Air Conditioner Cages

[Lucasjj]

I am hoping soon to get approved for a mortgage, and purchase a home in one of the core neighborhoods. In some of the houses I have looked at in Springfiled the air conditioner unit has been stripped for the copper. Now given, these have been vacant houses, but do you have to get a cage to protect your unit over there? If so, could you tell me the costs and how you go about doing that?

[fsujax]

Living in Springfield I can tell you that I think this problem has really began to slow down. My a/c unit is in the backyard, which has a privacy fence all the way around. I wouldn't really worry about it too much.

[Dog Walker]

Copeland welding on the corner of Edison Ave and Copeland Street in North Riverside has several sizes and can quickly make up any size or shape you need.  They are not expensive compared with the amount of your homeowners insurance deductible.

I think these thefts have subsided a bit since the price of copper and aluminum have come down.

The scrap dealers have to know where all these AC cores are coming from.

[Dan B]

I think it all depends on how "around" you are. Like FSU, I just have a privacy fence, and have never had a problem in the 6+ years I have lived here. However, if you are installing AC units before having the place occupied, I would go with a nice cage. My neighbor did one that he then dressed up with Lattice, and it doesn't look too bad.

[Overstreet]

..................The scrap dealers have to know where all these AC cores are coming from. .........

They also take finger prints (thumb) and IDs these days.

You can use chain link for that too. In the commercial construction around there we put the units on the roof when available. But most houses don't lend themselves to that.

[sheclown]

Team Recovery specializes in AC cages.  Best in town.  Custom fit and installed. Prices start at $210.00 that is for a significant cage with plenty of bars and hinged top with lock to access the AC unit once it is in place.  Painted.  PM me or Strider. 

Scroll down and you'll see some pics.  

http://teamrecoveryi550.blogspot.com/

Joe and the guys are also building a sailboat.  The welding & sailboat shop is located on Walnut Street here in Springfield.

[PorchCats]

Just wanted to note that we caught a guy attempting to take air conditioner parts from a vacant house two doors down just the weekend before Christmas. He didn't get anything because 1) we were right there and 2) those units were gone long ago.  Having said that, I DO agree that the problem is not nearly what it once was, but I would still suggest cages as a deterrent.

[Sportmotor]

Get a cage, but take into account that you WILL have to have it serviced at some point

[Johnny]

I wouldn't advise anyone to not protect their property or themselves, but I personally haven't had the cages in the 5 years we've lived here. We have 2 units outback with no cage living along an alley and for the first year our fence was actually just propped up at one section. Never had a problem, but we may have been lucky.

[Sportmotor]

or crazy lookin =o

[Johnny]

That's highly likely...

[strider]

It has always been pretty rare to loose your a/c when you live there.  Put up a for rent/ for sale sign today and you are advertising for someone to come get your a/c.  It is more likely today that the entire unit will be taken while in the past, it was almost always the copper parts and tubing. The best defense is good neighbors.  Cages help and are a great deterent, but they must allow for servicing the unit.  Not all of them do. Cages simply make it harder and so in most cases, the thieves will move on to an easier one.

[jandar]

All you can do is slow a thief down, or get a gun and shoot them while in your yard and claim self defense.

[Sportmotor]

Wrong you have to kill him in your HOUSE not yard.

you can hook up a high voltage on your AC unit so when they touch it, it freezes them with the circuit and then drag them inside and THEN shoot them ^_^

Your electric bill MIGHT be a little higher then normal...and might smell of a strange BBQ smell

[mtraininjax]

Wrong you have to kill him in your HOUSE not yard.

Not true:

Florida law justifies use of deadly force when you are:

Trying to protect yourself or another person from death or serious bodily harm;
Trying to prevent a forcible felony, such as rape, robbery, burglary or kidnapping.

If someone attacks you in your house, there is a castle law, google it and learn more. The topic here was AC cages, and I agree that a fence AND a cage work best in areas where there are problems. Also a dog in the backyard is a good deterrant. Most ACs are not stolen by dopeheads looking for copper, they are stolen by AC professionals who can cut through cages in 10 minutes and take off with units. So its best to have an AC company install the cage and unit, so you can make sure you can get the unit serviced in the future. I have 10 rentals, I've lost one unit, but never again.