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Should I Cover My AC Unit for the Winter?

Have you ever wondered if you should cover your AC unit for the winter? You’re not the only one - it’s a really common question.

Your HVAC system is expensive and anything you can do to prolong the life of your furnace and AC unit is something worth doing. Let’s take a look at reasons why you would want to cover your AC unit and even more importantly, the right and wrong way to do it.

WHEN SHOULD YOU COVER YOUR AC UNIT FOR THE WINTER?

There are a couple of scenarios where you don’t actually want to cover your outdoor AC unit.

  • You live in a warm climate and could be using the AC throughout the winter
  • You have a heat pump and it will be running through the winter and needs to be uncovered.

Although whole-house AC units are designed to be out in the elements 365 days a year—it’s something you can’t haul into your garage to help protect it better during the winter.

Does that mean everyone needs to cover their AC units? Not necessarily. But there are certain scenarios where you would want to cover it.

  1. Tree Prioxity: If your AC unit is under a tree or has trees that are nearby, it’s possible for leaves, pine needles, etc, to fall on it and fill the inside with debris. Covering it up can help keep those things out of it and makes it a lot easier come Spring to not have to clean a bunch of leaves and gunk out of it.

  2. Large Icicles: If your AC unit is under a section of the roof where large icicles form and could fall and damage the fan of your AC.

  3. Cleanliness: You want to keep it as clean as possible for as long as possible.

  4. Precipitation: If the area you live in gets a lot of precipitation in the offseason you may want to cover your unit to keep it dry. Even more so if you get freezing weather and snow so that your AC unit isn’t subjected to ice and freeze/thaw cycles.

DO'S & DONT'S OF COVERING YOUR AC UNIT

  • First of all, don’t cover the entire unit with anything such as a large tarp. This can trap moisture under the cover and cause things to rust and corrode. It can also be used as a shelter for critters trying to find a home during the winter. Also, people do this and then forget to take it off before they turn on the AC again for Spring/Summer.

When covering your AC unit, just focus on the top of it. You can use a piece of plywood or a tarp that’s folded and doesn’t go much further than 6 inches from the top. There are also specially designed AC covers that you can find on Amazon that are made for this very purpose. You can see what it looks like in the video above.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Set a Reminder to Remove the Cover in the Spring

You will want to make sure to remove the cover before AC season as your AC unit won’t function well with the cover in place and can even be damaged by it.

Keeping your AC unit in good working condition doesn’t take long, but protecting it during the winter months can have long-term benefits.

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Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.

Any Hour Services

1374 West 130 South, Orem, UT 84058

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© 2024 Any Hour Services LLC

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Our pricing is fair and transparent. We use a fixed-price guide that reflects the time, materials, and real costs of running a dependable home services business. No hourly rates. No inflated prices based on where you live. We focus on what it takes to get the job done—not on how much we can charge.

Before we price your drains or excavation project, our expert technician will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

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A: We price the job—not the clock. Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

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We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

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Requesting a quote is simple. Contact Any Hour Services, and we will assess your needs, providing a transparent estimate for the repairs.

We also provide FREE estimates and second opinions for major plumbing and excavation projects like repiping, sewer or water line replacements, remodels, and outdoor drain installs. Our team will evaluate the job in person, explain your options, and give you clear, upfront pricing. No hourly rates. No surprises. Just honest answers and expert service.

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Yes, you can request a quote online—our team at Any Hour Services responds promptly to every inquiry.

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We offer a $29 Drain Clear for single, easy-access drains. A licensed plumber will inspect the issue, clear out buildup like grease or debris, and get things flowing again. It’s a simple, affordable way to fix slow drains and help protect your plumbing from bigger problems down the line.

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Yes, we provide FREE estimates for sewer main line replacements. If you are looking to replace your sewer main line, one of our expert technicians will come to your home and inspect your sewer main line, before showing you your options. Call us if you have questions about replacing your sewer main line—we’re here to help!

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You can pay for your service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies (On Approved Credit). Your technician can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the work you want done.

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Our phone staff are not expert technicians, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained technician needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

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Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a trained technician can assess the job properly.

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A: We have a small dispatch fee to send our technician to your home. They’ll arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts, ready to complete most jobs the same day. After a thorough evaluation, your technician will explain the issue, walk you through the recommended fix, and show you your options and final price. No hourly rates. No surprises. Just a clear, upfront price before any work begins.

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Pricing FAQ

A:

Our pricing is fair and transparent. We use a fixed-price guide that reflects the time, materials, and real costs of running a dependable home services business. No hourly rates. No inflated prices based on where you live. We focus on what it takes to get the job done—not on how much we can charge.

Before we price your plumbing job, our licensed plumber will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

Call Now

A:

We price the job—not the clock. Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

Call Now

A:

We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

Call Now

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Water heater replacements vary. Often, older units require updates to meet safety standards. Common items missing from many water heaters are flexible gas lines, expansion tanks, earthquake straps, gas sediment trap, upgrade exhaust venting, etc.

For an accurate quote, one of our licensed plumbers will inspect your existing system and provide a FREE estimate.

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Our phone staff are not licensed plumbers, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained plumber needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

Call Now

A:

Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a licensed plumber can assess the job properly.

Call Now

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We have a small dispatch fee to send our plumber to your home. They’ll arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts, ready to complete most jobs the same day. After a thorough evaluation, your plumber will explain the issue, walk you through the recommended fix, and show you your options and final price. No hourly rates. No surprises. Just a clear, upfront price before any work begins.

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Yes! We offer FREE in-home estimates for major projects like water heater installations, water softeners, and repiping—without any dispatch fee. Our licensed plumber will assess the job, explain your options, and provide a clear, fixed price. No surprises or hourly rates—just honest, reliable service. Schedule your FREE estimate today!

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No, our plumbers don’t quote a price until they have seen your plumbing project. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time, if you want to add more tasks to your plumbing project, your plumber will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

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You can pay for your plumbing service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your plumber can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the work you want completed.

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