Dog peeing on ac unit

If you have a dog, you are probably aware of your dog’s bizarre peeing habits. While it may be hard to understand for us humans, a dog’s urine plays a big role in the dog world’s environment. From marking their territory to attracting mates, the manner and location that a dog decides to pee has a big impact on their environment.

While most of the locations your dog pees outside does not affect you, there are some objects you would prefer your dog avoided. One of the strangest yet most popular objects that dog’s enjoying peeing on are outdoor air conditioners.

Why do dogs pee on air conditioners?

While dog behaviorists have yet to solidly answer this question, many believe that dogs enjoy the sound of their urine hitting the metal. Additionally, their scent stays on the air conditioner for a much longer period compared to if they just peed into the ground. Unfortunately, dog urine has a very damaging effect on air conditioners.

Why does dog urine destroy air conditioners?

Most air conditioners have an outer later that is sheeted in aluminum. Despite being very malleable, aluminum is easily damaged by foreign chemicals. Since dog urine has a very high acidic level, just 1 or 2 instances of urine on the air conditioner can cause the aluminum to erode. This can be very costly, as a deteriorating air conditioner has much less efficiency and will raise your energy bill. Additionally, having to replace the whole unit can cost around $2,000!

How to keep dog from peeing on air conditioner

The three best ways to keep a dog from peeing on your air conditioner are to plant a bush nearby, use odor deterrent, or put up a small fence.

Plant a shrub nearby

If you have enough space, you should plant a shrub around 2-3 feet from the air conditioner. This will act as a distraction, and hopefully your dog will pee on the shrub instead of the unit. It is important that you don’t put the shrub too close to the unit, because it can be a fire hazard. You can buy cheap shrubs here.

Odor Deterrent

Using an odor deterrent is another cheap and easy way to stop your dog from peeing on air conditioner. Simply spray the unit with the deterrent once every couple of days, and your dog should stop using it as a toilet. After your dog smells the odor once, he/she is unlikely to ever return to peeing on the air conditioner.

Small fence

While this requires a little more work and money, it is a great option. You can buy a small fence from a local department store and put it around the unit. The fence doesn’t have to be any taller than 1 foot. Make sure to put it near the base of the unit, so your dog doesn’t have space to jump it. If you are looking for a cheap option, I would recommend this fence.