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Air
conditioner covers can be purchased to maintain the efficiency of
room air conditioners and through-the-wall AC units, protecting
the outside portion of the condenser from weather elements and preventing
dirt and dust from blowing into the home through vents or slats.
A cover can be particularly beneficial for split AC units, where
a large portion of the unit is maintained on the home’s exterior.
With ductless systems, an outdoor compressor is operated in addition
to several indoor evaporator components, with the blower box and
fan for these modules located on the home's exterior.
AC
covers provide protection against the weather, including drafts
and condensation, saving homeowners from additional heating costs.
In addition, covers are generally low-cost, easily installed,
used year after year and do not require any caulking or duct taping.
Some covers even provide some insulation protection for your home
air conditioners. Note that the effectiveness of insulation protection
is measured by something referred to as the R level.
For
a room air conditioner or through-the-wall AC unit, the outside
portion of the condenser unit can be covered with a DIY or store-bought
cover made from a suitable plastic or cloth material. A suitable
material is one that adequately prevents dust, debris and condensation
from entering the home through the condenser unit and which provides
the same measure of protection for the condenser unit.
Covers
are generally installed on units in the fall, after the end of
the hot summer months, and removed in the spring before the cooling
season begins again. Cautious homeowners should remember to keep
the AC unit turned off while the cover is in place, to avoid accidental
operation while the cover is in use.
Although
covers are an important part of any maintenance program for a
room air conditioner or through-the-wall unit, using covers for
central AC units may have unfortunate results where moisture can
become trapped within the unit and small animals can make the
unit a winter home. As a consequence, homeowners may decide to
forego covers for the outdoor condenser units of central AC conditioning
systems where the outdoor unit is weather resistant and if there
are no issues of debris and other elements entering the home through
the unit.
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