Indoor air conditioners provide great relief from the hot air that summer brings. However, during the colder months of the year an indoor air conditioner becomes a source for drafts. When drafts come into a home, energy is lost, resulting in an increase in energy bills.
Instead of ripping the unit out of the wall and covering that hole every winter, install window air conditioner covers over the AC unit. Uncovered air conditioners allow the cold outside air, dirt, dust, and other undesirables to enter the home and mix in with the warm air the heater provides. This creates an uncomfortable, inconsistent temperature throughout the house – some rooms are too hot, others too cold, and if you’re lucky at least one room will be just right.
Air conditioner covers prevent energy loss by blocking the flow of air into and out of your home. They are a simple way to insulate the air conditioner and increase the level of comfort in the home without increasing bills.
Energy loss does not only affect your comfort — it can be a drain on the energy bill as well. How much of your energy bill do you think is due to heating and cooling alone — under or over 20%?
Believe it or not, 43% of your energy bill is devoted to keeping the house warm or cool. Along with other insulation solutions, you can erase 20% or more off energy costs with window air conditioner covers. When installed properly, AC covers keep the unit from acting as a source for air leaks.
Though less energy waste is the ultimate reason to use AC covers, it is not the only one. AC units also need protection from damages.
Protect The AC Unit From Damages
Overly heated rooms mixed in with the cold air coming through the AC can cause dampness, which leads to mold and mildew inside the unit. Removing the mold and mildew will require one of three options:
- Go through a lengthy process to remove the mold and mildew yourself
- Hire a professional for the removal
- Get a new unit (not recommended)
While it’s less pricey to do it yourself, the process takes a while and calls for removal of some parts in order to reach moldy areas. Window air conditioner covers are waterproof, making it easy to protect the air conditioner (and your health) from damages. Plus, the only manual labor involved will be installing the cover.
How Window Air Conditioner Covers Work
Window air conditioner covers come with a fabric cover, waterproof sheets (windblock liners), and a roll of tape. The fabric has an insulating fiber on the inside, and is designed to fit perfectly over the unit. The sheets are taped to the unit to protect the seal from inclement weather conditions and keep the unit safe from moisture.
In addition, this layer prevents cold air from coming into the room through the air conditioner. In doing so, the insulation is saving energy, by reducing the amount of energy the heating unit requires to warm the home up. In turn, this leads to savings on energy costs.
Choosing the Right Size
Indoor air conditioners come in a variety of sizes, and so do indoor air conditioner covers. Before purchasing a cover be sure to measure your wall air conditioner. There are three different size air conditioner covers, and they allow about 1″ of give for each unit:
- Small: From 12″ x 14″ in height and 18″ to 21″ in width
- Medium: From 15″ to 17″ in height and from 22″ to 25″ in width
- Large: From 18″ to 20″ in height and from 26″ to 28″ in width
Installing Window AC Covers
All you need to install window air conditioner covers besides the items they come with is a pair of scissors. Important to keep in mind is that the tape holds best when the temperature outdoors is above 35°F.
- Unplug the air conditioner and wrap the electric cord as tightly around the front edge of the unit as possible. Hold it in place using a 3″ piece of tape.
- Measure the width and height of the unit, adding 6″ to each measurement. This is the measurement you will use when cutting (with scissors) the windblock liners.
- Place the windblock liner over the front of the air conditioner, allowing it to overlap by 3″ on each side. For the best results, make sure the windblock also covers the electric cord, plug, and the place on the unit where the cord exits.
- Fold and tape square corners, then use the tape to hold the complete edge of the liner to the unit. Make sure that the tape overlaps so half is attached to the liner, and half is attached to the air conditioner.
- Place the fabric cover over the air conditioner.
By insulating the window AC unit, there will be less outdoor air interfering with the temperatures inside the home. Limiting the places where drafts can enter the home results in gaining more control over home temperatures, reducing the amount of energy and heat lost, and spending less money to keep yourself and your loved ones warm this winter.
No longer do cold weather months have to wreak havoc on your AC unit. Stop the energy waste, the sapping of your money, and the discomfort in your home by installing air conditioner covers.