How to prevent sparrows from nesting under roof air conditioner unit?

[Sunny18]

 

We found that birds had been nesting both in the unit and in the box underneath the unit which they were accessing under a tin platform which had a small gap in it. Although the A/C technician had sealed the A/C unit,, the birds still access the roof via the corrugated roofing as well. What should I do? 

Some people had suggested installing gutter guards to prevent birds from landing on the  roof. Please advise, thank you

 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Sunny18,

It seems the air conditioner unit has some visible damage, with panels not aligning properly and the front panel missing. Was the unit struck by something, or has it been affected by weather or wear over time? If the missing panel can be replaced, that would be a good first step to secure the unit. If the unit can’t be fully restored, you may need to install steel mesh to cover any open areas that birds could use as entry points. Ensure the mesh is secured with adhesive and doesn’t interfere with the unit’s operation or airflow.

Regarding birds accessing the roof cavity through the corrugated roofing, gutter guards might deter them from entering those areas. Alternatively, gaps can be sealed using expanding foam or by fitting wire mesh underneath the roofing to block their entry.

If you’re not comfortable working on the roof or installing these measures, it’s best to contact a pest prevention expert who can assess and resolve the issue professionally. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Sunny18]

Hi MitchellMc

Thank you for your reply. 

Air conditioning technician undertook an examination of the evaporative cooling system. He found that the system was in a state of general disrepair and badly needed a service. 

Then he undertook this service. The unit itself was semi full with mud, sludge and leave and other materials including bird nesting materials.

He managed to remove all of this and upon checking the functionality of the system found it to now be working extremely well. It was not working well 

prior.

He also found that the ducting in the roof was in good condition and the residue coming down the ducting was due to the access the birds had gained to the evaporative system and not the ducting in the roof. 

He found that birds had been nesting both in the unit and in the box underneath the unit which they were accessing under a tin platform which had a small gap in it. He did seal this gap to stop this although he believes it is possible the birds may try to pick there way into this again next year. 

He removed all the contaminants that were in the ducting  - both heating and cooling ducts - bringing them back to excellent condition. 

He cleaned all ducted outlets both for the evaporative system and the ducted heating system. All came up to excellent condition.

[MitchellMc]

That's good to hear @Sunny18.

Did you take this picture before he re-assembled the unit? It's just that it's leaning over to the right. The top panel doesn't appear to be connected to the left-hand panel, and generally, it looks like it's in a partially disassembled state. 

The reason I ask is because it would be difficult to keep birds out of a unit in this condition with large gaps in its panelling. I would imagine that if assembled correctly, the manufacturer would have designed it to be relatively birdproof. Is there a missing panel at the front or is that opening part of the design?

Mitchell

[Sunny18]

Hi MitchellMc

You are right. After he cleaned, a few days later the air conditioning has come apart bits on the ground thinks from the winds looks like the one on the roof is about to collapse. So the tenant took that photo and notified me. please find the attached photos for reference.

Fortunately, he fixed it later. He went back to the property and sealed up around the entire roofline of the AC using a silicone sealant, also got back in the roof and ensured there was no bird activity in the unit and ducts, System is working ok now. However, the birds are still enter via other access points.

Best Regards
Sunny