Many homeowners cover their air conditioners in the off season to protect them from harsh weather, cold temperatures and falling leaves and debris. But is it really necessary?

All HVAC equipment that’s designed to be outside is well-equipped to handle anything Jack Frost can throw at it. It was made to stand up to treacherous weather, temperature extremes and piles of snow.

However, if you have a very old system, it might not be as tough as newer models.

None of the major air conditioner manufacturers specifically recommend that you cover your equipment in the winter. They also don’t recommend any conditions where covering is required. Still not convinced? Consider this: The manufacturers probably would include a cover if they thought it was necessary.

Unwelcome Guests

There are reasons not to cover your air conditioner (besides it being a waste of time). For starters, rodents and other pests might take a liking to that complementary cover!

You’re not the only one looking to keep warm this winter. Covered AC units can become home base for pests, which can lead to issues like chewed wiring and insulation (after all, those rodents need to make nests somehow).

There’s also the issue of mildew and mold in covers. This is especially prevalent in the spring, but you probably won’t realize it until you uncover your air conditioner in early summer. Your unit needs airflow — it’s what keeps mold and mildew at bay.

Technically, mold in your air conditioner won’t harm you like it can when it’s indoors, but it certainly can prevent airflow and minimize your ACs efficiency. Even then, covers do nothing to stop moisture from getting inside — and wasn’t that the point of covering in the first place?

Water can still get on the condenser coils, freeze, and ultimately damage them. There’s a small chance of this happening over time anyway, whether you cover or not.

Take Cover!

Sometimes covering may be a good idea. For example, if your region is prone to hailstones (and you know there’s a storm coming), you might want to cover your air conditioner. Or if a blizzard is expected, you may want to cover it up.

Still, you don’t need a fancy, expensive cover. A simple tarp with rope and even duct tape will do the trick — or you can find an affordable option online.

Your air conditioner is an investment, and it should be protected, but it will do a fine job (usually!) on its own. Call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today for any questions on air conditioner maintenance in the winter, or to schedule a routine inspection.

If you’re like most Americans, your HVAC knowledge is comprised of understanding the basic functions of your heating and air conditioning, with a sprinkling of insight on the importance of conservation strategies.

However, it’s actually a booming industry that has had incredible growth in the past few years. From technological advances that help you lighten your carbon footprint to a burst of new technicians in the field replacing retiring baby boomers, it’s a hot (and cold!) industry in more ways than one.

For your next trivia night, here are a few HVAC facts to tuck up your sleeve.

For starters, did you know indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air, on average? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 72 trillion allergens enter most homes on a daily basis. Plus, 40 pounds of dust are created in the average American home every year.

The most common pollutants in a home are biological (dander, mold and dust mite droppings), combustion (nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and smoke), and volatile organic compounds or VOCs (gases from paints, dry cleaning chemicals and pesticides).

A Dirty Job!

Your HVAC system is designed to not just heat and cool (that’s the H and A/C part), but also to keep your air quality top notch. That’s the V or vent part of HVAC.

The EPA reports that poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of issues, including respiratory infections, rashes, chronic headaches, asthma, allergies and even lung cancer in severe cases. Maintaining your air ducts helps remove biological contaminants.

You can help by allowing outdoor air to circulate indoors when possible by opening windows and using kitchen/bathroom fans.

The average household spends over $2,000 per year on energy bills. Lowering energy consumption means lowering bills. Since air conditioning and heating are responsible for 44 percent of those bills — nearly half! — maintaining your HVAC system and practicing good conservation habits can make a big difference.

Bonus Facts

Programmable thermostats and smart home devices can save $180 per year alone (but the efforts you exert with these devices are minimal).

According to the EPA, about 18 percent of a home’s energy consumption is used to heat water, so limit shower time and insulate those pipes. Also know that re-cooling a hot home costs more and uses more energy than maintaining a reasonable temperature, so stick with 73 degrees (with a 3-to-6 degree variance depending on personal preference).

Finally, it’s shocking, but 47 percent of homeowners don’t know how much they spend on electricity every month. It’s often lumped into an overall utility bill, and many people rely on automated payments.

Ignorance is not bliss, especially when your HVAC system can be controlled so easily. Contact Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an inspection, or for more tips on how to save energy.

When you smell a bad odor coming from your furnace, your first instinct should be to leave the house immediately and call an HVAC professional. If the smell is reminiscent of rotten eggs, that might be a sign of a natural gas leak. It’s very dangerous, potentially deadly and not worth taking any risks. If you know how to turn off your gas line, do it, but only if you can manage to do it quickly.

Not all furnace odors are dangerous—but they still can put a kink in your holiday plans.

Does it seem like as the weather gets colder, it smells like your house has a sewer problem? If the aroma comes and goes and only happens in winter, it might be a faulty cooling coil. In some cases, the furnaces’ condenser drain is linked right to the sewer system.

The cooling coil inside the furnace is in charge of gathering moisture from the air in the home. Moisture gathers on the coil, and it needs to drain—sometimes right by the sewer opening. Incorrect installation can lead to a smelly situation.

Can’t We All Get Along?

It’s almost always the job of a plumber to take care of connecting this part of the furnace. No matter what the reason, an occasional sewer smell is your red flag. It’s not dangerous, but it’s certainly annoying. Luckily, it’s also simple and affordable to fix.

You may need to drain the condensate directly to the sewer via a new P-trap, ensuring there’s at least a one-inch separation between pipes. This separation lets the furnace fan do its job, sucking in the sewer gases via a drainpipe. This simple fix will keep those odors at bay. Another strategy is putting a tiny amount of water right in the open drain in order to create a water seal at the trap’s bottom.

Smell This!

Does your furnace smell musty when it kicks on? It might be exactly what you think—mold growing and festering. Of the thousands of mold species, very few are life-threatening. However, you can’t be sure without an expert opinion. If you have a humidifier connected to your HVAC system, swap out the air filter for a quick fix.

Dust and debris has been collecting in the ducts all summer, and now you’re blowing it around the house. Your best bet is to clean vents and ducts before using your furnace, but if you forgot, then rest easy knowing the smell should dissipate in a few days. (If it doesn’t, call an HVAC pro immediately).

For all your furnace odor fixes, call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning today.