Do you need to cover your condenser unit in the winter?

I noticed my neighbors doing something just before a snowfall or before particularly freezing temperatures in my neighborhood.

  • They would cover their air conditioner units.

One of my neighbors threw a big, thick blanket over their air conditioner system. Another one of my neighbors simply places a piece of plywood over it. I never really considered covering the outdoor component of my air conditioning system in the winter. I asked the neighbor who throws a blanket over it when it’s particularly cold or snowy outside, and they simply replied that they figured it was better off being covered in such conditions. The neighbor who put the piece of plywood over the top had a more specific reason though. He reasoned that occasionally, icicles would form on the eaves of his house above the air conditioning unit, and he didn’t want them to fall and damage the unit. It turns out that this neighbor had the right idea, while the neighbor that used a blanket to cover the condenser unit was being unnecessary. You see, I did my research, and it turns out that snow doesn’t actually hurt the condenser unit. The condenser unit is built to be sturdy, and it is specifically designed to be able to withstand all sorts of punishment and all sorts of extreme weather throughout the year. Besides, I read that trying to cover the thing will increase moisture levels, which leads to mold and mildew. That’s the last thing you want blowing around in there. Perhaps even worse, I also read that critters tend to take advantage of the shelter that a covered condenser unit provides. I guess I can leave mine be, then!

 

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