Pets and HVAC Technicians: The Importance of Training

When you have HVAC maintenance scheduled, your HVAC technician will need to enter your home. This can be a stressful event for pets and humans alike if your pets aren’t used to being around strangers. Here are reasons to prepare your pet, and ways to do it, so the visit goes well:

Reasons for Training

You should schedule preventive maintenance for your HVAC system at least once per year and preferably twice a year. The sooner your dogs or cats get used to an HVAC technician in the home, the easier it will be on you, your pets, and the technician. With the right training, your pet will feel calmer and the technician can perform all duties necessary in a timely, less stressed manner.

Training Your Pet

1. Confine your furry friends to a safe place where they will be comfortable. A kennel works well for this part of training because the dog or cat will be able to see and smell the technician.

2. Before the appointment time, inform the technician of any simple things to avoid that might cause extra anxiety for your pet. Some dogs, for example, get upset when people wear hats.

3. When the technician arrives, keep dogs or cats confined and observe their reactions to the presence of the stranger in the home. Give treats and do other calming activities your pet enjoys so they associate the visit with happy things.

4. Have the technician say the pet’s name. This cues the animal that the technician is a friend and not a foe.

5. Don’t punish your pet or she might associate the technician with this punishment and will be even more poorly behaved during the next visit.

6. During the first HVAC system check, dogs should remain confined as long as the technician remains in the home. Over time, many dogs get used to the visits and can, if the technician is comfortable as well, have more contact. However, you shouldn’t rush this process.

For more about preparing for HVAC appointments, please contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating.