4 Reasons to Cover Your Air Conditioner This Fall
With cold weather fast approaching, it’s time to think about winter-proofing your house, and your air conditioning unit is no exception. To make sure your air conditioner is ready to go when summer comes again, take some extra steps now to protect it from the frost and ice. First, we’ll talk about the reasons you should cover your AC unit, and then we’ll discuss the right and wrong way to do it.
Why Covering Your AC in the Fall Is a Good Idea
Leaves and dust can cause very serious issues if they become trapped in your AC coils. Especially as Autumn winds and storms start to pick up, debris can get easily caught in the sensitive fins of your condenser coil. It’s important to not only clean your coils before the winter season, but cover the unit to stop more dirt from accumulating.
A very light frost on the top of your air conditioning unit won’t harm it. After all, it was built to be an outside machine. But letting inches of snow and ice accumulate on the machine can damage the coil fins and fan blades, damage you may not even know about until you try to turn the machine on next summer.
Ice falling from the gutters or corners of your roof can do a surprising amount of damage to the insides of your air conditioning unit if it happens to hit in the right place. A cover will stop the ice from penetrating inside.
As Autumn turns into Winter, there is a lot of rain and moisture. Keeping this water out of your air conditioning unit entirely isn’t possible, but the less moisture that gets in, the less likely your chances of mold and mildew growing inside your machine.
The Right Way to Cover Your Air Conditioner
These are all great reasons to cover your AC when Fall comes, but there is a right way and a wrong way to cover your unit. Covering your air conditioning unit too tightly in non-breathable plastic can actually increase your chances of rust or mold growth by not allowing condensation to escape. It can also encourage pests and insects to take up residence in your air conditioning unit, since it is now a protected, waterproof spot.
To cover your air conditioner correctly, use a cover made of breathable material that allows for air flow. If heavy snow is an issue where you live, try putting a sheet of plywood down on top of the unit, and weighing it down with rocks, to keep snow off. If you can, building a shelter with a slanted top so snow and ice don’t accumulate is best. And planting protective shrubs and trees around your AC can also protect it, though you want to be careful that the plants won’t obstruct air flow in the summer.
Sugarhouse AC covers always come in a perfect fit, guaranteed to fit your unit with corner openings to make room for any pipes, and an adjustable cinch rope around the bottom to ensure a tight fit. Sugarhouse AC covers are made of heavy duty canvas prevents condensation while still remaining breathable. The commercial grade canvas is also fade resistant and waterproof, to protect against moisture and debris. And every cover comes with a 10 or 20 year warranty, plus the Sugarhouse 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
