How Pet Hair Increases the Need for an Air Conditioning Tune-up

Your furry companion brings you a great deal of joy, but can nonetheless wreak havoc on your home’s HVAC system.  Even if you have a very short-haired animal, you will still require an air conditioning tune-up more often than usual-here’s why.

How Hair and Dander Affect Your A/C

Forced air systems suck up stale air from a room at the same time they push conditioned air out. When sucking up air, pet hair, dust, and dander are drawn up along with it. These contaminants will eventually make their way into your filter, where they will become trapped before they can enter your unit. However, some particles will nonetheless escape, particularly if your filters are clogged or very dirty.
Pet dander is actually more problematic than fur. Dander consists of microscopic particles of skin that are often so small that they are able to pass through your system’s filter. Metal ductwork tends to attract these particles, causing them to be pushed back out into your home whenever your system blows. This in turn leaves more particles for your system to suck up, meaning the process is continually repeated.
If you have furry pets, you should:

• Check your filter more often than usual, particularly if you have multiple animals
• Keep pets away from your outdoor unit, as having an animal urinate on your system could cause damage
• Use an air purifier designed to collect pet dander so that less of it becomes trapped in your system
• Have a complete air conditioning tune-up at least twice each year so that any pet hair or dander that is caught in your unit can be removed before it causes damage.

Regular air conditioning tune-ups are a must for pet owners, and will improve the efficiency of your system and increase its longevity. Contact your local Fort Worth TX AC Repair to get your air conditioning tune-up!