Last month, as I was tending the grounds (walking in my yard), I noticed a shiny cylinder standing upright on the stylish concrete block that holds my air conditioning unit. Upon further inspection, I realized it came from a small valve on the AC itself. When I tried to replace it, the cap became stuck and could no longer be removed. I assumed the cap simply fell off and that a good Samaritan had placed it on the concrete slab so I wouldn't lose it. And that was the end of it.

Life moved on.

Until yesterday, when upon another surveying of my land, I noticed the cap was off again. I found it closer to the valve this time, sitting upright again as if someone had placed it there with care. As the quote goes:

“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” – Ian Fleming

Fearing the worst, I did what any reasonable man would do–I asked the internet for help.

And the internet responded.

What: A Locking Service Valve Cap

According to Google's ultra-reliable AI Overview feature, A locking service valve cap on an air conditioner is a tamper-resistant cap that prevents unauthorized access to the refrigerant valve. The cap can only be installed or removed with a special tool or key.

So now I know what it is... but why is someone removing it?!

Why: Multiple Theories

I asked the internet for answers, and boy, did I get them. Here are some of the most popular and interesting.

Good Vibrations

Freon Fanatics

Blame the Animals

Dark Conspiracy

You Didn't Move the Bodies?!

Now What: I Love Big Brother

The two prevailing theories are equally plausible in my mind: either someone is removing the cap for nefarious reasons, or the cap is just vibrating right off this 10-year-old AC unit.

Little did eyeramona know, I had set up a camera already. I've been playing with these Eufy cameras since Prime Day as a way to get around Google Nest's yearly subscription fees, so I had an extra one sitting on my desk. Ten minutes later, and we're ready to catch the culprit (or restless spirit) in the act! Or we could watch nothing happen as the cap falls off out of sight. Either is fine.

All that's left to do is sit back and wait.

Stay tuned for updates!

October 15, 2024

Nothing to report overnight. All is quiet. Cap is in place. The enemy is clever.

October 16, 2024

Quiet overnight and all day. This may take some time. Texas has entered its third False Fall of the year, which means the AC won't run for a few days until we're back up in the mid-80s.

If you don't want to keep checking back, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (free), and I'll send out an update when I have something noteworthy!

October 17, 2024 - MYSTERY SOLVED!

Today, as I was moving the herd over to the southern pasture, I got my answer to the mystery of the wandering cap.

So, it looks like everyone who said, "it done vibrated off" was correct. I went back through the camera feed for the last twenty-four hours, and no one came into the yard or came near the AC unit. Of course, this does not rule out ghosts, but I'm content with blaming vibration and calling this case closed.

Thank you to everyone who helped me solve this little mystery!