Male dogs love to mark their territory. It’s what they do. But if the outdoor components of your HVAC system become the target of their leg lifting you could end up with an unexpected repair bill.

Acidic dog urine can be highly corrosive. So much so that it often requires fire hydrant repairs due to rust and corrosion in high “dog traffic” areas. It can have the same impact on HVAC systems by corroding the condenser’s copper coil and aluminum fins.

Coil deterioration will eventually result in a loss of refrigerant. You’ll need to have the unit repaired and recharged. However, if you have an older unit with R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced or imported in the U.S., the unit will have to be replaced.

Even if a small area of the aluminum fins are damaged it will result in decreasing energy efficiency because the unit’s ability to transfer heat is diminished. Your condenser coil and fins are attached so once one component is badly damaged, you’ll have to replace both. This replacement job requires a professional. Protect your unit by erecting a fence three feet away from the outdoor unit. Do NOT erect a solid barrier. The unit needs unimpeded air flow. Solid fencing creates a heat dam by trapping hot exhaust air. The goal isn’t to obscure the outdoor unit but to merely keep it out of Fido’s firing range.

Our thanks to Air Source 1 in Indiana for use of their service tech photos.