4 Ways To Keep Your Air Conditioner Pest-Free

Posted on: 19 March 2019

You rely on your air conditioner to keep your home cool, but insects and small rodents rely on it for a different reason – A/C units are a common pathway for invasive pests. If you want to keep your home cool without losing your cool over pests, take note of the following tips.

1. Keep Your Indoor and Outdoor Units Clean

Clutter not only conceals pests, but it also gives them a base from which they can gather food and nesting materials. Make sure your air conditioner is free of any dust or debris that could give pests a chance to thrive. If you own a split air conditioning system, remove any and all debris from around the outdoor condenser cabinet and check the interior for dead leaves, branches and other debris.

2. Manage Moisture Within and Around Your Unit

Many pests love dark and moist environments. Unfortunately for your air conditioner, the innerworkings of your A/C unit are often, by design, dark and rife with moisture. However, you can control excess moisture inside your A/C unit simply by keeping the condensate drainage system in good shape. Keep the drainage lines free of clogs and clean the condensate drip tray on a regular basis to prevent debris buildup, clogs and overflow.

It's also important to keep moisture at bay outside of your A/C unit. Watch out for puddles and other water buildup around your unit. Poor drainage and overflowing drip trays often lead to water buildup around  A/C units.

3. Seal or Screen Potential Access Points

The same cracks and gaps that allow refrigerant lines and other A/C components to pass through also allows pests to do the same. Use caulk or an expanding foam sealant to block off cracks and small gaps that pests could potentially squeeze through. Sealing these gaps also helps prevent conditioned air losses that drive up cooling costs.

Another option at your disposal involves screening off gaps and other openings with wire mesh. This tactic works best for areas that can't be sealed off with caulk or other solid materials. Rodents and other pests won't be able to chew through the metal mesh.

4. Invest in Routine A/C Maintenance

Regularly scheduled maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent pests from infiltrating your A/C system. A seasoned air conditioning repair technician can spot potential warning signs of pest trouble and recommend steps to solve the problem before it gets out of control. Your technician will also carry out other maintenance tasks during a routine maintenance checkup, such as lubricating moving parts and replacing common wear items. 

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