Air conditioner covers protect your outside condensing unit during the winter months when you’re not using it. Having an AC cover protects your unit from leaves and branches falling into the fan assembly which can cause damage the unit if you start it up in the spring and they aren’t removed. Also in some circumstances moisture can freeze in between the coils of the condensing unit and expand, which the air conditioner cover helps to prevent. AC covers are specifically designed to fit specific units by model number, so make sure that you search for you’re the cover that matches your AC unit’s model number to ensure a perfect fit. Covers generally come in black or variations of tan colors, so you can choose which what will look best outside of your home.  There are air conditioner covers made for most units regardless of brand. Click here to find the cover for your unit. Full Length & Top Covers: The Difference There are generally 2 different types of covers for air conditioning units, full length and top covers.

Full length covers protect the entire unit while top covers only protect the unit from falling leaves, branches, and snow buildup inside the unit. The length of full length air conditioner covers are generally 3 to 4 inches shorter than the unit leaving a 3 to 4 inch gap from the bottom of the air conditioner to the cover, this allows air to circulate through the unit preventing condensation and mildew.  If you’re not sure which kind of cover would be best for your unit, don’t hesitate to ask our experts by contacting us! 6,191 posts, read 11,238,688 times 1,912 posts, read 4,487,537 timesI think its really hard to keep the cold out with the unit in the window. I built a platform so I can slide mine outside the window. Then I close the window and cover the Ac unit and slide it up next to the glass after I cover it. When I had a wood house I cut a hole in the wall and installed my AC unit under the window. Up on the wall is better but you can hide the unit better if you put it under the window.

Originally Posted by Cecilia_Rose You mean you mounted the unit below the window? That's an interesting concept, but would it be as effective? Being as how cold air sinks, and all that. This particular unit is in my bedroom, adjoining the office. If I use a fan, it cools the bedroom and the office both very efficiently.smallest ac unit car I suspect you might be right about it being difficult to keep the cold air out without removing it, though.how much are ac wall units 3,440 posts, read 3,773,362 timesall types of ac units 28,460 posts, read 44,463,149 times 652 posts, read 1,136,691 times Originally Posted by chiroptera No its not as effective as mounting it higher but I didnt want to look at it so I put it under the window so I could put a table in front of it.

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81 Taking them out is a real pain isnt it. I have one of those huge suckers myself. Thats the one I slide out onto the shelf outside the window. 4 posts, read 932 times hole in the wall 541 posts, read 192,350 times Why would you remove it? Just buy the proper insulated outside cover for it, and be done.How to Prepare an Air Conditioner for Winter Just because an air conditioning unit isn't in use during the winter months doesn't mean it doesn't require some tender loving care! Winterize it to protect the unit from the elements, and it'll purr like a kitten when spring arrives. Our Tip: Place foam covers around exposed pipes to prevent freezing, and easily keep the covers in place with a strong adhesive tape. Read more at San Francisco Chronicle Make a Bottle Opener in 30 Minutes DIY Shelving and Cabinet Ideas Storage Ideas: Organize Your Home How to Fix Your Clay Pots Fix It: 15 Easy Duct Tape Hacks

Updated post: Summer is Coming, is Your AC Unit Ready? It is generally a good idea to consider doing some basic maintenance on your air conditioning and heating system at the beginning of every heating and cooling season.   This past winter’s “polar vortex” has been especially tough on outdoor equipment. These ultra-low negative temperature spikes, along with the extended times below freezing, can affect your home air conditioning system’s Spring start up. But with a few checks and a little effort, you can help to insure a trouble-free summer cooling season. Spring HVAC Startup Checklist: Here are eight important things to check BEFORE switching the wall thermostat to cooling. First, start with the outdoor unit: 1. Inspect the outdoor unit panels: These panels are designed to enclose the electrical connections and must be in place to help protect both you and the system. If you are missing a panel (possibly due to wind) or if the panel is misaligned, this could cause potential risks for both you and the operation of the equipment.

