Should I cover my air conditioner?

“Should I cover my air conditioner?” is a question our clients ask us quite often, and unfortunately the answer is not a simple as yes or no. There are many pros and cons regarding covering your outside unit, and below we’ll discuss a few of them in order to help you make the best decision possible.

First, if you happen to own a high quality AC unit, chances are you won’t need a cover because these units are built to withstand the elements. Models from leading manufacturers are made with weather-resistant materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum and copper and are built to withstand harsh weather conditions.

That being said, it may be appropriate to cover your air conditioner only during the fall season, especially if leaves, seeds and other debris are a particular problem in your area. Preventing this debris from getting into the internal structure of your unit is a good way to insure your unit will run efficiently when spring arrives.

In the winter, covering your air conditioning unit is only necessary if you face the danger of large blocks of snow/ice sliding off your roof onto your unit. If this potential problem may impact you, it would be ideal to put a piece of plywood or a few 2×4 pieces over your unit to protect it from a sudden impact.

A misconception people have is that they believe a cover is mandatory for protecting your A/C unit, but keeping it covered throughout fall and winter can create a moisture problem. When you seal your air conditioning unit with a cover, you are preventing air from naturally flowing through the unit, which can trap moisture because there is no moving air to dry any moisture that may be built up in the unit. This can lead to corrosion, mold and other problems that will need to be addressed during the beginning of cooling season.

If you are unsure what to do, and still find yourself asking: “should I cover my air conditioner?” seek the advice of a reliable and trusted air conditioning contractor.