No

Ask friends, neighbors, even air conditioner installers and you'll get different answers. I finally decided not to buy a cover for my new (and first) AC unit but late in the Fall when the leaves started to fall I put a round board over the top. Left it there all winter and this winter I did the same. I don't know the right answer!

No, never have and have never had a problem. Now in this house we also have a gas furnace in the basement, and have to be aware of its intake/exhaust pipes when there is snow in the forecast.

Yes. It's not in use. Bees, hornets, chipmunks would nest in it. I want it to last and look nice as long as possible. Even had scrub jays try to hide peanuts in it.

We do but I couldn’t tell you why. When we moved here we saw all the other neighbors doing it. Coming from a sunshine state and not knowing, we assumed it was the right thing to do.

no, no need. if anything it can promote rust since it cannot dry out. even if covered, it still gets moisture.

we have 2 HVAC family members and i asked the company putting in my neighbors and all said no, not necessary.

I don't either.

Moni

No for me.

Yes.

No we never have covered ours and no problem.

No. It never occurred to me to do it.

Yes, if not, leaves get inside. I subscribe to a few home improvement/Handyman magazines. A recent article recommended against using a cover, but the picture of the cover they used was of a frost king of similar hardware store cover. My cover was custom made with a breathable fabric and a soft liner. The cover resembles a $300 car cover, and was $90. The magazine recommended placing a turtle shaped wading pool with a weight on top. The magazine claimed condensation could form, but since my cover is breathable, I do not think I get condensation.

My husband is an HVAC tech for over 40 years.

No.

Living where we do, the heat can be on in the morning, ac in the afternoon. So, no.

No...never have.

Back when I was researching this, I read that basically the unit is made tough enough to withstand the elements so a cover isn't necessary. Then stopping to think about it, it does sit out in Spring weather, hot sun of summer and rain fall, then cool temperatures of early Fall. Unless ice would build up on the inside workings and cause breakage(?) in deep winter, I guess there really is no use for a cover.

No. I asked when I had mine installed and he said not to do it. So since he's the expert............

No we don't.

No, and I never see any covered around here. I do have it serviced once a year and also make sure nothing is growing into it, like ivy.

No! DH worked HVAC for over 40 years.

For those whose homes are heated with heat pumps (the outside equipment looks the same as for a central air conditioner but you know who you are), remember that that equipment continues to operate during the winter to heat your home and it shouldn't be covered in any event.

If you're curious, a heat pump is just an air conditioner running in reverse. When in AC mode, it removes heat from the inside air and the coolant transports it outdoors (you'll note the air blowing out of the outdoor equipment is hot). Run it in reverse and it does the opposite, it takes heat from the outdoor air (even if it's cold, there's still "heat") and the coolant transfers the warmth to the indoor air heat exchanger to provide heat.

Happy to see the correct pro advice in this string.

Make sure you get your advice about HVAC maintenance from a qualified HVAC contractor. I just rec'd unsolicited advice from a _(not HVAC)_ company incorrectly advising covering the compressor during the winter..... without consideration whether it was dedicated to AC only with gas heat or a heat pump working year around. I'm sure they found it on the internet.