Is Your Dog Destroying Your Air Conditioner?

Is Your Dog Destroying Your Air Conditioner? When we consider our furry four legged friends and the destruction that they can cause, we often think of torn up furniture and pillows and yellow stains on the carpet. We may train our dogs to mind their manners indoors and teach them to do their business outdoors, but many of us are forgetting to protect one of our most expensive investments from the effects of our pets. The air conditioner is especially vulnerable to damage done by male dogs and their urine. Although it is not pleasant to picture, dog urine could be literally eating away at your air conditioner, and the longer the problem goes unchecked, the more damage that is done. Many air conditioners suffer this fate, and with another air conditioning season on the way, there are sure to be many more. Damaged Condenser Dog urine contains chemicals that are very good at eating away at metals, especially aluminum. Unfortunately, many air conditioner fins and coils are coated in this metal, and with time the fins become dust and the coils begin to leak. A leak in coils means that the unit is no longer a closed system. The refrigerant will leak out, and in a matter of hours or days the system could be emptied completely. When this happens to your unit, you risk burning out the condenser, and the holes created by the urine are often enough to destroy the unit completely. This entire process could happen in about a year’s time, and once that damage has reached this magnitude, replacement is really your only option. How Can I Protect My A/C? If you already have this problem or if you notice your dog has been using your air conditioner as a toilet, you need to call an HVAC technician. If the problem has not yet progressed to a leak or destruction of the fins, you may be able to save the system. First an expert technician will clean the coils and repair any issues that the unit may have. Next, you will need protective fence installed around the air conditioner to keep your dog from repeating the problem. An HVAC technician can install a protective fence for your air conditioner that doesn’t restrict air flow or get in the way of annual maintenance checks. It will keep your pup a safe distance away and still allow the unit to cool your home efficiently. It is difficult to stop a dog from destroying the air conditioner on your own, but with the help of an HVAC technician, you can protect your unit easily and quickly before a major investment is needed.