Cleaning HVAC system after pet?

Question

Hello,

I have a tenant who is allergic to pet hair moving in at the beginning of next month. My previous tenants owned a gerbil. I will have the place professionally cleaned but do I need to have the HVAC duct system cleaned as well? Is there anything else I can do to limit the dander/hair from effecting my new tenant?

Michael Noto · Answer

Account Closed nailed it! As I was reading the original post I was like "oh no, he has an allergy and mold person on his hands." Until you have had one of these types of tenants you haven't lived, it gets pretty wild.

All kidding aside, these types of tenants are a crapshoot. You will either constantly hear from them about some kind of bizarre allergy situation or you'll never hear from them at all. I hope it is the latter.

Account Closed · Answer

Does the new tenant know there was a pet in the unit?  My crystal ball says that if you have already had conversations about this new tenant's allergies, you are moving in a tenant their last landlord was thrilled to see leave.  Pet hair this week, imaginary mold next week.  I hope I'm wrong.

I wouldn't make their allergies your problem, though.  Especially, if you haven't hidden anything from them.  If they move in and they're sneezing like mad and want the HVAC system cleaned, tell them you can recommend a great company, but they'll have to pay for it.

What I ended up doing with a tenant who starts complaining about allergies was to tell them I'm really sorry the unit isn't going to work for them and if they want to move out with 30 days notice, I understand.  Because, it seems like these types of tenants are like being in a cartoon where the cowboy is shooting at the feet of the other person telling them to dance! dance!  They'll have you cleaning the HVAC system, then shampooing carpets, never-ending.  Once I got myself into a stance of trying to please someone who couldn't be pleased, it was a losing battle.  I just didn't let myself get into that position again, because it always ended the same.  I'd tapdance for a year and they'd end up moving out supposedly because we couldn't mitigate their problems anyway.

Sean Grieve · Answer

Wonderful, thanks for the feedback-@Matt M and Account Closed

Account Closed · Answer

@Sean Grieve

Change the furnace filter monthly with a cheap but pleated one. Have your furnace itself cleaned or do it yourself with a shop vac. Don’t get a scatter filter, pleated only. And do NOT buy the super crazy “catches everything including viruses!” Crap ones. All they do is plug on day 3 then make your motor work harder and you’ll end up with a $15 filter and $600 fan motor.

Matt M. · Answer

I'd let them move in and see if they have an issue. Then address it with a cleaning.

Cleaning HVAC system after pet?

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