Increasingly, thieves are targeting the outside condenser/compressor units of air conditioners and heat pumps in residential areas. They aren’t looking to use the A/C, but rather to strip the copper coils and other valuable metal parts from the appliance and sell them for scrap. Some thieves will strip the outside unit right on site, while others will pull up a truck, cut all the lines and wiring and haul the whole thing away. Fortunately, protecting your A/C unit from theft isn’t difficult if you take the right steps.
Steps for Protecting Your A/C Unit From Theft
- Anchor the outside unit to a reinforced concrete base set into a 10-inch pit the same diameter as the base. Install the A/C into the concrete pad using half-inch raw bolts.
- Buy a custom-made cage to cover the outside A/C unit, or have one custom built. It should be sturdy and durable with a locking gate so you can access the A/C for maintenance and repairs.
- Install an alarm. Special A/C alarms are available that will trigger an alarm if the unit is messed with. Some of these systems are designed to sound the alarm if the refrigerant line has been cut or otherwise starts leaking. You may be able to connect the A/C alarm to your home security system.
- Install motion-detecting lights near your A/C. These will flash on when they sense someone in the area. Most thieves will be scared away if they find themselves under the bright lights.
- Install the A/C inside a fenced yard. Also, if your A/C’s outside unit isn’t visible from the street, it’s less likely someone will target it for theft. On the other hand, if you live on a well-traveled street or road, some experts argue that installing the outside unit in a visible spot will discourage thieves who would worry about being spotted.
For more helpful advice on protecting your A/C unit from theft, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide superior service to the Metro Twin Cities area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about protecting your A/C unit from theft and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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