The higher the outdoor temperature climbs, the more reliant you are on your home’s air conditioning system. An AC failure during the summer months can be disastrous. Not only will you end up having to live without cool air in your home until repairs are made, you will end up paying a premium for repairs during this peak season.
Pests can pose a serious problem in regard to the health and performance of your air conditioning system. It’s important that you are proactive in preventing pests from accessing your AC system if you want to avoid the damage that rodents, insects, and snakes can cause.
- Keep Vents Covered
Pests can gain entry into your home through the smallest opening. In fact, a fully grown mouse can easily squeeze through an opening the size of a dime! Your AC system offers many openings in the form of air vents and a flue that helps to regulate and eliminate gases produced during the heating and cooling processes.
However, vents and flues can serve as superhighways for any pest to gain access to your home. You need to ensure that you are investing in covers for both your vents and flues that will keep pests out.
Birds, mice, and insects like to make their nests inside of these openings, which can restrict airflow. And rodents will travel through vents and down the flue into your home, exposing your family to potential disease. Specialized mesh screens with openings that are too small to allow birds or rodents entry can be installed over any openings in your HVAC system to eliminate pest problems in the future.
- Repair Air Ducts
Pests don’t have to be outside your home to access your AC system. Any rodents, insects, or other pests that are already within the walls of your home can easily enter the HVAC system through damaged air ducts. Since the ducts act as a network connecting all parts of your home, any pest inside the ducts will be able to travel through your home at will.
It can be difficult to determine when your ducts are damaged. Most ducts are concealed within the wall or ceiling, making a visual inspection impossible. So watch for some visible signs of damaged air ducts like excessive dust on the surfaces of your home or increases in your home energy costs.
An experienced HVAC technician will be able to conduct a duct blower test to determine if your air ducts need to be repaired or replaced. Have your ducts checked often, and you can eliminate any openings in the ducts that might allow for the entrance of pests.
- Care for the Condenser
Your AC system features a condenser unit that is typically located outside your home. This large box plays an important role in controlling air temperature, but it can also be a beacon inviting pests to enter your AC system.
Take the time to clear away any weeds, bushes, or other foliage that may be growing near the condenser. Never leave debris stacked by the condenser, as piles of debris can invite unwanted pests. Rodents, snakes, and insects are less likely to attempt to infiltrate your condenser if they don’t have access to ground cover nearby.
Schedule routine inspections of the condenser unit with an HVAC professional so that evidence of electrical or refrigerant line damage caused by gnawing rodents can be corrected before your AC system fails. By taking action to prevent pest activity in and around your condenser unit, you can also make the unit more efficient at cooling your home.
Contact the professionals at Custom Comfort for help pest-proofing your AC system this summer.