Should You Cover Your AC After Summer?

There are essential times during the year when you need to do upkeep on your heating and cooling system. They are in the spring for your a/c and in the fall for your heating system. Outside of that maintenance schedule, individuals wonder if their outside air conditioning unit may require to be covered as soon as the seasonal temps drop. But is there any benefit in doing so? The general answer is yes if you’re only covering the top or have a mesh cover, it helps cut down on debris that might accumulate on the cooling fins while still letting air pass through, read on to find out more relevant info on the subject.

Covering your AC Condenser 
There is a reason to cover your air conditioning system after the summer season, and it’s not just for the winter season. As we said before, your system is constructed to endure the rain and snow, however, it is not developed to stay out leaves, grass clippings, pollen, seeds, or dust. In general, you’ll want to cover in at least the Fall. When leaves or seeds enter your air conditioner, they can create a place where wetness gathers, which then causes corrosion. It can even obstruct any wetness drain your system has actually integrated in.

If you do cover your air conditioning system, only cover the top of it. If you make your own cover, understand that it needs to just cover down the side about 6 inches. You do not want to cover it completely, if you do, you are asking for trouble. A cover that entirely covers your system will trap moisture inside which then triggers rust and deterioration.

Why You Don’t Need to Cover Your AC Unit
People typically cover certain things around their homes to keep the weather shielded away. For instance, pool and lawn furniture, particularly if a garage or storage shed is not offered. For those of you wondering if you must cover your outside air conditioner, it does not necessarily need a cover.

Some people are under the impression that a cover will safeguard the air conditioner system from:

• Dust and Debris
  When on, the system sucks in air, which likewise brings in the dirt. Once it is off, little dirt or other particles will enter in and settle on the cooling fins.
• Snow, Ice, and Cold Weather
  Outside cooling units are built to endure these extreme winter-season weather conditions, which gets rid of the need for a cover.
• Wetness
  Wetness (water) can freeze the air conditioning unit’s condenser coils, which can trigger damage over time. There is no method to keep wetness out 100% of the time. Either through the humidity in the air or from the wind, moisture is sure to leak in.
  With a “full” cover on your ac system, you actually trap the wetness in, which can then produce mold. You are far better off not utilizing a cover for this factor.
• Rodents
  A cover will not keep small animals away, in fact, just the opposite. Animals want to get out of the cold, and your cover can supply them with a brand-new winter season house. Remember, rodents and other little animals are understood for discovering their way into very small spaces.

Our Recommendation
Keep in mind, your air conditioning unit is already constructed to secure versus typical winter season conditions. You do not require a cover for it for the factors you might believe. You just need to cover your unit mostly in the Fall if you’re not using it for the winter.

If you think you may have a problem with your heating and air system, give us a call. We’ll evaluate your system and help make recommendations for optimum value. After all, we want to keep you cool all summer long and warm in the winter. Just schedule a visit with one of our technicians to talk about how we can help with your thermostat settings. Would you like to learn more options our techs can help you with? give us a call 704-684-5339