When something strange is going on with your air conditioner, it can be very hard to determine what went wrong without professional help. If you’ve got AC issues, you need a qualified HVAC technician to take a look right away.
What could be wrong with your air conditioner? Well, in some cases, pets have caused damage to an AC unit! How can they do that? We’ll explain.
Insufficient Airflow
Air circulation is critical to AC functioning. First, plenty of air needs to get into the unit. This prevents the motor from overheating and gives the system air for the refrigerant in the evaporator coils to cool. Then, the air needs to flow easily out your ducts and vents so it will be evenly distributed, cooling your entire home. How can pets cause airflow problems? With their fur!
It’s always recommended that homeowners change their AC air filters once a month, at least during the time of year when the AC is being used almost all the time. But if you have pets, especially multiple pets or heavy shedders, that just might not be enough. If the air filter gets clogged, your AC system won’t have the air circulation it needs. This can cause short cycling or uneven cooling.
Electrical Issues
While your air conditioner has many components that perform a wide variety of functions, the bottom line is that it is an electrical appliance. This means that if anything affects the wiring or electrical components, strange things can happen. It might not be that the unit totally stops working. A damaged cord, for example, can cause power to the unit to flicker on and off.
Kittens and especially puppies are notorious for chewing on anything they can reach with their adorable little teeth. Other pets, like rabbits, don’t grow out of chewing even when they grow up. Nibbling wires can cause not just AC damage but injury to your pets. Pet-proof or baby-proof cable covers are an ideal plan if you can’t keep your pets away from the AC entirely.
Corrosion
Is there rust on the outdoor unit of your air conditioner? That’s not good! Why did that happen so fast? It could be because of your dog. When dogs mark their territory, they can cause massive corrosion to occur. This has even led to entire metal lamp posts collapsing due to their popularity with passing pups! If possible, keep your dog away from your outdoor AC unit so they won’t mark it at all.
If your dog does have access to the area where your outdoor unit sits, simply put up a small fence. It should be of an open construction to allow airflow, and at least three feet from the unit on all sides. This can help your air conditioner last much longer, because corrosion to the outdoor unit will eventually do enough damage to affect the compressor, without which your air conditioner can’t function.
If you’ve noticed any of these pet-related issues or any other concerns that make you think you might need central air repair in Sugar Hill, GA, don’t hesitate to reach out.
To speak with a member of our team, contact DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today. Fixed, At the Speed of Life!
