What Should I Do If My Dog Peed On My AC Unit?

Is Fido peeing on your AC unit? Have you noticed that your AC unit is not working properly after such an accident? If so, you may have an issue on your hands. If your dog pees on your air conditioner, you should turn off the unit right away and clean it immediately because dog urine can corrode the coils. If your dog keeps peeing on your AC unit, keep reading to find out what to do and how to stop this unwanted behavior.

Can Dog Pee Ruin An AC Unit?

Sadly, yes, your dog can ruin your AC unit by peeing on the unit itself. Dog urine contains acid, and that acid will corrode the aluminum fins and copper coils. If your dog repeatedly pees on the unit, the pee will eat away at the metal.

If this happens, you’ll see an increase in your electric bill, Freon deficiency and/or replacement, low performance of the unit itself, coil and fin replacements, or replacing the entire unit. Anyone who has replaced an AC unit knows how expensive it is, so preventing this issue will save you money and a lot of frustrations.

Why Do Dogs Pee On Air Conditioners?

Usually, a male dog will pee on the unit to mark its territory. If your dog repeatedly pees on the unit and you do nothing to deter your dog from the behavior, your dog will continue to pee in the same spot because the urine odor will draw him back again and again. It’s best to stop the behavior as soon as possible to protect your unit from damage.

How To Remove Dog Pee From Air Conditioner Coils

As we’ve mentioned, you should rinse off the urine as soon as you catch your dog in the act, but before you do anything, turn the power off to the AC unit in your breaker box. You don’t want any power going to the unit while cleaning.

Next, remove any protective grills and lightly spray with a garden hose. You’ll also want to spray the coil that was soiled while you have the protective grill off. If you see any debris, now’s a good time to remove any leaves, pollen, etc., that may hinder the unit’s performance. Using a fine cleaning brush, gently brush the external and internal fins. Place the protective grills back and wait at least an hour before turning the power back on to the unit.

We should point out that if you’re not comfortable doing this task yourself, always call a professional to do it for you.

How To Prevent Your Dog From Peeing On Your AC Unit

Now that you’ve discovered your dog is peeing on your AC unit, it’s time to stop this behavior pronto. One effective way is to plant bushes around the unit. If you choose this method, be sure you don’t cover up the airflow from your unit, as this will cause you problems, too. Experts recommend placing bushes or shrubs at least 3 feet away from the unit.

You can also build a fence or place wire around the unit; just be sure to place it at least 3 feet away. Also, don’t allow the fence to completely encase the unit. The unit needs space to release the airflow, and using weather-resistant material, such as lattice, works well.

Another option is to spray a pet deterrent around the unit to keep your dog away in the first place. If you choose this method, make sure you don’t spray the solution directly on your AC unit. A spray is meant to create a barrier of sorts, so only spray around the vicinity of the unit.

Final Thoughts

We all love our dogs, but it can be frustrating when they engage in some form of destructive behavior. Of course, your dog isn’t peeing on your air conditioner unit to make you mad; it’s just something that male dogs do. However, if you exercise the above methods, you can break your dog from this unwanted behavior.

Featured Image Credit: Lee waranyu, Shutterstock