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Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog

How Do I Keep Pigeons from Nesting on My Commercial HVAC Unit?

Commercial HVAC units are big and noisy, and that’s part of why we keep them outside and away from the workspace. However, this might invite a few unwelcome guests into the area.

Commercial AC units are warm and flat and seemingly perfect for building a nest on. However, it can be unsafe for the birds to be around such large fans. In addition, debris from their nests could find a way into the outside unit and slow it down.

If you want to keep pigeons away from your AC system for good, you may have to take some pretty big steps. And there are some things you should know about the birds who have already made a home out of your comfort system.

Relocating Birds’ Nests

The first thing you should know about birds’ nests is that it is illegal to remove the active nests of native bird species. An active nest is a nest that has eggs or brooding birds in it. This is true even if the nest is in an inconvenient location.

However, you can remove the nest of an abandoned or empty nest without eggs. It may seem safe to relocate a nest that has eggs or hatchlings, but we strongly recommend against it. It’s unsafe for the animals, and the babies will fledge in a matter of weeks anyway.

Preventing Nesting and Perching

If you want to keep pigeons away from your commercial unit, you might have to take some drastic measures. But in the long run, setting up a system to keep out birds can benefit you in a major way. Here’s some of the best advice we’ve gathered on the subject:

  • Be kind. Don’t use anything that could cause injury. If you find a system advertised that seems a little cruel, find another solution.
  • Spikes may deter birds from perching on your system, but they can surprise you. A determined bird may find another way to land atop your system.
  • Netting and screening is by far the most effective deterrent. Nets are connected to a structure built around your outside AC unit.

Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. is here to answer your questions and help you out in any way we can. Have questions or need AC service in Kirtland or a nearby city? Don’t waste your time with the run-around. Give us a call and let us do it right the first time!

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