Mine lasted 31 years, never covered. ( After that, the breaker tripped a second after starting the compressor, even though the fan had stawrted to spin.)
Even though there are trees around, it got very few leaves. just a few small pieces. I think they blew off the top before they rotted enough to slip in between the chome? wires. They've changed the kind of vents at the top since then and I don't know if that makes a difference.
BTW, I'm working on a model that would bring the air in through the outdoor unit. My prototype brings the cold air in in the winter and the warm air in in the summer. I just have to reverse that and it will work really well.
I've googled "air temp reverser" but I can't find anything good, at least nothing that will fit in the condenser case.. Can you guys recoommend something?
That sounds right. I use my BBQ in t he summer to remove the hot air from the house.
When mine were starting to rust, I removed them and painted them with aerosol car paint to match part of my house. Mink Brown iirc. I also painted the AC electric box on the side of the house,and the box around the electric meter. They all looked great.
Absolutely. Now I know how to get rich. This will be the successor to the weedwacker. and the McDonalds clamshell. (That's how Huntsman's father made his money, iirc)
Does it cover the entire unit or just the top or go just part way down the sides? If they cover the whole thing, then I'd say they are nuts, as well as way overpriced compared to similar eqpt. I'd want some airflow under the cover to prevent moisture accumulating.
micky wrote the following:
Heat pump.
Hi, It has a big Carrier logo on the top and slip over all sides leaving about a foot from bottom exposing service access, wiring entry, etc. Feels like thin cushion. In winter I use it to keep snow flakes, leaves out keeping power applied to it.
Go back to the OP and also to my reply.
In both cases we mentioned covering *only* the top.
You are really stretching here...
The plywood and bungee cords are stored under my deck, within 15' of the condenser. Getting it "out of storage" is really no big deal.
"bungee cords *and* turnbuckles"? Come on!
2 bungees, a total of 4 hooks. How much trouble is that?
Rarely if ever, in my neck of the woods, do we get swings of that range. Once it's covered, it's not used until the next spring. If we get a January thaw (which would never reach 82 anyway) I can live without the AC for a day or two or more. Even if I wanted to uncover it, once again, it's only 2 bungee cords.
Just above my condenser is a disconnect box. Before I clean and cover the condenser in the fall, I remove the disconnect plunger and insert it in the OFF position. I couldn't turn on the condenser unless I reach over the covered condenser, open the disconnect box and remove and reinsert the plunger. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to notice the plywood and bungee cords.
Covering the top of condensers during our long hard winters is pretty common in my area.
Mine is going to be simpler than that, cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. Just a fan with a temp reverser.
Back before I was covering mine the bottom of the unit would be covered in pin oak leaves. I dont know how bad other leaves are about getting in to it. I dont find them in my new heat pump. Maybe because it runs in the winter.
Jimmie
So is government by Democrats (NY), but that doesn't make it right.
Nor does it make it wrong.
Ditto.
Mine's 14 years old, never covered. And never even cleaned. I really should do that this spring. Just because I'm curious. I'm not enthusiastic about work any more. Still might make me a bit proud though. Yep. That's the ticket.
--Vic
Installed mine in 1973. Covered it with a tarp every year, Take the top off each Spring: oil the fan motor, vacuum the coil and clean out the leaves. So far it's still working OK. So much for whether or not to cover it. MLD
My system is a Lennox model. The company that installed it for me (a very reliable and reputable company, btw) strongly urges me to keep it covered in the winter. (I live in Kansas, where the winters can be quite vicious at times.) Covering it keeps leaves and other debris out, thereby facilitating cleaning coils, etc., in the spring and, as the serviceman said, it also helps keep "critters" from sneaking into the unit and making their homes therein during the winter. Lennox makes a tailor-made cover for the unit, and I religiously put it on the unit every winter. No problems. JimCo
Do you call a priest, or a Rabbi to religiously put the cover on? Burn some incense, say a few prayers, and sprinkle it with holy water?
Now, I'm wondering. A condensor cover ceremony. That could involve a whole variety of different things. Maybe close to funeral rites, and rather somber, and dark. Bit of a procession, some ceremony and then lower the cover over the beloved condensor unit.
Enquiring minds want to know.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
My system is a Lennox model. The company that installed it for me (a very reliable and reputable company, btw) strongly urges me to keep it covered in the winter. (I live in Kansas, where the winters can be quite vicious at times.) Covering it keeps leaves and other debris out, thereby facilitating cleaning coils, etc., in the spring and, as the serviceman said, it also helps keep "critters" from sneaking into the unit and making their homes therein during the winter. Lennox makes a tailor-made cover for the unit, and I religiously put it on the unit every winter. No problems. JimCo
sounds rather catholic (cult like) to me.
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