HVAC Tips For Pet Owners
If you have pets in your home, it's important for you to learn about the things you can do to maintain a healthy environment for both your family members and your pets. Specifically, there are different things you can do to take care of the HVAC system in your home, so everyone can enjoy a comfortable temperature and breathe clean air that doesn't trigger allergies.
Do your best to reduce the pet dander on your pets– Dander consists of small flecks of skin that come from your pet. It is usually the dander, not the fur, which triggers allergies in those with allergy issues. This dander is so small it can easily make its way into your HVAC system. When it does, it will get blown back into the air of your home where you and your family members will then breathe it in. The best way for you to cut down on pet dander is to take your pets outside and brush them at least once a week. You also want to get them professionally groomed regularly. However, don't bathe them too much or they can get dry skin, which will produce more dander. If you are looking for a pet, know that there are some breeds of cats and dogs that are hypo-allergenic. If you are concerned that even your best efforts won't keep pet dander from triggering allergies, you may want to consider one of those breeds.
Do your best to reduce dander around your home – The best way to reduce pet dander around the home is to keep up with the vacuuming, mopping, and dusting. You should invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter and dust with an actual dust rag the dander will cling to, instead of using a regular rag that throws the dander into the air.
Have your ducts cleaned more often – When you don't have pets in your home, you can go longer without having the ducts cleaned. But, when you do have pets, you'll want to have professionals come out to clean them at least every couple of years or so.
Clean your air filter more often – It's important for everyone to keep their air filter clean, but even more important for anyone with pets. This isn't just for those with cats and dogs, either. Most people don't realize this, but a bird can produce much more dander in the air than the average cat or dog. This is largely in part to how they groom themselves and how often they do it. If you have ever looked next to a bird cage and seen all that white dust laying everywhere, that is dander and it can really bother those with allergies or other conditions, such as asthma or bronchitis.
If you are worried that having a pet in the home is putting stress on your HVAC system, reach out to a local company for HVAC repair services.
