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

Cover your air conditioner condenser with plywood plywood weighted down with bricks does a good job of protecting your air conditioner condenser in winter.

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

Some hvac specialists recommend a tarp or furnace cover. Your a c is made to withstand the elements. 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. 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.

An outside air conditioning unit often referred to as an hvac unit is a lifesaver during hot summer months. 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. Covering an outdoor unit during the winter isn t necessary but it can be done. Your central air conditioning unit consists of a compressor and condensing unit placed outdoors in a metal housing.

It s also off season for many appliances including your air conditioning unit. However small rodents sometimes see fabric covers as a safe place to bed down for the winter. Depending on your hvac system make sure to ask a manufacturer what they recommend as far as covering the unit. The last thing you want is to uncover a major issue with your air conditioner once spring rolls around.

These units built to resist the weather generally do not need a cover. Like we discussed above unless you live in extreme weather it isn t really important that you take the time to cover your air conditioner in the winter. The first way is to use a large tarp and wrap your air conditioner using rope and duct tape. During the winter you may want to winterize the unit to protect it against cold.

No matter if you cover the unit with a tarp or not make sure to cover the top. You need to decide what s best for your system by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of covering the outside components. However if you do there are a couple of ways to do it. 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.

One thing to remember is that most manufacturers don t recommend covering the outdoor unit. Use a cover made of breathable material. In fact covers can cause problems because they trap moisture and create an inviting winter home for small animals. 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.