How to Maintain your Air Conditioner and
Why it’s
Important with Pet Ownership
Consult with a professional Air Conditioner HVAC company first to see what works best for your unit.
As summer heats up in South Florida, so does the electric
bill and maintenance of your air conditioner. With pets, it’s especially
important to keep up with tasks that can save your AC and possibly the life of
your pet! Should it fail during these record-breaking temperatures, your pet
may experience signs of heatstroke.
Hiring a professional pet sitter, like Advanced Animal
Transport that has NAPPS certification, can help spot these issues and correct
them before the air conditioner causes expensive damage from leaking and
growing mold. Think of having a pet sitter as alternative insurance!
Pets Increase Maintenance Needs for your Air Conditioner
Air conditioner strain is not only contributed by the
outside elements such as pollen and close fires that produce particulates and
make their way into the home, but inside factors of the home can clog filters
too. Dust and allergens can accumulate on the air filter, creating a fine
layer, reducing the flow. Unfortunately pets, hair, and dander also play a role
in reducing air flow.
Simple Tasks to Reduce Strain on your Air Conditioner
Change the air filter often. Without quarterly changes or monthly with pets, a clogged filter can restrict air movement, causing strain on the unit to circulate correctly. With pets, it’s best to consider a HEPA filter to capture more pet dander or one that has the capability of catching smoke, bacteria, and more, like these Amazon Simply Filters (20x20x1) MERV 13.
Build up occurs not just on the filter, but also the metal
screen and joints. Hair and dust will accumulate, restricting flow. Make sure
to take a vacuum to remove any loose debris around the grilles and registers
and wipe the surrounding area with a detergent to kill any bacteria.
Clean around the unit. Check the surrounding area outside to
make sure vegetation and yard items are removed from the path of air flow. Wash
the fins to clear the unit of any dirt and sand build-up. If there is a
question on this process, it’s best to consult with a professional AC company
to make sure you don’t run the risk of damaging the unit.
Suction the condensation line. Invest in a shop vacuum that allows you to easily maintain your home AC. If it’s too large to maneuver, chances are, it’ll stay put. Thankfully, there are smaller shop vacs available and make clean-up quick and easy. Advanced Animal Transport owns this Craftsman Wet/Dry Shop Vac.
Start by vacuuming the outside drain line first. This uses
gravity in your favor and will pull most of the water out of the line. If
condensation continues to build, it will back up into the home, causing mold
and flooding issues. Once complete on the outside, take the shop vac to the
drain line located near the air conditioner, normally located inside the
garage, and suction until it sounds like the remaining water has completely
been removed.
Add vinegar to the drain line. Be sure not to get this
confused with the location of the safety switch. Condensation buildup can be
caused by algae growing in the PVC. By adding vinegar, which is safer than
bleach for pets, this will kill algae, allowing the water to freely drain
outside. You want to make sure you purchase at least 5% Acidity Vinegar to help kill bacteria.
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| Edwin Restrepo with True Temp LLC |
Establish a professional relationship with a local AC repair company. This is especially important with the Florida heat. A professional company such as True Temp LLC will be able to help with tune-ups. Other services can sometimes include a deep cleaning of internal components by a technician. While performing tune-ups and deep cleaning, a technician will be able to observe deficiencies and potential damage.
Actions You Can Take With Your Pet To Protect Your Air Conditioner
Regular pet grooming. Grooming will minimize shedding and
reduce dander created by your pet. It’s important to work with your
veterinarian on bathing frequencies and recommended products to reduce your
pet’s skin reaction. No time to groom them yourself and can’t get them to the
groomers? Advanced Animal Transport is more than happy to help transport.
Frequently clean floors and furniture. Over time, loose hair
and sand can clog the filter, as mentioned earlier. It’s best to keep up with
this as frequently as possible. Investing in a robot vacuum will help keep up with
this task. Wiping down furniture will help trap loose hair and keep it from
transporting into the filter.
Performing these simple tasks will improve the air quality in your home, increase its efficiency, and reduce the risk of breakdowns and repairs which happen most of the time when pet owners leave.
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If you have suggestions on other simple tasks that can be
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Thank you!
Check out these other articles!
Beating the Summer Florida Heat: How to Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer
What to Prepare for your Pet During a Hurricane Evacuation
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