A/C, Heat Pump Thieves Are on the Move: Learn How to Protect Your Condenser
If your heat pump or air conditioner sits on the ground, you could be at risk from A/C and heat pump thieves who target these units to access the copper condensing coils inside. The price of copper has been up over the last few years, and the copper thefts are on the rise. These thieves are fairly indiscriminate about where they get their copper, raiding homes, businesses, churches and schools. Copper is so attractive to steal because it's untraceable. While most insurance policies cover this kind of theft, making a claim may raise your rates and the deductible could be high. These tips will help you protect your outdoor condenser so you won't lose the use of this crucial appliance:
Put a cage around it. The cages made from steel will discourage any thief. It will take too long to cut through it to make it worthwhile for A/C, heat pump thieves to bother with. The cages lock and you'll have a key to open it for routine maintenance.
Wire it to an alarm. If your home has a security system, your provider can attach devices that will monitor the system and send a signal if someone tampers with it.
Alarm it independently. You can install a separate alarm for it that will go off when it senses a change in voltage or refrigerant level. It will sound a loud siren.
Use security lighting. Motion detectors or a yard light that shines on the condenser could cut your risk of losing your condenser, especially if you're routinely home at night.
Theft prevention is key to prevent a costly replacement. If yours uses R-22, you'll have to find a condenser that matches the air handler's evaporator coil and refilling it will cost a good deal since the price of R-22 has risen substantially. Otherwise, you'll need a completely new system.The pros at Air Assurance can help you avoid A/C, heat pump thieves by protecting your equipment. Please contact us to learn more. We've provided trusted HVAC services for the Broken Arrow area since 1985.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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