As the summer winds down, you breathe a sigh of relief as you reach the end of another air conditioning season and can now cool your home simply by opening the windows. Since you won’t be using your air conditioner for the next several months, the question becomes what to do with the condenser that will remain outside through the fall, winter, and spring. While your condenser is built to withstand harsh weather conditions, you may still want to consider a cover. Here are a few reasons why.
Protection Against Debris
An air conditioner cover provides excellent protection against debris, making it an excellent choice to have in place after the summer is over. Debris protection is especially important in the fall, when leaves, acorns, and other tree debris comes falling down. These items can become trapped in the condenser, which can cause it to malfunction when you try to turn it on in the spring.
Protection Against Moisture
Though your condenser can certainly withstand moisture intrusion, as evidenced by its survival through countless summer storms, it’s still a good practice to keep out moisture whenever you can. When you choose an air conditioner cover, therefore, it’s important to choose one that’s as waterproof as possible. At the same time, you also want a cover that’s breathable, as a non-breathable cover can prevent moisture that’s already in the condenser from evaporating, leading to issues with rust that require air conditioning services to repair.
Protection Against Freezing
Alongside protection against moisture, an air conditioner cover provides protection against freezing. If enough water finds its way into your condenser, the resulting freeze could put pressure on some of the sensitive components that reside inside the enclosure. Keeping this water from entering your condenser, then, is a crucial part of properly winterizing your air conditioner.
Protect Against Fading
If your air conditioner’s condenser is at all visible, you want it to look as good as it can. This means keeping the paint from fading due to exposure from the sun. An air conditioner cover provides this protection, preventing the harsh UV rays from causing the paint to fade and crack, ensuring your condenser isn’t an eyesore in your yard. Paint that’s in good condition is also important for the longevity of your condenser, as high-quality paint will protect against rust far more effectively than paint that is worn out and peeling off.
To wrap up, here is an obvious disclaimer: before you start your air conditioner for the first time in the spring or summer, make sure the cover has been removed. This seems obvious, but it can be easy to forget you have your condenser covered when it’s in place for several months. Leave yourself a reminder, then, either on your phone or perhaps on your thermostat, to remove the cover so you don’t damage your condenser while it’s running.
Contributed by Anica
