It’s fair to say that your air conditioning unit is as important in the summer as your heating system in the winter. However, if you’re using two different systems then it’s very easy to overlook the essential maintenance. The problem is that an unused air conditioning system is a very attractive home for mice and other pests.
Of course, if you have an issue with pests then you need to contact your local pest control firm and get the issue resolved as quickly as possible; this will minimize the amount of damage that is caused and the cost of repairing your air conditioner.
The following tips can help you to prevent pests from damaging your AC, combine this with a regular visit from the exterminators and you’ll be virtually guaranteed a pest free environment for life!
Pests That Can Damage Air Conditioning
There are several pests that can cause you an issue:
Mice & Rats
Mice and rats can chew through any electrical cables, or they can steal the insulation that lines your ducts, creating an inefficient system and an expensive repair bill.
Snakes
The ducting on your air conditioning unit is the perfect place for many pests to make a nest. Snakes are particularly fond of ducting as it is warm. Unfortunately, if the air conditioner is started with the snake in the duct, there is a good chance the fan blades will get damaged. Add to that you don’t want an angry snake trying to crawl into your home.
Termites, ants, and wasps
Ants and termites can create mounds in the air conditioning unit that will prevent it from working properly. They can also be very difficult to remove.
Wasps can be even more serious as they can use the ducting to get into your home; which is particularly worrying if anyone is allergic to them.
It doesn’t matter how small the air ducts are in your home, insects, and mice will be able to get through the ventilation covers and into the ducts. That’s’ why you need to make sure there are no gaps larger than a nickel. If you do have gaps larger than this then you need to cover all the entrances with a fine mesh.
It is also a good idea to have louvered or angled vents, these are much harder for a pest to get into.
Other Places Where Pests Can Get In
Pests won’t just come in through the ventilation ducts, they can also get into your house through the attic crawl space, any other vents you have and small cracks around your windows and doors.
You need to ensure that all the potential access points are detected and then sealed. Your pest control expert can help you to locate and seal the vulnerable areas.
Alongside regular cleaning and a yearly inspection, you should keep the air conditioning unit and ducts clean, and visually inspect them on a regular basis. This will help to ensure that your air conditioning unit lasts for as long as it should.