If the panel covering the electrical connections is missing or out of place you should call a qualified technician for an assessment before starting your system. 2. Remove any condenser covers, coil blankets or lids: If you covered the outdoor coil in order to protect it during the winter months, be sure to remove the cover before starting the system. These covers protect and insulate the coil, but also limit any heat transfer. Starting the system with any of these covers in place, even for a short time, could severely damage your system.  Many people forget to remove their covers every year, often resulting in major repairs or even replacement of the whole system. 3. Repair or replace any damaged pipe insulation: The suction line (the larger copper pipe on the outdoor unit) helps to supply cool refrigerant back to the compressor in the outdoor unit. If the system’s suction pipe has damaged insulation, this could cause a loss of required cooling for the outdoor unit which could damage your system and may also cause you to lose energy as well.

Damage to the foam insulation can be caused by sun rot, freezing water trapped in the foam or winter animals looking for shelter or food. The insulation should be intact to maintain system cooling. If the insulation needs replacing, do so before starting the unit. Look on the copper pipe for a size (5/8, 3/4, 7/8, etc.) to determine the coordinate size of insulation. It might be possible to find the insulation at a local hardware store.  NOTE: ONLY the larger line needs insulation. Do NOT insulate the smaller copper line. 4. Remove any debris from the outdoor coil: Depending on where you live or what side of the house your system is located on, you might find trash or vegetation blown into or against the coil. The system coils are designed to transfer heat, and any debris limits this effect. To get the best possible performance from your system, remove this debris from the coil and surrounding area. Also, while mulching in the spring, take care to not pack mulch around the base of the unit.

This is especially true for heat pumps as there’s likely a space under the unit and this should always be kept open to allow good air flow to the outdoor unit. Next, inspect the indoor unit: 5. Change the air filters: The change in seasons is usually a good time to replace your indoor air filters. The Polar Vortex this winter has probably caused your furnace to run a lot more than previous winters.  It’s likely that your indoor air filter will have gathered a lot more debris and dust than normal, so be sure to change the filter before the 2014 cooling season.  The link below provides a step-by-step guide to this process. (Be sure to pay attention to the airflow directions arrow on both the system and the filter – they both need to be pointing in the same direction). How to Change Your Indoor Air Filter 6. Check the coil drainage hose: This hose (usually plastic) can also be called the “condensate line”. Since the coil’s temperature is lower than the ambient air, water will condense on the coil and drip into the tray below.

This condensate needs to flow to a drain or the tray will fill up and flood the unit or potentially spill water into your basement. With the amount of time spent indoors this past winter due to the Polar Vortex affecting most of North America, it is possible that any impromptu soccer games or dodgeball matches in the basement might have moved this line. Check to make sure the line is in the proper place, attached, and will drain to the appropriate location. 7. Clean the supply vents and return grills:  Make sure the both the supply and return air grills and vents are open and free of debris.  It would also be good to use the vacuum to remove any pet hair or dust that might have accumulated during the previous season. Some houses have separate winter and summer supply grills, or house zoning and some even have separate systems – one for heating and one for cooling.  If you have a system like this you might have put extra plastic material over the AC vents to prevent drafts during the cold Polar Vortex months. 

If so, it is important to remove these before you turn on the AC or you will not have proper air flow back through the system and this could cause severe damage.  In general, cleaning all grills at the beginning of every season is a good idea. 8. Turn it on and make sure it works:  After going through the check list, wait for a nice, hot day when you have some time to check the air coming out of the indoor vents for the first few minutes after starting it, and then every few hours throughout the day.  After the first few minutes, you should feel cool air coming out of the registers.  If no air is coming out, or if the air coming out does not feel cool, then something is wrong and you should immediately turn the system off at the thermostat.  You can go through the check list one more time and then try it again.  If the problem persists, turn the system off and call a good HVAC contractor who can diagnose the problem.  Leaving the system turned on when it’s not running properly can do a lot of damage. 

It never hurts to ask a HVAC Professional to help diagnose the problems if your system is not working properly. In summary, a brief inspection of your system now could help keep your system running worry free through the heat of the summer and fall and is especially important for older systems.  While performing this general inspection, take note of the overall system health in order to assess the likelihood of a problem. If your system is old and has endured an unusually harsh season, it might be time to call for help.  A qualified technician can help you do a more thorough spring technical inspection to avoid a system failure in the hottest months of the year. The technician can also help address any concerns you have so let the contractor know what you found during your own spring inspection. Summer is just around the corner and no one knows your house better than you.  If air conditioning is a necessity due to your lifestyle or geographical location, then be sure to get a professional’s opinion before time runs out.