Topic 'Air Conditioning Cover' in forum 'Home Improvement' - dslreports.com

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:50:30 EDT

decx posted : Have a vinyl cover over the AC. Definitely helps keeps the leaves out especially since the unit is partially under a large tree. Btw, my Carrier does have drain holes on the bottom, they're large enough to easily flush out any debris that falls in over the summer.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:25:45 EDT

dosdoxies posted : I use a plastic trash can lid the same size as the fan opening with a brick on top. Works fine. And my Fedders has drain holes in the bottom.
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The more people I meet, the better I like my dogs.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:09:57 EDT

rfnut posted : Done. Thanks .

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:04:18 EDT

alkizmo posted :

said by rfnut:

I was thinking window units. Not enough coffee today.

that's right!
Go splash some coffee in your face

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:03:46 EDT

rfnut posted : I was thinking window units. Not enough coffee today.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:02:23 EDT

Jack_in_VA posted :

said by rfnut:

The water level is designed at a specific height to keep a specific amount of water in the unit. The fan is designed to splash water up on the coils as it runs to aid in cooling thru evaporation. There is a designed "drain" somewhere, usually just above the bottom of the coil, but it may also just be the height of the case itself.

What????? The fan on most units is at the very top of the unit and you say they are designed for the water to be splashed by the fan??????

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:59:53 EDT

rfnut posted : Said by alkizmo
"I wonder, why don't they make a drain hole at the bottom of the chassis? Water just pools up in there! "
The water level is designed at a specific height to keep a specific amount of water in the unit. The fan is designed to splash water up on the coils as it runs to aid in cooling thru evaporation. There is a designed "drain" somewhere, usually just above the bottom of the coil, but it may also just be the height of the case itself.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:48:54 EDT

Jaber posted : Thanks for the advice everyone. If leaves are the main thing to protect against, I don't have to worry about it then. As there's no trees nearby. The unit is right outside my garage, on the alley. Last time I took a peek in there, a couple weeks ago, didn't see any in there.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:26:33 EDT

anon posted :

said by nunya:

I have a piece of marine plywood cut to the shape of the A/C top. It keeps the leaves out. The sides are still open so air can move freely and dry out any water that does accumulate inside.

A cover is not unnecessary, I just hate cleaning the leaves out each year.

that is exactly the advice my hvac contractor gave me, never cover the whole thing - not to use one of those full-cover things, because it traps moisture and just encourages the unit to corrode. He told me to put a square of plywood on top with a brick if I wanted to keep the leaves out.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:23:14 EDT

MaynardKrebs posted : I know somebody who has a heat pump in a snowy area. he basically built a plywood box around the heat pump with baffles on the sides/top to keep the device clear of snow in the winter. He also lined the inside of the 'box' with roofers insulboard but installed upside don (ie. insulation facing out)- the same stuff roofers use for torchdown membrane insulation. Has about 1" if mineral wool exposed to attenuate the sound of the heat pump when it's operating. Works quite well in my opinion.

He skinned the outside of the box with wood siding to match his house and put a low-pitch cedar roof on it, to dress it all up. Everything is held together with marine deck latches so it takes just a few seconds to disassemble the box for access.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:50:58 EDT

telco_mtl posted : my american standard has 4 drain holes, small enough to be annoyinglyeasy to clog!

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:50:24 EDT

cdru posted : Just remember that a cover can make a nice shelter for little creatures. Be sure to open it up in the spring to inspect to make sure they aren't still around in the spring and that there wasn't any damage.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:28:45 EDT

alkizmo posted :

said by nunya:

dry out any water that does accumulate inside.

I wonder, why don't they make a drain hole at the bottom of the chassis? Water just pools up in there!

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:35:28 EDT

nunya posted : I have a piece of marine plywood cut to the shape of the A/C top. It keeps the leaves out. The sides are still open so air can move freely and dry out any water that does accumulate inside.

A cover is not unnecessary, I just hate cleaning the leaves out each year.
--
If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:33:11 EDT

Camelot One posted : For the past decade or so I have lived in areas that have heat pumps (uses that same big box to heat the house), so a cover hasn't been an option. I wouldn't think that would be the case in Illinois, but growing up in Indiana and Missouri, I can't remember anyone ever using a cover.

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:32:34 EDT

cowboyro posted : Needed - no, but won't hurt either. Consider it's made to stay without cover from spring to fall (and heat pumps are made to work year-round). Now if you want to keep it slightly cleaner...

Re: Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:31:40 EDT

alkizmo posted : It's not needed.
But it sure can't hurt especially if you have a lot of leaves falling on it in winter.

Mine had clumps of wet leaves inside at the bottom in the spring, I had to shop-vac it out.

Air Conditioning Cover

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:23:03 EDT

Jaber posted : Greetings,

New home owner here (town home actually). Just getting some things ready for the winter. Was wondering if an AC cover is needed for the condenser outside. The big square box with the fan. I checked the internet for some answers, but seem to be getting mixed reviews. I've lurked these forums enough to trust the input from members here, than a random site.