It’s Snowing! Don’t Cover Your Air Conditioning Condenser (Indianapolis, Carmel, Westfield, Fishers)
It’s Snowing: DON’T COVER YOUR AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
Revised 2023
As winter weather approaches, many homeowners wonder: should I cover my air conditioner? Here’s what you need to know.
Many homeowners aren’t sure how to care for their HVAC system beyond adjusting the thermostat. Here’s one important thing we’ve learned at HomeSense: Don’t cover your air conditioning condenser during the winter.
Your air conditioning condenser is the unit that sits outside your house — the one with the fan in it. At first glance, covering it seems like a good idea. Water can cause corrosion and rust. However, most of the covers available (and the ones you might see on your neighbors) cover the entire unit, which can actually increase the amount of moisture inside and can encourage animals to setup shop inside and lead to costly ac repairs. These units are designed to withstand outdoor weather, including rain and snow.
What you can do, as recommended by Brad Merritt at eHow, is cut out a piece of plywood the length and width of the top and place 3-4 bricks on top to hold it in place. This will keep snow from going directly into the unit, which is a good thing and avoids the issue of holding moisture in or creating a haven for rodents. As well, Merritt goes on to recommend using car wax on the outside of the unit if you’re concerned about potential rust during the winter.Posted in: Air Conditioning, Heating, Heating and Cooling FAQs, HVAC Indianapolis
