No one likes to think about all the pet hair floating around their home, but it can be more than a nuisance—it can cause real problems for your air conditioning system. Pet hair not only reduces the efficiency of heating and cooling systems, but it also creates unhealthy indoor air quality. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how pet hair can reduce the efficiency of home HVAC systems and what you can do to prevent it.
First, let’s look at how pet hair affects heating and cooling systems. Any type of dirt, dust, or debris in a heating and cooling system will reduce its efficiency by obstructing airflow—and pet hair is no exception. When pet hair accumulates on the furnace filter or in the ductwork of an HVAC system, it reduces airflow by clogging up the filter or blocking vents. This decreases the amount of air that moves through the system and makes it more difficult for it to properly cool or heat your home.
Another way that pet fur affects HVAC systems is by increasing energy consumption. When airflow through an HVAC system is reduced due to debris like pet fur, the system has to work harder and longer to achieve desired temperatures. This leads to higher energy costs as well as increased wear-and-tear on your system components—both of which add up quickly over time!
On top of reduced energy efficiency and added energy costs, pet fur also create unhealthy indoor air quality (IAQ). When your furniture and other surfaces are full of pet fur, that same fur will eventually make its way into your ductwork or furnace filter and be circulated throughout your home when you run your HVAC system. Not only does this make for uncomfortable living conditions in terms of temperature control but it can also lead to allergies or asthma attacks in those who are sensitive to animal dander or pollen particles that may have gotten caught up in the circulating air as well.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take both preventative measures as well as regular maintenance routines that will help keep your HVAC system running cleanly and efficiently:
- Change/Clean Your Air Filter Regularly – A good rule of thumb is to check/change your furnace filter every 1-3 months depending on environmental conditions (especially if you own a pet). Doing so eliminates any existing blockages caused by dust build-up or large amounts of animal fur stuck inside it;
- Clean Your Home Regularly – Vacuuming carpets regularly as well as brushing upholstery with a lint roller helps get rid of any built-up fur before it even has a chance to get into your ducts;
- Consider Professional Cleaning Services – If you’re ever worried about having too much accumulation inside your vents/ducts then why not just get them professionally cleaned? This way you don’t have to worry about doing anything yourself and can rest assured knowing that trained professionals are taking care of everything for you;
- Invest In an Air Purifier – The right kind of purification device fitted onto your existing heating/cooling unit will trap allergens like pollen particles and animal dander before they even enter circulation within the home;
- Switch To Hypoallergenic Pets – If possible switching out regular pets for hypoallergenic varieties such as cats & dogs with no undercoat can help reduce shedding dramatically thus reducing airborne contaminants significantly (though this might not work with every household).
Pet hair accumulation within an HVAC system should never be shrugged off since its presence does affect performance drastically—but luckily there are ways for homeowners to maintain their equipment without having to go through complex processes themselves! By taking the steps detailed above along with scheduling regular maintenance services from licensed professionals then most people should be able to ensure that their home’s heating & cooling systems remain at peak performance without worrying about excessive energy bills either!
