Pets offer companionship and comfort. In return, you give them your love and care. An important aspect of caring for your pet is keeping their fur clean and healthy. It can make a difference to their well-being and yours, while also helping your AC function optimally, as loose hair can become trapped in your HVAC system, clogging the AC filter.
Our HVAC experts explain below some steps you can take to prevent this and other AC issues. To learn more or schedule residential HVAC services in St. Louis, contact our heating and air conditioning experts today.
An AC Filter Traps Pet Hair But Gets Clogged Over Time
Your air conditioner filter is generally located inside your home’s main return air vent. It is designed to filter out dust, pollen, fur from pets, and other air pollutants. The clean air then flows back to the air handler, where the heat is removed and cooled air moves through the vents.
The intensity of filtration depends on the material of the AC filter (e.g. polyester or fiberglass), its design (e.g. modern AC filters have a thick, pleated design to trap smaller particles), and its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating, which ranges from 1 to 20. An air filter with a higher MERV rating traps smaller particles more effectively than those with lower ratings. MERV 17-20 filters are typically found in surgical operating rooms and other spaces where absolute cleanliness is paramount.
What Happens When Your AC Filter Gets Clogged with Animal Hair?
If your AC filter has a decent MERV rating, it should be doing a great job of capturing pet hair and dander. But it gets clogged with the very things it traps. This prevents your AC from pulling air through to the air handler easily, decreasing airflow. Your AC system becomes less efficient and you notice that your home doesn’t cool as quickly or as much as it normally does. Moreover, as your AC works harder, your energy bills go up.
When your AC filter is clogged, it becomes less effective in capturing contaminants. Air quality automatically declines. Mold is another problem. Mold requires moisture and organic matter to grow. There’s moisture in your AC and tons of organic matter like pet skin, hair, and pollen in there too. You can imagine the scenario!
Circulating Pet Dander Can Harm Your Health
Pet hair is not an allergen but pet dander – microscopic flecks of skin, saliva, and urine – is. Pet dander is too small to catch easily with the naked eye. It is so light that it is airborne, eventually settling on your sofa and furniture. Since pet dander can trigger allergy symptoms and asthma attacks in asthmatics, you want to keep your home free of it as much as possible. This is where it is important to have a good AC filter and to change it regularly.
How To Care for Your AC Filter When You Have Pets
Maintaining the most efficient air conditioner and ensuring great indoor air quality is a matter of following a couple of simple routines:
- Visually check your AC filter every month for excess build-up. If present, replace it.
- The ducts behind a dirty air filter are also dirty. Clean them with a vacuum cleaner. Get them professionally cleaned every 3-5 years.
- Use the right de-shedding tools for the breed you own to remove your pet’s hair gently and effectively. Bathing your pets in lukewarm water can also reduce dander, but consult your vet first.
- A regular vacuuming and cleaning schedule, which includes your home and your dog’s bedding and blankets, goes a long way.
- Schedule professional air conditioning system maintenance from a reputed St. Louis HVAC company.
Contact Galmiche & Sons for HVAC Maintenance
Animals shed hair to make way for new, healthy hair. They can’t help it, but you have many ways to reduce your pet’s hair and dander from floating around and clogging your AC filter. This includes changing your filter regularly and investing in annual HVAC maintenance.
For all your HVAC needs, Galmiche & Sons is at your service. We have been providing complete residential HVAC services in St. Louis since 1950. Give us a call today to learn more.
