I live on the second floor in a tall building.
My previous air conditioner (AC) was getting hit several times with pigeon poop. Not only the poop was going inside the unit, or getting stuck on top, but also making a loud noise.
Hoping one day manufacturers will have some kind of built-in protection on top the unit instead of leaving it open (I know it's to help ventilate the unit). Until then…
Ideally I'd like something that would be tilted so poop (and other stuff) can slide down away from the AC. And also would allow rain to clean it. Something that is removable for easy replacement when it gets too dirty would be nice too.
I know AC units are designed to stand this. However I remove my AC from the window every winter (so it frees up the window, etc.) so of course I'd like to protect it from getting more than dust/leafs.
I don't want to simply fully cover the top of the AC with foam. I think this might not even be safe.
Something that would protect the cover while still leaving space for ventilation, and that I could remove and replace with a new cover every summer (that is, not something permanently attached to the window). I was thinking about using brackets attached to the AC, with some kind of material on top (acrylic might be too fragile in a stronger wind/storm, for example?).
I'd like to hear some ideas!
Thanks!
Best Answer
For a long time I had several window ac units and had a similar issue with pigeons, a guy down the street raised them and they loved my house for some reason, I found a piece of sheet metal at an angle kept them from landing on them and when they perched on the gutter as they start to fly they would poop, the angled metal worked I used self adhesive Velcro to hold it in place, when it came time to pull them in the winter I popped them off and cleaned them in the bathtub, I did have to paint 2 of the 3 on the 3rd or 4 th year and after that I found motion activated sprinklers (I still use those today to keep birds out of my pool).