Ways to Puppy-Proof Your HVAC System

Puppies are awfully cute but as any homeowner soon finds out, their curious, exploratory natures can lead them to acts of mayhem and destruction all over your home, and outside as well. Take steps to keep your pup and possessions safe by puppy-proofing your home. As you do, remember to protect your HVAC components.

How a New Dog Can Trash Your HVAC

Let’s start with the indoors. Some dogs will likely never notice those vents in your floors, but for whatever reason, others will be tempted to urinate on them as part of their territory-marking instinct. It’s probably a good idea to block off the floor vents – without compromising airflow! – until you’re reasonably sure your puppy or adult dog has no interest in them. If the dog ever does urinate in the vent, it will need to be thoroughly cleaned.

If your HVAC system is located in an open area — say, in a basement with stairs that the dog can use to get to it — it may be at risk for exploring that can lead to danger for the dog and a malfunction for the HVAC. Again, take measures to block off the workings of the HVAC so the canine cannot reach it. That goes for HVAC wires — or any wires, for that matter — that the dog can reach.

Outdoors, your dog may be attracted to the various lines and cables that lead from the condenser into the home. You don’t want the dog chewing on or digging at the wires: that could be an expensive repair, and could injure the dog.

Also, some dogs like to mark the condenser as their personal territory. Urine can be corrosive to the equipment and over time can clog up the fins or coils. The best remedy is to train your dog not to mark on your unit or to erect some kind of barrier around the entire unit that doesn’t impede airflow.

For more on HVAC protection against man’s best friend or the elements, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning of Elyria.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.