Cover for AC Condensing Unit

Posted by PrecisionMechanical on March 25, 2006, 1:32 am

> >> Convince me that there exists a viable and CONVENIENT way to
> >> keep out cottonwood tree "cotton" and I'll consider it.

> > Chainsaw......

> Hehehe! Nice try but NO cigar, Slick. :)
> I specified (and emphasized) "convenient".
> An army of chain-saw-wielding maniacs, given a few months, might make a

minor

> DENT in the cottonwood tree population nearby, but not enough to help free

> A.C. fins from clogging.
> Cottonwood is indigenous to this area. Those that live to be >150-years

old

> grow HUGE enough that professionals use a CRANE to fell them. It is the
> unfortunate property owner indeed that must pay THOUSANDS of $$ to have a

big

> one removed. Most are on public property, along creek beds and floodways.
> Every few years, when there is a particularly big "cotton" release, it can
> appear as though it has SNOWED - in July.

Actually, I'm located in the columbia river basin, and so there's quite a
few em here too..but for some reason, they really don't present much of a
problem with our heat pumps.

Maybe its the high humidity causes them to deteriorate rapidly or something.

<shrug>

--

SVL

Posted by mm on March 22, 2006, 11:17 pm

wrote:

>Re: Cover for AC Condensing Unit
>Hi,
>I have new HVAC in my home. It includes a new outside
>(Condensing) Unit. The old one rusted to hell-and-gone
>due to exposure to sun, etc.
>I'd like to build/make a cover to protect it from the
>elements in the off-season (winter).
>Unit is about 25 x 27 " (rectangular top), about 24 " hi.
>Would be nice if covered to bottom, but I'd settle for
>a cover over the top 12 " of the unit.

12 inches vertically out of 24. You don't think that will cut down
the efficiency of the AC? And waste electricity?

>I am drawing a blank on what materials to use.
>Anybody invented/tested this wheel?
> Thanks,
> Puddin'

Posted by hallerb@aol.com on March 23, 2006, 8:20 am

just as cars in many parts of the country used to rust bad and rot away
by being only 6 or 7 years old, and today seemingly go forever if not
scratched or dented the same thing has occured to other exposed steeel
devices.

The steel is better quality, and galavanized and protected better. all
this euuals little rust.

I would leave it uncovered, just placing anyting on top of the unit
then weighted down may lead to small scratches, turning into rust
later. wind can cause vibration leading to scratching the finish. baked
on enamel paints are so much better today too.

but hey if covering makes you happy go for it!

Posted by David Martel on March 23, 2006, 8:56 am

Puddin,

If you remove the condenser's cover every few years,clean and paint it
then it won't rust. This is routine maintenance. Putting a structure over
the condenser just creates another structure that requires routine
maintenance.

Dave M.

Posted by Puddin' Man on March 23, 2006, 11:31 am

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:56:00 GMT, "David Martel"

>Puddin,
> If you remove the condenser's cover every few years,clean and paint it
>then it won't rust.

This is pert near what I tried with the old one.

It didn't work. Rusted a bunch. Surface prep was
a severe PITA. Rust would bleed back thru after
painting.

>This is routine maintenance. Putting a structure over
>the condenser just creates another structure that requires routine
>maintenance.

It can, yes. but it can also preserve the unit. You wouldn't think it
in MO, but the sun out there deteriorates most anything muy pronto.

What I'd like is to find good cheap material, make one. If it's
trashed in, say, 5 years, pitch it and make another. Etc, etc.

So far the only candidates are awning grade canvas and plywood.

I might consider maybe something like phenolic if it wasn't
so expensive.

Puddin'

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Cover for AC Condensing Unit - Page 4