Rain and Your Air Conditioner

Can rain or moisture ruin your air conditioner? Should you take special steps in order to protect your A/C investment, whether an ordinary window unit or a ductless split A/C system?

In general, rain doesn’t harm air conditioning units, which are designed in such a way as to effectively prevent water from seeping into sensitive working parts that would otherwise be damaged if they came into contact with moisture. These machines are built to endue all varieties of weather, and you should have no concerns about leaving them exposed to the elements during summer. When winter rolls around, though, you might want to cover air conditioning units once it is clear that they will no longer be regularly in use.

Even so, it’s wise to take notice of a few points in order to prevent rain from causing damage. This can occur when window units are incorrectly installed in such a way as to permit collected rainwater to leak into your home. To reduce this possibility, window units should tilt downwards to help rainwater drain more efficiently. Also consider buying and installing a separate seal for the unit if the leaks continue or if you notice drafting around the edges of the machine. You’ll not only prevent water damage, but you’ll also prevent warmer outside air from entering your home, which should improve the overall efficiency of your cooling system.

As previously mentioned, covering A/C units during winter can help to protect the machine from extreme conditions. However, should you choose to cover your unit in order to keep out dust and debris, consider using a material that allows the unit to breathe. Going with an impervious variety of fabric could have the effect of trapping moisture in the unit. This allows mold and mildew to collect in the unit, resulting in possible damage as well as an unhealthy release of toxins.

Questions about how to best winterize your unit (and start it up again come spring)? Give an AC World expert a call today!