When the weather gets cooler, it’s time to turn off the air conditioners. AC units need protection from leaves and other debris, though. 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. Put a brick or a large rock on top of that to keep it in place, and voila! You’re done. This will help keep any falling leaves, snow or ice out of your system while preventing damage from snow and sleet.
That’s it. No step three. 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.
It may not look pretty, but it’s inexpensive and easy to install.
How to Winterize Your Air-Conditioning Unit the Right Way | ZING Blog
Photo by ActiveSteve.
via Lifehacker
Cover Your Air Conditioner With Plywood to Protect It For the Winter