Condensing unit covers

[gregtwojeeps]

Are they good or bad for the unit while they are off line for the winter ? Will they make the unit rust while holding in mositure all winter? ...

Before start up this Spring I cleaned the coils and could see in the bottom of my 3 year old Rhuud condensing unit, a pile of leaves. The only way I can see to get them out is to remove the top, which means unwiring and removing the condenser fan motor.

 

[77thor]

All you really need to do is cover the top to keep leaves and junk from falling in.
The sides should remain open for ventilation and to prevent rust.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I've never covered mine and I haven't seen any issues with rust or other deterioration.

To clean out the leaves, you should be able to flip the fan and top cover up on edge vertically, without disconnecting the wiring.

Edit: With the fan and top cover flipped up, you can use a hose to wash the fins from the inside out. A lot of dust and dirt collects in them over time.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

I've never covered mine and I haven't seen any issues with rust or other deterioration.

To clean out the leaves, you should be able to flip the fan and top cover up on edge vertically, without disconnecting the wiring.

Edit: With the fan and top cover flipped up, you can use a hose to wash the fins from the inside out. A lot of dust and dirt collects in them over time.

I just removed the lid screws and just as you said, I was able to tip the lid complete with fan motor in place, up on its edge. Maybe not a HVAC tech, but for me at least, it is going to be a two person job to clean out the bottom of the unit without having the top drop down on me accidentally. I'll need my wife to hold the top lid of the unit up on edge, while I clean the leaves out....

I know hinging the unit's top for service would be cost prohibitive, but if Rhuud had provided a way to just unplug the condenser fan motor power so it could be set on the ground out of the way...would have been nice....

I guess though if they had put in a plug connector for the condenser fan motor wire supply, it would have made a problem of getting corroded out in the weather, causing more problems. A catch 22 I reckon.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

All you really need to do is cover the top to keep leaves and junk from falling in.
The sides should remain open for ventilation and to prevent rust.

Thats exactly what I tell customers.

 

[dave*99]

I take the top grille off and use the shop vac to remove leaves on my unit. I can sneak the hose past the fan blades.

 

[bonneyman]

All you really need to do is cover the top to keep leaves and junk from falling in.
The sides should remain open for ventilation and to prevent rust.

I usually wrap a few king size plastic garbage bags around mine - mainly to keep leaves and blown debris out of it. Less to clean out next spring.
And since the garbage bags tend to dissolve and tear after 2-3 months, any condensation can then evaporate, and the trees are done dropping their leaves by then.