To Cover Or Not To Cover Your Air Conditioner…

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As winter sets in, you may be wondering whether you should cover up your air conditioner's outdoor cabinet or leave it uncovered. It's a question that still sparks plenty of debate throughout the HVAC industry and, depending on who you ask, you'll likely receive plenty of different answers. The following takes a deep look at both sides of the argument so you can make your own informed decision.

The Case for Covering Your A/C Unit

There are plenty of good reasons why you'd want to cover up your A/C unit. If you live in a heavily wooded area or have trees directly above your A/C unit, keeping your unit covered keeps dead leaves, fallen branches and other debris out of the cabinet.

Covering your A/C unit ahead of a severe storm can also help protect it against hail and flying debris. The same applies when it comes to blizzards — throwing a cover over your A/C unit ahead of heavy snowfall will prevent snow from accumulating inside the unit. If the snow inside the A/C unit melts and refreezes, the resulting ice could potentially damage the condenser coils.

A good cover also keeps the condenser coils inside the unit from being inundated with excess dirt and debris. This comes in handy if you don't want to spend a lot of time or money cleaning the coils once warmer weather arrives.

The Case for Leaving Your A/C Unit Uncovered

There's plenty of argument for keeping the covers off of your A/C unit. For starters, a covered cabinet can turn into a cozy habitat for furry critters in search of wintertime shelter. When they do settle in, rodents and other small animals can gnaw through electrical wires, insulation and rubber lines, not to mention the other messes they leave behind when spring rolls around.

Solid A/C covers also block airflow while trapping moisture, creating a humid environment where mold and mildew flourish. A mold or mildew-laden outdoor cabinet won't affect your health the way a moldy air handler or moldy ductwork would, but it could prevent the condenser coils from working properly due to restricted airflow.

Many experts argue that A/C covers are simply unnecessary due to the largely weather-resistant nature of the A/C unit itself. Outdoor A/C cabinets are typically designed with the great outdoors in mind, so these units can withstand heavy rainfall, high winds and heavy snowfall without any long-term effects. Unless you live close to the ocean where sea spray is a problem, you won't have to worry about your A/C unit deteriorating simply from its exposure to the elements.

For more advice, contact a local air conditioning contractor.

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28 December 2019

Learning About HVAC Services

Hi there, I am Nadine Bachmier. I am going to discuss the various ways HVAC contractors can keep the temperatures in your business stable. HVAC contractors focus on maintaining and repairing the air conditioner, furnace, and ductwork used in your building. To keep the heating and cooling system in good shape, contractors may need to replace internal components, clean out channels, or simply perform a full upgrade. I will talk about the tools and techniques used to maintain and repair the equipment in your building. I will also share information about new products as they hit the HVAC market. I hope you will follow along and learn all you can.