Are Air Conditioner Unit Covers Worth It?
Your air conditioner is your friend. It keeps your home from becoming a sweltering jungle during summer, cools your bedroom so you can sleep better, and likely costs as much as your first car. Despite refrigerated air being a relatively new invention, few of us can imagine living without it. If you were born later than 1980, you probably don’t remember your world without it. Trust me, you can live without it, but not near as comfortably.
Most people, especially those that live in hot climates, would rather give up cable, internet, vacations, and at least one meal a day than give up air conditioning. And we all dread the day when we have to call the AC repairman to bring our loved one back to life, and we fear even more the day we have to fork out the cash to replace it.
Your air conditioning unit (we are talking out the unit that sits outside of your house) is a costly investment and is closely linked to our summertime quality of life. Being such an important part of our 21st-century life, we obviously want to keep it running as long as possible. Nothing is more depressing than flicking on the air conditioning during the first hot day of the year and nothing happens.
As winter approaches and you being to winterize your house, what should you do with your air conditioner? The seemingly obvious choice would be to cover it up to keep the snow and weather out of it. But is that really necessary?
When to Cover Your Air Conditioner
Most people believe that covering an air conditioner during the fall and winter is a good way to keep snow, ice, and other debris from entering the fairly wide gaps on the top grating.
Protect Your Outdoor AC Unit From Leaves and Other Debris
In actuality, outdoor AC units are designed to withstand harsh winters. The real enemy is leaves, nuts, and other autumn-related hazards. If your unit is close to trees, especially trees that bear nuts or acorns, you most definitively should use an AC unit cover. But only cover to the top, sliding a sleeve-like covering over the unit will trap moisture and hasten the demise of your unit. Top only covers are affordable and readily available.
When Not to Cover Your Air Conditioner
As previously stated, winter is not a major concern for your unit. They are designed to remain uncovered during the coldest months. And just like using a full-length covering during the fall, during the winter, it will trap moisture to promote rust.