5 Indoor Air Quality Tips for Pet Owners

As pet owners, we absolutely adore our little furry additions to the family. However, with pets can come a slew of issues with the quality of the air in our homes. Left untreated, bad air quality can lead to a number of health issues for you and your family. It can also wreak havoc on your HVAC system, causing higher energy costs or quality issues with the unit.

Below are tips to improve indoor air quality for all family members in your pet-friendly home.

Regularly Groom Your Pet


By grooming your dog or cat regularly, you’re removing dirt, dander, and dust before it gets into the air or your air filters. You should be brushing your pet a few times a week, as well as giving them regular baths. If your pet doesn’t like to be groomed, consider taking them into a professional groomer or buying special dander wipes.

Keep Kennels and Litter Boxes Clean

Kennels, litter boxes, and the areas surrounding them should be cleaned once a day, if possible. There is a lot of dirt and dander in these areas since your pet is in and out of them frequently throughout the day. It’s recommended that if you have multiple cats, consider cleaning the litter box more than once a day.

Deep Clean Your Home

Frequent vacuuming, washing, and dusting are of vital importance when you have pets. Cleaning the whole house is a good idea; you wouldn’t believe all the places where pet dander can end up, even if your pet isn’t there!

If your pet has lots of hair that’s hard to get out of the carpet, consider using a pet-specific carpet or rug deodorizer to sprinkle on your carpet before vacuuming. Pet-specific deodorizers often have ingredients to help break down pet hair and make it easier to pull up when you vacuum.

Change Your Air Filter

Regularly changing your air filter is an important step to maintaining good air quality, with or without pets. Pet dander is one of the many things that can clog your air filter, which reduces its effectiveness and can put a strain on your HVAC unit. Even worse, it can mean dirty air circulating around your house without you even knowing it. Depending on the type of filter, you should be changing your filter anywhere from every 30 days to six months.

Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned

If you haven’t had your air ducts cleaned recently, this is something you may want to consider. Particles, especially pet dirt and dander, can get trapped in your air ducts, reducing airflow and making it harder for your HVAC system to work. It can also worsen symptoms for anyone in the household with asthma, allergies, or any other respiratory conditions.

Staying on top of these tips can greatly increase the air quality in your home. For more information on getting your air ducts inspected or advice on air quality issues related to pets, consider reaching out to Custom Mechanical.