Protection of your HVAC unit extends beyond the walls of your home. Because your system includes two vital components that have outdoor exposure, it may be liable to damage by outdoor critters. Because the weather isn’t always conducive to close inspections, or the components themselves aren’t easily accessed, damage from animals can take place without being noticed by occupants of the home.
Here are two outdoor examples where proper HVAC-unit protection is helpful to effectively exclude the animal kingdom.
Central A/C Condenser Unit
Typically located immediately behind the house or to one side, this outdoor unit incorporates the condenser coil and vital system components, including the compressor.
Rats and squirrels are often attracted to this enclosure. Once inside, these rodents chew insulation on electrical wiring, as well as wires that transmit signals from the thermostat. They may also make nests of leaves and twigs that interfere with proper air circulation.
To keep your outdoor condenser unit free of animals:
Verify that the removable side panels are securely attached and not loose or hanging open. Also, make sure the fan grille on top of the unit is secure.
The condenser unit should always be securely bolted to a base—not placed directly on the ground. The base should be a concrete pad or a commercially available plastic base.
Furnace Vent Pipe
The pipe that exhausts toxic furnace-combustion fumes from the house often terminates on the roof. Roof vent pipes may be particularly vulnerable to bird’s nests, as well as intrusion by squirrels.
The entire length of the furnace vent should be checked during annual preventative maintenance by a qualified HVAC technician to make sure that no nests or other debris are present. Any obstructions that impair proper ventilation could present a safety hazard if fumes flow backward into the house.
The inspection should also include checking the vent cap and screen at the top of the vent, which keep birds and other animals out of the pipe.
Ask the experts at Air Assurance about more ways to ensure protection of your HVAC unit from animals outdoors.