How To Insulate A Window Air Conditioner For The Winter? Step-by-Step Tutorial

There is nothing better than returning to a climate-controlled haven after a grueling day in the elements.

The heater and the air conditioner are two of the most useful innovations in human history. Even though we love them dearly, heating and cooling our house accounts for almost half of our total energy consumption. We all want to find methods to save money because that’s nearly $1000 dollars for the average home.

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A smart place to start is by insulating your air conditioner. But where do you begin?

If you are a novice handyman, you can easily insulate a window air conditioner yourself. Fill any holes you find with foam insulation from the hardware store and save money all year round! As a bonus, your air conditioner may get some much-needed rest!

Why Insulate A Window Air Conditioner For The Winter?

So why should I care when I leave my window air conditioner running all winter long and exposed to the elements? It’s a bad idea to leave your air conditioner outside in the snow.

It’s possible that the oil in your compressor can freeze, and snow can get inside the system and damage the components, among other things. Keep your air conditioner in perfect working order all year round in order to keep the quality up.

Knowing how to avoid these things from happening is the best line of action. Consequently, I’ll provide you with advice and suggestions on how to keep your air conditioner safe from the snow.

How To Prevent The Snow From Compromising AC

There are a lot of sensitive and critical parts inside an air conditioning unit. It’s the one that makes sure your air conditioner is always on and maintaining your house at a comfortable temperature.

The easiest approach to protect your air conditioner from harm during the winter is to place a cover over it. Your primary concern should be ensuring that it is in good working order. I’ll walk you through the process, and I hope it will be useful to you.

So, what can you do to keep your window AC unit warm in the winter?

Step #1. Remove your air conditioner

Installed air conditioners must be removed from the wall or window before they can be replaced.

You’ll need two individuals to remove the screws and lift the AC unit.

Wall air conditioners typically weigh 60-180 lbs (27-82 kg). As a result, don’t expect yourself to be able to carry it all by yourself.

Step #2. Remove the cover of the air conditioner

You can now remove the air conditioner’s cover after safely detaching it from the wall or window. The working parts of your air conditioner can be found inside the cover.

There is a refrigerant, compressor, condenser coil, expansion valve, and evaporator coil, which absorbs the heat from the air inside your house. After removing the cover of the air conditioner gently place a thick plastic garbage bag over the unit. It would keep your components protected and safe.

An evaporator coil, a condenser coil and a compressor all work together to remove heat from the air in your home. Gently drape a thick plastic waste bag over the air conditioner after removing the cover. It would safeguard your components and keep them secure.

Step #3. Put a cover on your air conditioner

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Once you’ve placed your wall air conditioner where it belongs, you’re ready to shop for a suitable winter cover. The thick fabric coverings for air conditioners are available in hardware stores.

Ice, snow, and cold can all damage your air conditioner if it isn’t protected by a snow shield. Slide it from the exterior of your air conditioner to cover the exposed area of your home’s air conditioner.

You should feel comfortable leaving your air conditioner outside in the winter now that you’ve done all of that work. Once we’ve covered that, we can now discuss insulating your air conditioning unit.

How to Get More from Your Window Air Conditioner

Window air conditioners are ideal for both apartment residents and energy-conscious homeowners, as they provide a number of advantages over traditional central air conditioners.

If you need to chill just one area at a time, you can use a portable air conditioner, which costs less to install and is easier to move around when you need to. However, by following a few easy guidelines, you may increase the lifespan and effectiveness of your air conditioner.

An air conditioner can typically lower a room’s temperature by up to twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

Asking most air conditioners to accomplish more than they were designed to do is a surefire way to wear them out. Window air conditioners face an additional challenge: cold air can escape via the seams and gaps between the unit and the window, even as it utilizes electricity to chill your space.

For the same end result, they must work harder. Because unless you’re also attempting to keep your yard cool, you might want to address this issue. More worrisome, if you’re going to have your air conditioner plugged in all year, you’re going to have to deal with either a huge heating expense or an extremely cold house.

By insulating your air conditioner, you can avoid these issues. Adding insulation to your air conditioner is a simple, low-cost DIY project that anyone can complete. If your air conditioner is hiding any energy-sucking gaps, this guide will show you how to insulate them and what to do as summer gives way to fall’s lower temperatures.

The Hidden Cost of Leaking Air

It’s a good thing that your home isn’t an airtight box.

To remove musty odors and introduce fresh oxygen, we require some form of air movement. When the AC or furnace is on, we want to keep as much of the conditioned air in the house as we can. Because your air conditioning equipment can also be the problem. As much as a quarter of your home’s cool or warm air can escape via the spaces between your air conditioner and your window.

Even if that’s the worst-case scenario, your money is being siphoned off into the pockets of the utility companies because of these holes. When it rains, they can let water in and serve as an entrance for any creepy-crawlies who want to peek inside your home.

The first step in seeing these gaps is to simply look. There will be a breeze and light coming through a window air conditioner that has been improperly fitted or has sagged from its moorings. Other leaks, on the other hand, are more esoteric. Even if you can’t see it, there may be a little opening that allows fresh air to enter. Fortunately, there is a simple method to locate these. While being careful not to burn anything, move your candle lighter carefully around the air conditioner’s edge.

