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

An outside air conditioning unit often referred to as an hvac unit is a lifesaver during hot summer months.

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

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. The last thing you want is to uncover a major issue with your air conditioner once spring rolls around. 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. However small rodents sometimes see fabric covers as a safe place to bed down for the winter.

In fact covers can cause problems because they trap moisture and create an inviting winter home for small animals. 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. 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. Covering an outdoor unit during the winter isn t necessary but it can be done.

Cover your air conditioner condenser with plywood plywood weighted down with bricks does a good job of protecting your air conditioner condenser in winter. 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. Depending on your hvac system make sure to ask a manufacturer what they recommend as far as covering the unit. No matter if you cover the unit with a tarp or not make sure to cover the top.

However if you do there are a couple of ways to do it. Use a cover made of breathable material. 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. You need to decide what s best for your system by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of covering the outside components.

Your central air conditioning unit consists of a compressor and condensing unit placed outdoors in a metal housing. Your a c is made to withstand the elements. These units built to resist the weather generally do not need a cover. 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. How do you cover your air conditioner. Some hvac specialists recommend a tarp or furnace cover. 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.