Pests And Your HVAC
Pests, such as insects and even some mammals are uninvited guests in your home. If you’re proactive with pest control, you should be able to keep invaders to a minimum. However, there are certain areas that are more prone to letting pests in than others. One of these is your HVAC system. It makes sense, the unit has to have some connection with the outdoors for ventilation. Pests in or around your HVAC equipment can cause big problems. We’ve gathered a bit of information about what you can expect from them if you have an infestation and what you can do to protect your equipment from this happening in the first place.
How Pests Damage Your System
Pests can damage your HVAC system in many ways. Your ducts can be scratched, bitten or otherwise destroyed. In addition, if pests die in the system, this can lead to reduced air quality. Plus, the pesticides used by exterminators are not always good for air quality either. Also, any extra stress on the system will make your unit wear out faster than it otherwise would and may cause higher than necessary energy bills.
Prevention is Key
While you may be able to work with a pest control specialist to remove pests from your HVAC system, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consider these simple ways you can prevent pests from invading your HVAC system in the first place.
- Change the Filter – Dirty filters can harbor all sorts of allergens, including pests. Change the filter regularly and keep your whole system less appealing to all sorts of invaders.
- Clear the Area – Trim back the weeds, bushes and other growth if you have a main outdoor unit or make sure there’s no clutter around an indoor unit and that area will be less likely to harbor pests.
- Cover Vents and Flues – By covering vents and flues, and keeping them in good repair, you’ll make it much harder for pests to enter the system at all. There are a number of different covering systems available, your HVAC maintenance professional can help you find the best one to provide long-term results for your unit.
As always, the best way to keep pests out of your HVAC equipment is to schedule regular maintenance. Contact us at KLEBS today and let us take a look at your system in Anchorage or throughout the Mat-Su Valley. We can make sure you don’t have any problems – or pests – that will lead to trouble for your system.