How HVAC Contractors Can Better Serve Homeowners with Pets

Written by Joanna Brown on

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As of 2012, 62 percent of U.S. households had one or more pets. With dogs and cats, cleaning up hair and dander can seem like an endless battle. What many homeowners do not realize is that cleaning up surfaces is only half the battle; homes with pets suffer poor indoor air quality when the proper solutions aren’t in place.

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Many homeowners don’t know the negative effects that pet hair and pet dander can have. When you encounter a homeowner with pets, are your technicians taking the time to talk to them about their pet hair problems? Whenever your team encounters a filter clogged with pet hair, don’t just change it; take a moment to show the homeowner, and educate them about how this buildup is affecting their air quality and HVAC systems, as well as the steps they can take to solve the issue.

4 Steps To Help Homeowners With Pets:

  1. Remind

    Remind homeowners that because they have pets, they need to be changing their air filters more frequently than what is recommended by the manufacturer. Homes with multiple pets inside will need the filter changed more often than a home with one pet.

  2. Explain

    Explain to the homeowner how a filter clogged with pet hair and dander hurts the HVAC system. When filters are clogged, the equipment must work harder and longer to supply the home with conditioned air. This uses more energy, causing utility bills to rise. This also places the system under more stress, which can lead to premature breakdowns and system failures.

  3. Educate

    Educate homeowners that pet dander and hair can also affect those with allergies. With more of it lurking around the home and within the HVAC system, family members and guests who are allergic to pets may suffer increased symptoms inside your home. Pet hair and dander can also negatively impact those with other respiratory illnesses.

  4. Offer Solutions

    Offer homeowners HVAC solutions which will solve their pet hair problems. If the homeowner is using standard air filters, offer high-efficiency filters which can remove smaller dander particles. Air cleaners are another solution which can work with the HVAC solution to remove hair and dander from the home. If there is buildup of pet hair and dander, along with other debris, in the HVAC system and duct work, HVAC system cleaning and duct cleaning are services from which the homeowner could benefit.

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