Being the parent of a fur baby has changed your life in more ways than one. However, did you know that having a dog or cat in your home can also affect how your air conditioning system operates? As the proud owner of a dog or cat, there are certain measures you need to take to keep your cooling system operating efficiently.

Groom Regularly

Make it a point to practice good grooming standards with the animal. Many dogs and cats naturally shed, and the issue is generally easy to contain. However, when a dog or cat is not groomed regularly, they tend to shed more frequently. 

The shed fur from their coat doesn't just rest on the ground; much of it becomes airborne and gets sucked inside the air conditioning system. This issue isn't just a nightmare for anyone with allergies, but the fur will also settle on the air filter. A clogged air filter lowers the air quality in your home and forces the system to work harder, which will drive up its operating costs and shorten its lifespan. 

Not only does grooming help lessen this risk, but there are also certain filters better suited for homes with pets. During an annual maintenance visit, a technician can typically look at your filter and let you know if you need to upgrade.  

Shield the Exterior Unit

If you have a central air conditioning system, you should have a large outdoor unit installed. Make sure you take measures to shield this exterior unit from your pet. Dog urine is highly acidic. If your dog favorites the area for handling its business and some of their urine gets on the outside of the unit, the acid can lead to corrosion. 

Corrosion can eat through all the metal surfaces in the unit and cause catastrophic damage. The most alarming issue is that it only takes a small amount of urine to cause the problem. In addition to shielding the unit, it's important to schedule regular maintenance. 

The corrosion from pet urine most always leads to a freon leak due to a breakdown of the metal that contains the fluid. Even if you might not have noticed the issue, if the technician recognizes a leak, they might be able to detect a urine issue before it becomes more severe. 

If you have questions or concerns about air conditioning maintenance, contact a technician to have all your issues addressed.

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