The flame should flicker as a result of any arriving or exiting air. Check to see if the AC is running before doing this. It’s time to fix the leak now that you know where it’s coming from.

Insulating Your Air Conditioner

Installing your window air conditioner is the ideal opportunity to add insulation to the unit before you turn it on. This means that if you follow the directions to the letter, the bottom of both sashes should be insulated, as well as the bottom of the window frame. If your air conditioner doesn’t come with this foam, you can buy it at any home improvement store if necessary. As part of the installation, a professional should take care of this for you.

As a matter of fact, most people who want to insulate their air conditioner already have it in place. It’s okay if you don’t!

It does not imply that the installation was an issue. Window air conditioners that are properly installed can still or eventually develop gaps that need to be filled with insulation. You can find the leaks by following the techniques outlined above. The area between the air conditioner’s frame and the window frame should be filled with the same kind of foam insulation that was used previously. The inside and outside should be done if possible. While it may not be possible to get to the outside of your air conditioner, an indoor-only insulation should still save you money and wear and strain on your now less-frequently-used air conditioner.

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Properly insulating your home is an excellent first step if you’re experiencing noise issues. You may use the same insulation to cover the entire thin frame, which will help muffle a lot of noise. When it’s running, an air conditioner is a noisy machine and meant to allow air (and sound) into the space. If adding more insulation isn’t enough to muffle street noise, or if your AC is making a lot of noise, you should check out our advice on how to quiet a noisy window air conditioner.

Air Conditioner Covers and Wintertime

There will still be more air leakage through an open window even if the window air conditioner is well-insulated. When possible, it’s advisable to remove and store the unit for the winter months if at all possible.

To remove a window air conditioner, two people are required. Make sure you know what you’re doing before embarking on this project. You don’t want to store a window air conditioner on the floor, therefore you’ll need to cover it with breathable fabric. The rules and regulations of your apartment complex should be reviewed before you move in. Some flats, particularly those in larger buildings, restrict the removal of window air conditioners.

To keep the AC safe and warm, a cover is an excellent option for those of us who can’t remove and store it during the winter months. You’ll need to remove the air conditioner’s outer cover before you can put it back on. The air conditioner’s inner workings will be shown in this way. Cover everything with a heavy-duty plastic bag. You’ve gone a big step toward preserving your expensive equipment from the harsh winter weather by putting the cover back on.

A hefty, quilted cover for the air conditioner’s exterior is readily available at most hardware stores. Additionally, this will function as a sort of covering for your home to keep out the rain, snow and hail. Keep the heat in your home by covering your air conditioner with an exterior fabric. Summertime storms can be protected and insulated by this method as well if you aren’t running your air conditioning for a long period of time.

It’s important to note that before reactivating your air conditioner, you must remove its protective covers, which include the plastic interior and the quilted outside.

Your AC can quickly break down if it tries to force its way through them to reach outside air, which is why they are there in the first place. Before turning on your air conditioner (or any other device), double-check what you’ve put in it.

Winter Air Conditioner Maintenance

Remove the air conditioner from the window to keep your room from being as cold as the outside, although this isn’t always practicable. The removal of many air conditioners is complicated due to the fact that they are fastened into place. Or maybe you’re trying to keep yourself out of hot water in the event of a mishap.

You’ll need an air conditioner cover to keep your unit safe from the elements throughout the winter months. Take caution if your unit is located on the upper floors. If this is the case, it’s better to take it out of the window and put it away first. Use a sturdy ladder and a spotter if you need to service the unit while it is still in place.

Cleaning the air conditioner prior to shutting it down is also suggested. Using a moist rag and mild detergent, remove any leaves or twigs that have been sucked into the air conditioner’s exterior. The evaporator and condenser coils are placed outside the unit, so remove the front grille to clean them. Last but not least, take off the air filter and give it a good rinse in warm water before reassembling the air conditioner and putting the external cover back on. You can begin the insulating process when cleaning has been completed.

Check for Leaks

When the weather is frigid, even the tiniest leak can make the difference between a pleasant and sweltering experience. Minimizing the window leaks will make a big difference, especially if the house is old and drafty. Prior to beginning to insulate a window air conditioner, identifying leaks can save you time by allowing you to isolate and focus on the problem locations.

Light some incense and wave it about the edges of the air conditioner to see if you can find any leaks. Smoke is a sign that there is an air leak, and the incense is picking up on it. Instead of incense, a candle lighter can be used if none is on hand. Keep a close eye on the flame of the air conditioner unit as it blows toward you or flickers.

The upper and lower sashes of a window are two of the most common places where water can seep through the glass panes. Note and label all leaks that have been discovered.

Conclusion

We don’t need our air conditioner to cost us any more money in the heat. In both the summer and the winter, proper insulation can make a major difference in our utility costs.

Check to see if a lighter can find a breeze in your air conditioner. If it does, your bills will only be a short-term repair.

Thank you for visiting our website and taking the time to read this information! Check out our other posts if you have any more queries regarding air conditioners or anything else!

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