Just another typical Denver “spring”–meaning, you had your heat on one day, and your air conditioning on the next. Now that we’ve jumped right into summer, with 80 degree days stretching out in front of us, it’s a good time to think about getting an air conditioner tuneup, if you haven’t already. One question we often get when we go out to do a tuneup is whether an air conditioner cover is a good idea. When people turn on their air conditioner for the first time after the winter, they often notice that it looks filthy. The logical conclusion is that an air conditioner cover might help prevent that dirt buildup and save them from needing to clean it come summer.
An Air Conditioner Cover Isn’t Your Best Bet
But we actually DO NOT recommend an air conditioner cover, for the following reasons:
- Even though they might end up looking a little gnarly, air conditioners are actually designed to be outdoors and are sturdy enough to withstand harsh weather and dirty conditions.
- A little dirt never hurt anyone. An externally dirty air conditioner doesn’t mean that the air conditioner won’t function well. It’s much better to just get your A/C serviced once a year than to throw an air conditioner cover over it and assume that it’s in good shape.
- It’s all too common that someone will turn the A/C on for the first time without remembering that the cover is on–and that will burn up the compressor. So now you have a broken A/C on your hands instead of a dirty one.
So no air conditioner cover, but what about just going out and spraying it off with the hose? Again, DO NOT try this approach! The unit runs on electricity, and you may remember from elementary school science class that water + electricity = major problem. At the end of the day, to keep your air conditioner running well, the best approach is to have a professional service the unit once a year.
If you have any other questions about A/C dos and don’ts, please call Dan Schmied at 720-876-7166, or email him directly at [email protected].
