Is Your Beloved Dog Secretly Sabotaging Your Expensive AC Unit?

Dogs are known for bringing their owners laughter, joy, loyalty... and sometimes costly HVAC repairs. Yes, whether your pup is an indoor or outdoor dog, it may be the culprit behind issues with your AC unit. But how, you ask? Dogs are known to urinate on outdoor air conditioning units. Unfortunately, their urine is corrosive to the outer coils on the unit and over time, it will cause them to deteriorate, leading to a host of issues with your cooling system.

Though your pooch has no bad intentions, its daily ritual may mean costly consequences for your household. Not only may you need to replace your outdoor unit, but the damaged coils can eventually lead to issues with your unit's efficiency– which means potentially higher electric bills. So, if you notice that your air conditioner unit's coils are wearing away, take note of your dog's preferred locations for daily relief. And if it is straight to your air conditioner, then it is best to stop the bathroom break sabotage before it worsens the condition of your outdoor unit.

Though this may seem like a harmless issue, the corrosion that a dog's urine can cause over time will lead to big issues, according to HVAC experts. The coils surrounding an outdoor air conditioning unit are made of aluminum and when they become damaged, they will not be able to absorb heat at their normal capacity or speed. 

As a result, the unit itself will experience less efficiency and can experience component failure. Other issues that may arise include a reduction in airflow and energy bills that are through the roof , which may not reflect your true energy usage. Keeping your unit clean and free of obstructions is one of the best ways to reduce your home's energy costs.

Your pup's daily contribution can also cause your outdoor unit to leak Freon due to coil corrosion. Replacing the Freon in an outdoor unit can range anywhere from $200 to $600 per refill — and this is just for the Freon. You can also expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $150 or more per hour of labor. Professionals recommend checking your coils often, as it is best to catch small leaks before they turn into big ones.

Dogs can sabotage your AC unit in many ways. In addition to corroding its coils with urine, they are also huge fans of chewing on things that look interesting to them — in this case, it may be your unit's exposed wiring or refrigerant lines. These issues can not only negatively impact your unit's functionality, but they can also hurt your beloved dog by exposing it to electrical dangers. Driven by their canine instincts, some dogs may dig for gold near your air conditioner's base, which may expose buried electrical cables or even disturb the air conditioning unit's foundation over time, making it unstable.

There are many ways to make your home more dog-friendly, but you may want to do the opposite when it comes to your outdoor air unit. What can you do to keep your pooch away? Well, you have options. Consider adding dog-proof barriers around your AC unit, such as chicken wire, large surrounding shrubs, or a sturdy small fence. 

Also, consider spraying the surrounding area with an enzymatic cleaner and/or an odor neutralizer to deter the dog from marking the area. In some cases, a natural deterrent like vinegar, citrus, and chili pepper may work to keep your dog at bay and away from the unit — they do not like these strong scents. These barriers could also help reduce condenser clogs that may result from your dog's shedding fur.