If you’re like me (and thousands of other homeowners), you have a set list of chores you do around the house depending on the season. Now that fall is in full swing, I’ve started working on prepping my house for the winter before I’m buried neck-deep in snow and seasonal affective disorder. One of the first things I make sure I do is winterize my central air conditioner. I’m not joking when I tell you how horrible it is to start your air conditioner on that first hot day of spring, and nothing but hot air blows out. Anything over 72 degrees makes me start to twitch, and once we’re up in the 80s, it’s game over. So you can imagine how important it is for me to make sure my air conditioner is well taken care of. Conventional wisdom tells us it’s important to cover and wrap your outdoor unit like it’s a Christmas present for a nosy relative. I remember my dad taking a tarp to his, and wrapping it tight with bungee cords like it was his job. And if you do an online search about how to winterize your air conditioner, most sites will tell you to do the same.

In order to make sure I can have my precious, precious air conditioning in the summer, I’ve researched the heck out of this idea. And I’ll have you know, just because this method is popular, that doesn’t mean it’s right. According to my research and to the HVAC professionals I’ve spoken with, here’s the right way to winterize your air conditioner. Step 1 – Clean out the area surrounding your unit. Make sure there aren’t any leaves, sticks, branches, bushes, clutter or debris in the two-to-three foot radius around your air conditioner. This will help prevent clogging, rust and damage to your unit. Plus, it discourages any animals from taking up a cozy residence in your system. Fact – animal damage is one of the main causes of damage to air-conditioning units. Step 2 – Cover the top of your unit with plywood. Get a large square of plywood and set it on top of the system. Put a brick or a large rock on top of that to keep it in place, and voila! This will help keep any falling leaves, snow or ice out of your system while preventing damage from snow and sleet.

No covering the unit. You see, by covering the unit so tightly, you wind up trapping in a lot of the things you’re trying to keep out, like moisture, condensation and any residual debris. Think about it this way: the unit was made to stay outside, so don’t worry about protecting it from the outside. Keeping your air-conditioning unit in good working order doesn’t take a long time, but can have long-term benefits. If you take care of your system throughout the winter, you can rest assured you’ll have a crisp and cool summer!Should you cover your outdoor HVAC unit in the winter? To cover or not to cover... Covering your outdoor HVAC unit during the fall and winter months has been a heated debate in the industry for many years. There are several pros and cons to covering your unit. Sila Heating and Air Conditioning will explain both sides. Pros to covering your air conditioner: Cons to covering your air conditioner: Keeps your air conditioner coils a little cleaner so it may run a little more efficiently when you use it again.

Covering an entire unit may actually trap moisture by creating a high humidity environment as the sun beats down on the cover. lifetime of an ac unitThe moisture will ruin the electrical wiring, wiring connections, and circuit boards.hvac and air conditioning Prevents heavy debris like sticks, branches and other yard waste from blowing into your AC unit.ac heat unit prices During the winter months the low temperatures cause small animals to find a warm place to nest in. Covers are enticing places for these animals to call home. Small animals can chew the wiring harness for their bedding.  This can lead to a very expensive fix for you in the spring. Helps prevent water from directly resting on your coils and freezing, which could be damaging.

Most AC manufacturers don’t recommend covering the outdoor unit. The ultimate decision…is a toss-up! A piece of plywood across the top of your outdoor unit is a perfect fit.  It is inexpensive, will keep out most debris, and leaves the sides open to keep moisture and small animals out. If you insist on covering your outdoor unit you can still do so very inexpensively. There are covers in a variety of sizes available in most home improvement stores, which will cost you a little bit more than plywood. If you are still undecided, contact the experts at Sila Heating and Air Conditioning today! When the weather gets cooler, it's time to turn off the air conditioners. Instead of an expensive cover, a piece of plywood does the trick. Over at Quicken Loans' Zing blog, they say the secret to protect your AC unit is to just cover the top:Get a large square of plywood and set it on top of the system. This will help keep any falling leaves, snow or ice out of your system while preventing damage from snow and sleet.

You see, by covering the unit so tightly, you wind up trapping in a lot of the things you're trying to keep out, like moisture, condensation and any residual debris. Think about it this way: the unit was made to stay outside, so don't worry about protecting it from the outside.It may not look pretty, but it's inexpensive and easy to install. Ask your service technician about your particular outdoor unit and circumstances. If you have a heat pump that works year round, then this tip isn't for you. A heat pump doesn't retire for the winter. Hit the link to read more. How to Winterize Your Air-Conditioning Unit the Right Way | After enduring a long summer pumping cold air through your home, your central air conditioning system is finally enjoying a much needed respite this fall. Out of use shouldn't mean out of mind, however – there are some important steps you should take to protect your AC unit over the winter so you know it will be ready to go when the weather warms up again. Read on to learn what you need to know about keeping your central air conditioning system safe during the cold winter months.

Built to Beat the Cold Central air conditioning systems are actually built to be able to survive exposure to tough weather, and some people find that their units work fine even if they don't take any protective measures at all. However, the outdoor components of the system can be damaged by debris, moisture build-up and repeated freeze-and-thaw cycles, so it is wise to take at least some action to keep the equipment safe. The first thing you should do when you shut your central air conditioning system down for the winter is to turn off its power. This will save you some electricity lost to phantom loads – and also prevent you from accidentally turning the unit on during the winter, which could create a big problem if it starts cycling water through the system and that water freezes. On the Dangers of Tarps While the cold itself won't hurt your AC compressor, debris that accumulates over the season can. Before you stow the system for the winter, clean it up and remove any leaves or other gunk that has built up.

From there, some people just cover the unit with a piece of plywood to keep icicles, branches, leaves and other things from falling in the top. An air conditioner cover can also be a good idea, particularly for lowering the risk of damage to the metal from repeated freezing and thawing, but it comes with some caveats of its own. It's a very bad idea to just cover the central air conditioning system with any old tarp and leave it at that. For one thing, moisture can accumulate underneath some coverings. Furthermore, animals might find the tarp to be an attractive shelter and make themselves at home. The trick with AC covers is to get one that leaves a foot or more open space above the ground so air can still pass in and out – a cover specifically manufactured for your AC model is best. Once you've covered your AC compressor for the winter, it's a good idea to check on it periodically to make sure the cover is still in place and to clear out any debris that has blown underneath.