With winter fast approaching, now is the time you want to start thinking about getting your HVAC ready to handle the cold weather. In this regard, one thing you may want to consider is covering your outdoor HVAC unit to help keep it protected during the winter. While this isn’t entirely necessary, there are two primary reasons why you may want to consider doing it. The first is that it helps to keep out leaves and debris, and the second is that it helps prevent any damage that could occur if a large icicle were to fall and come crashing down onto the unit. In this article, we’ll discuss how to properly cover an outdoor HVAC unit and what can happen if it’s not done correctly as well as give you some other tips on preparing your HVAC system for winter.
The Potential Risk of Covering an Outdoor HVAC Unit
While covering an outdoor HVAC unit isn’t always a bad idea, it can potentially result in serious damage if you don’t make sure to do it correctly. The issue if you were to just do something like fully covering the unit with a tarp is that it would completely block off the unit and prevent air from flowing through it. All of the sensitive components in an HVAC unit are designed to be fully waterproof so that they can withstand rain and snow with no issues. The problem is that if air can’t flow through the unit, you’ll often end up with condensation forming and moisture building up inside the unit. This normally isn’t an issue if air can flow through the unit since the airflow helps the moisture quickly dry out. If the unit is fully covered and can’t get any airflow, the condensation and moisture get trapped. As a result, you’ll often end up with some components rusting and corroding and getting damaged or completely ruined.
The one time you absolutely shouldn’t cover an HVAC unit is if it’s a heat pump that you use for heating during the winter. That’s because you’ll always end up restricting the airflow to the unit no matter how it’s covered, resulting in it not being able to work properly or even preventing it from heating whatsoever.
How to Properly Cover Your HVAC Unit
If you decide you want to cover your unit, the best option is to buy a special cover that is specifically designed to fit whatever model or size of AC you have. These types of HVAC covers are made of a breathable fabric so that they keep debris from getting inside while still ensuring air can always flow through the unit. If you can’t find the right cover for your unit or you’re not willing to pay the money for one, you can also just use a tarp. However, you want to make sure that the tarp doesn’t drape more than a few inches down the side of the unit or else it will still block off some airflow. You also obviously want to make sure the tarp is fully secured with rope or bungee cords so that it can’t come flying off.
Another thing that many people do is just cut a piece of plywood to fit over the top of the unit. This can be a more effective option since the plywood will help keep leaves and debris from getting inside and also provide better protection against icicles and other falling or flying objects. If you decide to go this route, you want to make sure that you place several cinder blocks or other heavy objects on top of the sheet of plywood so that the wind can’t lift it off and send it flying. The biggest risk in this regard is that the plywood could end up crashing back down on top of the unit and potentially damaging its fan blades.
Other Tips for Preparing Your HVAC for Winter
As winter starts to approach, it’s important that you take the time to prepare your HVAC system for the transition from air conditioning to heating. The best way to do this is to hire an HVAC company to perform a complete inspection and tune-up. The main purpose of this service is to ensure that your heating system doesn’t have any issues and is ready to work as it should. That said, another thing you may want to have the technician do while they’re at your house is to clean out your outdoor HVAC unit so that it is free of leaves and debris. Not only will this help ensure it’s better able to work when you turn it on next year, but it also further reduces the risk of rust and corrosion. The reason is that leaves can end up retaining quite a bit of moisture to where everything can’t dry out properly.
In terms of getting your heating system ready, the specific tasks you should have done vary depending on what type of heating you have, i.e. a furnace, heat pump or boiler. Annual maintenance and inspections are especially important if you heat your home with either a gas furnace or a gas boiler since either one can potentially be a safety hazard. For instance, if a furnace or boiler isn’t burning cleanly and not properly vented, there’s a major risk of carbon monoxide leaking into your house. This is something you obviously want to avoid since it can make everyone extremely sick or even lead to fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
No matter what type of heating system you have, it will always work more effectively and use less energy if you keep it properly maintained. Failing to have your heating inspected and serviced at the start of winter can also increase the chances of it suddenly giving out and leaving you without heat until you can get it repaired. Generally speaking, HVAC units that are serviced every day also tend to require fewer repairs over their lifetime and experience fewer issues that require a much more expensive repair. Another major benefit of annual HVAC maintenance is that it can help your furnace or other unit to last longer. That’s because a neglected unit will often end up developing issues that snowball and can lead to a fatal problem.
If you need any help getting your HVAC ready for winter, you can count on the experts at Kulacz & Sons Heating & Cooling, Inc.. We’re a family-owned company that’s been serving Peotone, IL, and the surrounding areas for more than 40 years, and we have what it takes to professionally handle all of your HVAC needs. Our team specializes in heating maintenance and repairs and can service any make and model of furnace, heat pump or boiler. As the area’s leading indoor comfort service, you can also turn to us for your heating and cooling system installation and replacement needs. We offer a wide range of options sure to suit any residential or commercial HVAC system, and we’ll work with you to find the right option for your home or business. To schedule a tune-up and ensure your HVAC is fully ready for the cold weather, contact us today about our maintenance agreement.
