Simple Tips For Pet Owners To Improve Their Indoor Air Quality
Owning and caring for a pet can significantly enhance your overall life quality. Feline and canine companions provide essential comfort and socialization for countless people throughout the world. The bonds formed between animals and their owners can be very therapeutic and rewarding. Unfortunately, however, keeping any long-haired or furry animal in your living environment can also diminish your indoor air quality (IAQ). Luckily, with the tips that follow, you can sidestep the issues that accompany unhealthy air quality and pets. Furthermore, you can maintain a safe and healthy environment in your home.
Why Indoor Air Quality Is A Concern When You Own A Pet
Contents
There are many different factors that impact a building’s IAQ. For instance, in a closed environment with central air conditioning, using an abundance of spray cleaners with large quantities of potentially harmful chemicals will have a definite and very negative effect on the air that residents breathe. With pets, instead of seeing an increase in harmful chemicals that are present indoors, people experience a dramatic rise in airborne particulates. Pet dander, fur, and other elements can be cycled and recycled through the home. Furthermore, these particulates tend to clog and undermine the efficiency of all heating, cooling, ventilation, and air filtration equipment. As such, pet owners have to work much harder than people who don’t own animals, just to ensure that their indoor air is breathable and clean.
Many of the airborne particulates found in households with pets tend to irritate both those with pet allergies and those with existing respiratory conditions. Excess pet dander floating in the air can wreak havoc on the lungs of someone who’s already dealing with COPD or asthma. Efforts to keep your air clean won’t just safeguard those who live with you; they’ll also protect your guests.
Optimum Indoor Air Quality Starts With Excellent Filtration
One of the most important things that pet owners can do to improve their indoor air quality is to make sure that their HVAC systems offer excellent filtration. Air filters exist to sift out tiny particulates that would otherwise float through the home. Consequently, the occupants of the home will breathe in the indoor air pollutants. Therefore, you must regularly monitor, change, and replace, these components as necessary. If they are ever allowed to become too riddled with accumulated debris, captured particulates can be re-released into the home. Consequently, fewer existing allergens will be picked up.
More importantly, the HVAC system will stop working efficiently. In certain serious cases, it may not work at all. With one or more pets living in your home, you’ll likely find that your HVAC air filter needs a replacement about once every 30 to 45 days. However, it is best to check often and determine when an HVAC air filter replacement is necessary.
Practice Good Pet Grooming
Regularly grooming your animal is also essential. Routinely brushing your dog or cat’s fur will minimize shedding. You should also regularly clean out all litter boxes, kennels, and other functional, play, or holding areas that you use for your animal. Your lungs will have to contend with fewer invisible particulates if your home has fewer visible pet messes. Getting a high-quality, high-power vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter is a must. This remains true even if you don’t own carpeting. You can also use a good vacuum with adequate attachments to collect pet hairs, pet dander, and other allergens from upholstered furnishings, removable rugs, drapes, and other fabric-covered or porous items.
How UV Lights And Dehumidifiers Can Help Pet Owners Improve Their IAQ
Beyond having a good HVAC filter, you may want to take advantage of UV lighting to help cleanse and purify your indoor air. As much as we love our pets, it’s impossible to overlook the vast number of germs that they’re capable of carrying and transmitting. Even just a quick frolic outdoors can leave your pet’s paws riddled with potentially harmful microorganisms. These are organisms that can get wiped off on indoor surfaces, multiply, and become airborne.
UV lights can eliminate mold spores, dangerous bacteria, and other pollutants before these issues become widespread. An HVAC contractor can install them directly in HVAC ductwork or right near the system’s evaporator coil. Given that they are positioned outside of the actual living area, UV lights have no direct impact on human residents or pets.
If your home has high levels of humidity, this is something that you should address as well. Condensation on the windows and evidence of mold development in the corners or at the window sills often indicates excess indoor moisture. Installing a whole-house dehumidifier will help your current HVAC system better manage this aspect of indoor climate control. Given that mold can be just as hazardous to the health of pets as it is to humans, excess humidity is a problem that you should definitely deal with right away. Also, ask your HVAC contractor if a whole-house air purifier may be a good option in your home.
The Importance Of Performing Regular Ductwork Inspections
Another essential step in your efforts to improve your IAQ is to have regular ductwork inspections performed. These hidden spaces can be prime breeding grounds for harmful mold. More importantly, they can also be riddled with trapped accumulations of dirt, dander, and other debris. Damaged sections can limit the efficiency and functionality of your HVAC equipment, create problems with excess humidity, and more. Having a ductwork inspection and maintenance won’t just improve your indoor air quality, it will also protect resident health.
Tuning Your HVAC System Up For Optimum Efficiency
When scheduling ductwork inspections, make sure to have your HVAC system tuned up. These comprehensive inspection and maintenance services extend the lifespan of home heating and cooling systems considerably. However, this is only true when they are regularly and diligently performed. HVAC tune-ups can also help you get optimum value and functioning from this essential home equipment. HVAC maintenance ensures both proper temperature control and proper humidity control. With a high-functioning HVAC system and excellent air filtration, you can maintain excellent air quality even as you share your home with your beloved, four-legged companions.
Call Point Bay Fuel To Learn More Indoor Air Quality Solutions
Point Bay Fuel offers superior heating and cooling services in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey. We hire the best NATE certified technicians who can provide you with excellent HVAC tune-ups, repairs, installations, and replacements. Each of our techs has the knowledge and experience to service your HVAC system correctly.
Point Bay Fuel guarantees the most competitive heating and cooling service costs in the area. Our maintenance services can improve your comfort and energy efficiency while reducing your home cooling costs. If you are interested in improving your indoor air quality, then look no further. Our experts know the most advanced solutions to achieve all of your home comfort needs. All of our services are affordable and we back all of our work with a guarantee to ensure your satisfaction. To schedule an appointment, give Point Bay Fuel a call today. We offer free, in-home estimates.
Contact us now by calling (732) 349-5059 to speak to one of our home comfort specialists!