Do I Need To Cover My Central Air Unit In The Winter

However if you do there are a couple of ways to do it.

Do i need to cover my central air unit in the winter.

The last thing you want is to uncover a major issue with your air conditioner once spring rolls around. Covering an outdoor unit during the winter isn t necessary but it can be done. For one a cover simply won t protect your air conditioning unit from moisture which builds up naturally due to humidity and can trigger the growth of mold. Here are some suggestions for how to cover an air conditioner for winter in a way that doesn t trap moisture inside yet still keeps the unit protected.

If you want to protect the metal and keep it looking good give your condenser a coat of car wax before the snow flies. You can either use a piece of plywood to protect the top of your unit from falling ice as well as snow accumulation or duct tape a garbage bag around just the top of your system to allow ventilation from the sides as well as cover from the top. You may have heard that covering your air conditioner with a cover during the winter helps protect your unit but that s actually a myth and can actually cause more harm than good. However small rodents sometimes see fabric covers as a safe place to bed down for the winter.

Your central air conditioning unit consists of a compressor and condensing unit placed outdoors in a metal housing. No matter if you cover the unit with a tarp or not make sure to cover the top. 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. It s also off season for many appliances including your air conditioning unit.

The first way is to use a large tarp and wrap your air conditioner using rope and duct tape. Additionally totally covering your ac unit makes it a prime location for rodents to take shelter from the elements as it offers a barrier from snow and cold. Your a c is made to withstand the elements. Use a cover made of breathable material.

One thing to remember is that most manufacturers don t recommend covering the outdoor unit. Depending on your hvac system make sure to ask a manufacturer what they recommend as far as covering the unit. These units built to resist the weather generally do not need a cover. An outside air conditioning unit often referred to as an hvac unit is a lifesaver during hot summer months.

During the winter you may want to winterize the unit to protect it against cold. How do you cover your air conditioner. Some hvac specialists recommend a tarp or furnace cover. You need to decide what s best for your system by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of covering the outside components.