New business AC cages ;)

ben62670

Well I have been thinking of this for a while. I am tired of seeing $2,500+ AC's gutted for $30 of copper. It is real bad all across the country. The cages wouldn't cost to much to build, and the install would be extra money too. Churches are getting hit hard, and small businesses because people know that nobody is there. It would probably cost the home owner about $500 to do, and I would make a couple bucks. What do you guys think?
Ben

WilliamM2

Seem to be a lot of locksmith and A/C companies building custom cages these days, so there's definitely a market. Don't know if it's big enough for a standalone business though.

ben62670

For me it would not be full time. I physically can not handle working everyday. I can however work a couple days a week. With my web knowledge I do have a slight advantage over other companies. I don't need to make a killing, but I do need to make something:(
Ben

zingo

I think you definitely have an idea good enough to keep busy, and a crime spree the fuel it. I think you should make the cages themselves 120v.

Kex

Just a thought: copper has come down a lot in price recently (commodities market). This may not have been passed on to wholesale or retail prices yet, and it may not even last, but if it does trickle down, the interest in stealing copper might fade.

ben62670

Kex wrote: »

Just a thought: copper has come down a lot in price recently (commodities market). This may not have been passed on to wholesale or retail prices yet, and it may not even last, but if it does trickle down, the interest in stealing copper might fade.

Not with people being broke;)
If it flops I only am out a welder;)
Ben

Midnite Mick

I had a vacant rental property that was broken into for the copper.....sick. They also snapped the water meter off out of the floor so the water was filling up in the basement. Is there a cage that can stop this?

Mike

ben62670

Midnite Mick wrote: »

I had a vacant rental property that was broken into for the copper.....sick. They also snapped the water meter off out of the floor so the water was filling up in the basement. Is there a cage that can stop this?

Mike

Unfortunately if it is vacant those **** can pretty much have their way:mad:

SKsolutions

Midnite Mick wrote: »

Is there a cage that can stop this?

Yup, it's called 'prison'. . but first -you have to catch them.

ben62670

SKsolutions wrote: »

Yup, it's called 'prison'. . but first -you have to catch them.

I have a 44;)

polktiger

Having replaced 4 ac units for my office I can tell you I considered installing cages. My issues was with anchoring the cage over the unit and also the ability to service the units after the cage was installed. I opted to forgo the cages. I ended up having stands built (essentially what is used to elevate the systems in a flood zone. For us that put the base of the units 7 feet off the ground, and require them to strip the units off a ladder since I didn't provide any platform area for standing. I acutally paid my AC contractor to build them so I wouldn't have to hear him gripe about servicing the units off the ladder. (Actually the whole thing was his suggestion, mine to to install on the roof.) Added benefit - better circulation having them off the ground.