Essential HVAC Maintenance Advice for Pet Owners

By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts

Based on the American Pet Products Association’s 2024 National Pet Owner Survey, more than 82 million families have pets. Most of these cuddly family members are dogs, cats and other furry friends who can shed or spread dander in their homes. While it’s a pleasure to have a dog or cat, you should take a few extra measures to keep your HVAC system running properly. Here are seven tips to follow for pet-friendly HVAC maintenance:

1. Swap Out or Clean Your Air Filter Consistently

Your indoor air’s overall quality hinges on the condition of your air filter since it removes dust, dander and other pollutants from the air. With 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 expected to last 90 days, you may want to check it every month. With pets, a filter gets dirty fast, especially when your HVAC system runs most often.”

2. Consider Upgrading Your System’s Air Filter

You should also consider a higher quality air filter. Look for the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) to learn 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. You should aim for a nine or above to capture dander well, Hughes added. A few pet owners sometimes upgrade to a higher-end whole home ventilation and air purification system.

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

Your air conditioning system, especially 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.  Unfortunately, pets may urinate on the outdoor unit, and if they are frequently near the unit, their fur may get pulled into the coils and clog them up. 

“The acid from pet urine might corrode the air conditioner’s coils and potentially cause a refrigerant leak,” he said. “And too much hair in the condenser will lower the system’s efficiency.” If required, install a fence around the unit, but make sure airflow isn’t blocked, Hughes suggests. 

4. Maintain a Regular Grooming Schedule for Your Pet

When you brush your pet often enough, less hair will enter your HVAC system. “I tend to suggest pet owners use a vacuum brush to get rid of extra hair from their pets. This way you avoid spreading the hair and dander you’re brushing off into the home,” Hughes mentioned.

5. Increase How Often You Vacuum and Clean Return Vents

Increasing how many times you vacuum each month will limit the amount of hair and dander making its way into your system. While you have the vacuum out, it’s also a good idea to vacuum the return air vents. The placement of return air vents will vary depending on how your home was designed. Regardless, you’ll always find return air vents and supply air vents. Return air vents draw in air and then clean and circulate it across your home via the supply vents, so some extra vacuuming is an extra way to minimize unwanted dust, pet hair and more.

6. Get an HVAC Checkup Biannually

Your HVAC system should be serviced by a professional technician two times each year to make sure everything is working properly, and this is doubly so for homes with pets. As the technician comes to your home, it’s a good idea to ask them about other preventive steps to take for your system to run more efficiently.

“The visiting technician is an additional Expert to help you to see how your pets are impacting the system,” Hughes said. “Every maintenance visit is the perfect time to develop a valuable partnership that promotes your HVAC system’s long-term health.” 

Look into Professional Air Duct Cleaning 

When your HVAC system’s air filters become clogged, pollutants and allergens can reach the duct system, 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 schedule duct cleanings every couple of years. It can be well worth the investment whenever pets are involved,” 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 request a professional HVAC tune-up today.