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sugahplm · Oct 9, 2008, 10:50 AM

hi
I'm not sure what to call them but my 5 yr old compresser outside has those little silver slat like things covering about 1/2 of the outside of the compressor housing? From what I understand they regulate the temperature of the coils maybe?

didn't even know this could happen but this is what I was told so just wondering if correct "diagnosis" and should I worry about it especially if I sell this house one day?

one day I went out after about a year after installation, and to my horror there was a 2" x 2" approx. space where those little silver things were totally gone off the lower corner of the compressor. The area surrounding this was also discolored, a duller gray I guess you would say. I called a ad comp. in our town and the guy said the only time he had ever seen this is with dog urine. Our family had a dog that would urinate on anything stationary.. male of course, at that time. Is this possible... urine could cause this.

I have tried to keep that area protected as much as possible over the years so wind, rain other male dogs cannot get to it. Even though my efforts were successful, the little pieces/the area seems to be getting a little bigger with time.

the guy at the a/c comp. said if it stays small it shouldn't compromise the unit/coils/cooling and my a/c is very cold!

what to do? Any remedies? They guy said not to worry about it but that was yrs ago and as I said it seems to be another inch 3 x 3 or so now.

thanks for any help! :(

MarkwithaK · Oct 9, 2008, 03:55 PM

Well for starters the 'silver thingys' as you put it are the aluminum fins of your condensing coil and yes dog urine will eat away at them. If a section is missing then your best bet is to replace the entire unit. A 3" X 3" missing section may not sound all that bad but it does diminish your cooling capacity and those fins will most likely continue to deteriorate.

sugahplm · Oct 9, 2008, 04:45 PM

Thanks

Now make that check out to... :eek:

Can't do that now lottery ticket hasn't paid off yet, but thinking of gettting hubby to build a structure to protect the area as much as possible around outside and particularly an additional but attractive barrier for that area.

MarkwithaK · Oct 9, 2008, 04:52 PM

As far as building a structure around your condensing unit, I would advise against that. Anything that might block air flow will cause your condensing unit to overheat and go off on internal overload due to high head pressure.

sugahplm · Oct 9, 2008, 04:56 PM

Yes I understand was thinking of something open but protective like the lattice work or something and not too close how does that sound? Where air can circulate it is shaded most of the day too I just need to keep the wind and rain off it directly any ideas? There is NO way I can afford a new unit now or probably ever at this point

MarkwithaK · Oct 9, 2008, 04:58 PM

Keep in mind that I can only offer suggestions. If you choose to build a structure then yes lattice would be preferable. Speaking as and HVAC technician I can say that it is VERY annoying from a service stand point.

sugahplm · Oct 9, 2008, 05:26 PM

Yes I understand that too and it will be easily removable... like I said my husband is a contractor and can do just about anything unfortunately not a lot, but some of hvac and we had a business for a while so I think of all possibilties from the customers side which we still are, and the other/repair side too. The structure would be removed before a technician came out as I would not trust someone to remove or want to pay for the extra time for him to remove it.