How To Protect Outside Ac Unit

Every bit the winter approaches, you may be wondering if your outdoor air conditioning unit needs protection from the elements. The answer is, yeah it does! Falling leaves also every bit snowfall and ice tin can get into the condensing unit of measurement and cause damage. So how should y'all comprehend an air conditioner for winter? Showtime we'll tell yous why it needs protection, and then we'll go to how to embrace an air conditioner for winter safely so that y'all don't make matters worse.

Why cover your outdoor air conditioner in winter?

Here'south why it needs protection, and why information technology's important to know how to cover an air conditioner for wintertime the right way:

• Dried leaves and flying debris can go defenseless in the sensitive fins of your outdoor air conditioner's condenser coil. When that happens, it won't be able to release heat to absurd your space. Leaves and dust tin can cause a big problem; besides knowing how to cover an air conditioner for wintertime, you must also know well-nigh cleaning the coils before the cooling season. (More than on that in a minute.)
• Inches of accumulating snowfall can encase the unit. It's ok to have a low-cal layer of frost on the exterior of the unit, but don't let it become encased in a thick layer of snow or ice. The fan blades and the whorl fins can exist damaged.
• Falling water ice can hitting the unit of measurement with a surprising amount of force, causing harm to the outside of the air conditioner, or worse, dissentious those sensitive roll fins.
• Dripping h2o from trees and gutters can get into the unit. Later when the temperature drops, that water turns to ice that expands and damages the fins.

Now that you understand why, let's embrace the dos and don'ts of how to encompass an air conditioner for winter.

How Not to embrace an air conditioner for wintertime (the WRONG way)

IMPORTANT: Never wrap your air conditioner in plastic! And beware of commercially available air conditioner covers made of plastic. Why? Because plastic does not breathe. This is the most crucial tip about how to encompass an air conditioner for winter.

It'due south true that one of those plastic covers volition continue out falling leaves and snowfall. The problem is, they also trap condensation from escaping. When that happens, your air conditioner can develop rust or mold growth. Those plastic covers can also encourage insects and critters to escape from the elements and have up residence in your air conditioner.

How to cover an air conditioner for wintertime (the RIGHT mode)

Here are some suggestions for how to comprehend an air conditioner for winter in a way that doesn't trap moisture within, withal notwithstanding keeps the unit protected:

• Use a cover fabricated of breathable material.
• Put plywood over the top of the unit only to shield from snow and ice, weighing it down with bricks or rocks to keep in place.
• Install a wood awning or shelter attached to the edifice that covers the top of the unit.
• Plant shrubs around the unit to protect from current of air and blowing snowfall. Check with your ac service company about the proper clearance for air catamenia, which is essential for proper operation in the summer.
• Build your own shelter for the unit of measurement that provides protection in winter and shade in summer. You can find clever designs on Pinterest and other web sites. When thinking near designs for how to comprehend your air conditioner for wintertime, make sure you have adequate clearance around the air conditioner for air menses.

Read this related article for some ideas that can also piece of work as air conditioner shelters: fifteen Creative Ways to Hide Your Outside Air Conditioner

What to do to protect your air conditioner come up spring

One time you know how to cover your air conditioner for winter, don't cease there! You also need to know a thing or two about protecting your air conditioner during the cooling season.

• Flooding effectually the base of the unit tin can impede drainage and cause electric harm. Mount your unit of measurement on a slab rather than on the ground to protect against minor flooding.
• Also much straight sunday makes it harder for the unit to exercise its chore of releasing heat from your space. If yous use an awning or build a shelter for your air conditioner every bit recommended above, you lot'll too provide some shade for the unit in the summer to continue it working efficiently.
• Don't neglect roll cleaning and preventive maintenance. Cleaning the coils gets rid of any grit, leaves and debris that may take gotten into the fins before you start up your system in the spring. And preventive maintenance is essential for protecting your system from unexpected breakdowns, enhancing comfort and saving energy. Think maintenance is too expensive? Think again! Read this article to learn more most how preventive maintenance saves you money: Air Conditioning Maintenance Doesn't Cost. It Pays..

It'due south smart to find out how to protect your air conditioner during the cooling season as well as how to embrace your air conditioner for winter. Want to acquire more than about taking care of your air conditioner so it takes care of you this summer? Grab our gratuitous guides for more than data:

• Computing the Hidden Costs of Poor HVAC Maintenance
• A Guide to Air Conditioner Coil Cleaning: Why, How, and How Often

Source: https://aristair.com/blog/how-to-cover-an-air-conditioner-for-winter-to-prevent-damage/

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