Many people in San Francisco consider their pets, whether cat, dog, bird, or a more exotic species, as a part of their family. We know to feed, water, and groom our pets, but it is also crucial for pet owners to understand how having a pet can affect your home’s air quality. Pets are a fantastic way to improve both your mental and physical health, but when caring for pets, it’s wise to be mindful of the quality of your indoor air.
Many pets, especially mammalian pets, such as cats and dogs produce what is called dander. Dander is a term for very small particles of skin that fall from your pet’s skin and coat. Many people assume that pet hair is the trigger or most animal allergies, when it fact, dander is more often the culprit. To effectively keep dander and other pet debris to a minimum, we’ve offered up a few tips. The biggest issue with pet dander is making sure that it never gets out of control in the first place. Follow these simple tips to prevent pet dander buildup and improve the IAQ in your pet friendly home.
IAQ for Pet Friendly Homes
- Bathe and/or groom your pets as recommended by your veterinarian. Clean and healthy pets will produce less dander than pets who are not groomed regularly. If not properly groomed, excess dander could form on your pet and be distributed around your home. Brush your pet regularly to remove dander and keep their coat healthy and be sure to provide them with high quality food and plenty of fresh water. This will help ensure that your pet is properly hydrated, and this will keep their skin soft and less apt to producing dander
- Get regular maintenance on your home’s HVAC system. Not only will this keep your HVAC system running smoothly, it is also essential for maintaining excellent air quality. And, for homes with pets, maintenance is even more fundamental, since pet hair and dander can collect not only within your air filter, but also in other areas. A professionally trained technician can spot any issues, whether performing routine maintenance or beyond, before anything grows into a more serious problem.
- Speaking of filters, be sure to clean or change your HVAC system’s air filter every month or two, or according to the manufacturer’s directions. Since air filters vary on size and function, depending on what type of filter you have, it could need changed less or more often than monthly. The simplest advice is to check your filter often and change or clean it whenever it appears dirty. If you are using a basic air filter, consider upgrading to a HEPA filter or a filter that can help capture pet dander and debris.
- Another way to ensure excellent air quality is to consider an air purifier for your home. Pet dander, dust, and other debris can accumulate in your home’s ductwork and an air purifier can truly help!
Give us a call today to learn more about improving your home’s Indoor Air Quality, whether with HVAC services, UV Lamps, Humidifiers or Ventilators, we can help! Phone: (415) 522-0966
