It’s time to start thinking about shutting down your air conditioning unit for the season. Turning off your AC correctly can help you save money on energy costs and make sure that your unit is ready to go when warmer weather returns.

Why cover your outdoor air conditioner in winter?

Dried leaves and flying debris can get caught in the sensitive fins of your outdoor air conditioner’s condenser coil. When that happens, it won’t be able to release heat to cool your space.

Inches of accumulating snow can encase the unit. It’s ok to have a light layer of frost on the outside of the unit, but don’t let it become encased in a thick layer of snow or ice. The fan blades and the coil fins can be damaged.

Falling ice can hit the unit with a surprising amount of force, causing damage to the outside of the air conditioner, or worse, damaging those sensitive coil fins.

Dripping water from trees and gutters can get into the unit.

How to cover an air conditioner for winter

• Use a cover made of breathable material.
• Put plywood over the top of the unit only to shield from snow and ice, weighing it down with bricks or rocks to keep in place.
• Install a wood awning or shelter attached to the building that covers the top of the unit.
• Plant shrubs around the unit to protect from wind and blowing snow. Check with your air-conditioning service company about the proper clearance for air flow, which is essential for proper operation in the summer.
• Build your own shelter for the unit that provides protection in winter and shade in summer. You can find clever designs on Pinterest and other web sites. When thinking about designs for how to cover your air conditioner for winter, make sure you have adequate clearance around the air conditioner for air flow.

What Should I Do With My Air Conditioner During The Winter

There are 2 types of air conditioners, through-the-window and ground-mounted.

If you have a window air conditioner, then you will want to remove it and store it somewhere safe. This will help you to retain heat in your home and keep your a/c unit from collecting condensation and developing rust.

If you have a ground mounted unit, you will want to remove as much debris (leaves) as possible before putting an a/c cover over the top of the air conditioner. This will help to keep snow and falling leaves off during the winter season. You can call us to purchase a custom-sized (and color) air conditioner cover.