You know that your HVAC system is designed to keep your family comfortable, whether the temperature outdoors has dropped below freezing or risen into the high 90s. But don’t forget about your furry and feathery friends who are also part of your family! Just because your dog has a fur coat doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to worry about low temperatures. Having pets in your home requires putting some thought into your HVAC system and your indoor air quality in Acworth, GA. Here are some important HVAC tips to help you and your pets.
Make sure to regularly replace the air filter.
Regular changes to the blower filter for the HVAC system are important for any home, but this job has special importance if you have pets. Pet fur and dander get trapped in the filter and will cause it to clog up rapidly. It will also mean more fur and dander circulating through your house. We recommend you make a monthly check on the filter to see if it needs replacing. You’ll need to replace it every 1-3 months.
Use vent covers.
If your home has floor vents or vents low on the walls, make sure they have secure covers over them. Pets may try to enter the ductwork and may get stuck.
Adjust the temperature for when the pet is alone in the house.
When you’re going to be away from home, you’ll set the thermostat to lower the amount of work the HVAC system needs to do, lowering it in winter and raising it in summer. If you have a pet who’ll be in the house alone, please adjust how much you change the thermostat to account for this.
For example, the recommended winter thermostat setting for when you’re away on a vacation is 55°F, but this may be too cold for many pets, especially smaller ones that lose heat faster. Keep the temperature raised up to around 62°. Watch out for overheating as well: don’t let the thermostat be set higher than 85°F when you’re away during summer.
Relying on “fan only” mode is often a mistake.
The “fan only” mode on a thermostat is a good way to circulate air to cool down in hot weather without expending extra money to power the AC. However, the fan isn’t much help for pets. Dogs and cats don’t release heat through their skins, so the movement of air over them doesn’t do much to cool them down. Keep the AC running in cooling mode during the day (although you can use an energy-saving setting like 78°F which will keep people and pets in good shape).
In case of extreme cold…
Fortunately, Georgia rarely experiences extreme cold (sub-zero) winter weather, and furred pets are much better at dealing with cold temperatures than humans. However, make sure to exercise some caution when extreme cold strikes: don’t set the thermostat below 62°F under any circumstances, and make sure your pets have blankets they can use to warm themselves if it gets too cold.
Dayco Systems has been Metro Atlanta’s choice for more than three generations. Contact us for all your HVAC needs.
