Did my dog ruin my AC or is it just a 16-year old York?
Hey all. Been living here about two years and have had some recurring issues with this 16-year old York HVAC for the last year or so. It isn’t cooling properly. No vents in the house are blocked off.
We’ve had HVAC folks out five times between last summer and going into this summer. First visit, the tech told us to put a one inch filter into our four inch medium to improve air flow. I felt like that was an odd suggestion because everything I have seen tells me that if the MERV rating is the same, a four inch filter improves air flow because it has more surface area. We have a MERV 11 four inch filter in there because that is what the manual suggests. And since that is what is suggested, I never went down on the MERV rating because we have allergies.
Admittedly, the filter in there when we first moved in was a one-inch that obviously hadn’t been changed in a long time. I didn’t change it until January after moving in, so that’s on me. Since then, the filter has gotten changed every 3-6 months consistently (the Honeywell medium says on it that the filter should be replaced every 6 to 12 months so in my mind, I am on top of it, but maybe I am wrong. I do have pets).
When this person visited a second time, he put more Freon into the machine, and that seemed to do it regardless of the filter. So I left the four inch filter in since that was what the manual called for. Maybe that’s where I messed up? But thankfully didn’t have any more issues that summer.
Coming into this one, though, it’s been struggling to keep up with even low level heat waves.
Had folks out again. Different company this time. First visit, they put a leak repair kit and more Freon. That didn’t do it. Second visit, they sealed some leaks in the basement and turned the fan up. That seemed to hold a little longer, but still wasn’t enough.
Third visit, the guy tells me that the dog has been peeing on it, and that’s causing the damage. I have seen my dog pee on it a few times, but not with any regularity. But looked inside the machine and there is definitely a small spot visible.
After searching up, I know dog pee can do significant damage to a unit, but I am just surprised this is the first time it has been mentioned by anyone? Some of the pictures I see online of the damage urine can do seem much more drastic than what I am seeing on my unit, but I am not an expert. I am going to put up a barrier regardless and am kicking myself for not doing so sooner.
But given everything, I am just wondering how much the dog pee is playing a role here… is it that? Should I have listened to the first tech and put a one inch filter instead? Or have I just been on borrowed time with this York for a minute and these things just finally did it in?
Thanks in advance.