An Insiders Guide To AC Covers
Like with any project, there is a right way of doing things. Protecting your HVAC outdoor unit from the elements can drastically prolong it’s life, or shorten it if done improperly.
Residential outdoor units come in two types. Heat pumps, that both heat and cool and units that just cool the home. Many home owners confuse the two, but in order to know the best way to cover and protect your unit you need to absolutely know the difference.
To best protect an outdoor unit we want to basically do three things:
- Keep the outdoor unit clean
- Raise the unit off the pad
- Keep debris from falling into the unit
In the next two title headings let me take you on a tour of some ideas to cover units and the differences between how to cover an AC versus a heat pump.
How To Cover And Protect Your AC Or Outdoor Cooling Only Unit
For cooling only units that are only used in the heat of summer, you can find a myriad of cover types. Some that cover completely and those that just cover the top.
The argument against those that cover completely is that moisture will accumulate inside the unit and not dissipate, therefore not allowing the inside of the unit to dry or air out.
Not having proper circulation can cause corrosion in the form of rust and electrolysis to form on the metals of the components of the AC unit. Including the controls which for an AC unit are few compared to a heat pump.
Also the complete covers invite critters of all types to build nests or homes inside the unit protected from some of the elements.
When I install a new AC unit I prefer them to be mounted on an over sized pad. Over sizing the pad allows for more of a border around the unit and helps to keep that landscaping material like bark dust or even dirt away from the bottom of the unit.
Also, adding risers, even as little as three inches, keep the unit up off the pad just enough to allow for cleaning under the AC. Just the direct contact of the bottom pan of the AC to the concrete is abrasive.
Kind of like fingernails on a chalk board.
These risers, in my opinion, really help with noise. The risers have a bit of butyl mastic on the top and bottom to prevent movement once in place. The mastic helps reduce vibration and results in much quieter operation.
It seems like there is never the most ideal place around the house to locate an outdoor AC or especially a heat pump because it runs year around.
Either it’s too close to a bedroom window keeping you awake at night or the leaves and debris from nearby foliage fall down into the unit when the fan isn’t blowing.
Two ways are very easy and not too ugly to look upon. Amazon has these covers for under $25 so you’ll have to add something to it to get free shipping unless you are a Prime member.
Another method, which would be down my alley, and for any DIY’er at the right price is to grab a piece of hardware mesh or cloth. Available at most hardware stores and Home Depot or Lowes.
The best size hardware screen is one that does not obstruct air flow.
Just for demonstration purposes I placed this piece of 1/2 inch hardware screen over this AC unit that was on it’s way to the bone yard.
If this looks like the way for you to go, don’t fasten it down improperly by using screws that would punch a hole in a refrigeration coil.
Note before you screw anything into a refrigeration unit. Escaping Freon will cost you a bundle to repair and replenish.
With most units you can see around the fan louvers enough to locate areas of metal without refrigeration coil beneath that could get punctured by fastening the screen with screws.
There’s another option call a Kool Kap. A lid on hinges that raises up when the fan comes on. A nifty idea.
We used to sell a ton of them when they first came out, but the hinges were a little weak and if anything ever got set on top like some unsuspecting kid with a toy, the lid wouldn’t go up.
Kool Kap’s would not be recommended for heat pumps. It wouldn’t take much snow or ice to stop the lid from going up either.
But, if you just have to try one of these make sure you get the right one of three sizes available.
How To Properly Cover And Protect Your Heat Pump
A lot of the same things apply when covering a heat pump as they do for air conditioners. Keeping the unit clean inside is slightly more critical though.
Heat pumps tend to ice up in the winter and because they ice up a defrost cycle is built into the system to keep the ice to a minimum. And because when ice melts, that melting ice has to drain off.
I have an entire article on heat pumps leaking water outside in the winter. It will open in another tab if you click here.
So the short answer is if you’re not going to read the article is to keep the drain holes clear of leaves and debris.
The correct size pad with pump ups or risers will aid the unit in keeping clean and draining properly.
Four of these are sufficient when place at each corner of most heat pumps. Six inches works well in most climates, but if deep snow is a factor, get serious and get the unit up higher.
I raised mine up to 18 inches on a stand I built from scrap angle iron and pipe.
The shed roof over the heat pump keeps melting ice and snow from falling off the roof onto the unit.
Ice falling from a roof can seriously damage most anything it hits.
Keeping a unit up like this on eliminates the need for a pad also.
Where leaves and debris are an issue, installing some type of mesh will work as long as the mesh is open enough to not block the air flow of the outdoor fan.
Conclusion
I honestly think that with these ideas properly applied you can add years onto the life of most any heat pump. Sometimes I am just amazed at how short the life span is of some of these units that are left unprotected and neglected.
Some folks just respect their equipment more that others. After all, a clean machine is a thing of beauty.
