the return air vents. The location of return air vents varies according to your home’s layout. But your home will always have return and supply vents. Return air vents pull in air and then filter and redistribute it across your home using the supply air vents, so more vacuuming is another layer of protection against unwanted dust, hair and animal dander.

6. Schedule a Maintenance Call Every Six Months

Your HVAC system should be serviced by a professional technician two times each year to make sure everything is working properly, particularly for pet owners. As the technician visits, it’s a good idea to ask them about any extra precautions you can take to keep your system running smoothly.

“The technician is an extra set of eyes for you to monitor how pets affect your system,” Hughes said. “A routine maintenance call is an opportunity to develop a valuable partnership that supports the long-term health of your HVAC system.” 

Explore Duct Cleaning Services 

If the air filter gets clogged, dust and common allergens can leak into the ducts, causing more trouble with your home’s air quality. If you’re worried about pet hair and dander, you might want to consider professional duct cleaning services.

“I know some pet owners who have their duct work cleaned every few years. For pet owners, it can be a smart investment,” Hughes said. 

To find out more about how to maintain indoor air quality when you own pets, head to ServiceExperts.com/indoor-air-quality/ or schedule your HVAC maintenance tune-up today.