If a homeowner is asked whether their HVAC system is sufficiently protected, they may think the other person is talking about regular maintenance. More likely, the question refers to the copper tubing contained in most systems, and the rising numbers of HVAC thefts aimed at accessing the copper. According to Heating Contractors in Waldorf MD, business and homeowners should click here to find out more on how to protect their central air units.
Metal Theft
Copper isn’t the only metal popular with thieves, but it’s the most widely available, and it brings the highest returns. The Dept. of Energy estimates that metal theft is a billion-dollar business in this country, and according to claims data from the NICB, almost 97% of all metal theft claims for 2011-2013 involved copper.
Legal Efforts to Stop Copper Theft
As the theft of copper has become a prevalent issue within the past ten years, many jurisdictions have made it harder for opportunistic thieves to sell their stolen goods. Almost all states have laws regarding the sale of scrap metal, and in many instances, those laws require sellers to furnish photo ID and fingerprints before the sale. In other instances, there’s a mandatory holding period for completion of the transaction. However, law enforcement officials say that many scrap dealers are willing to skirt the law because thieves will often take rock-bottom offers for copper.
Protecting HVAC Systems
Businesses are typically targeted because they are empty during non-working hours, and they often have multiple HVAC units, meaning that there’s more copper available for potential recovery and sale. Heating Contractors in Waldorf MD say that the easiest step to take is increasing lighting around HVAC units. Homeowners can also conceal AC units behind shrubbery or fencing, and installing a security camera is also a good idea.
Business and homeowners should also consider buying a metal cage to surround the units, as well as an alarm that goes off if a thief tries to tamper with the unit. Larger corporate customers can also require gate and keypad access to HVAC units, so only workers who need access can get to the area where units are located.
