• April, 08 2024

Dogs, cats and HVAC don’t always mix

Some dogs and cats shed so much dander that it works its way into the ducts and vents and eventually slows down the system. 

When a system must work harder, your utility bill will rise. And the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will have a shorter life.

The dogs with the most dander include Basset Hound, Doberman Pinscher,  German Shepherd, Siberian Husky and Labrador Retriever, according to thesprucepets.com. Cats with the most dander: Persian, Maine Coon, Siamese and Himalayan, per purelypetsinsureance.com.

“Pet dander comes from skin cells that are shed by animals with fur or feathers – cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, etc. Dander can trigger an allergy,” according to the American Lung Association.

Smart solutions

No one needs to go to the doghouse over this issue.

Two simple solutions:

• Get your HVAC system cleaned by an experienced technician who will capture dander along with dirt, spores and other detritus you don’t want in the ducts, especially if you have allergies.

• Reduce dander by brushing your pet in a closed-off area, creating a pet- free zone and using air cleaners to decrease the amount of allergens in the air, the Lung Association said.

Learn more about pet dander by going to 

https://www.thesprucepets.com/worst-dog-breeds-for-allergies-4845885

and

https://www.purelypetsinsurance.co.uk/blogs/understanding-cat-allergies/

Both sites offer lists of animals which produce little dander as well as lots of dander.

Elite HVAC services and installs heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Long Island.