Will Rain Damage A Window Air Conditioner? (Practical Tips & FAQs)

Window air conditioners are an absolute must in the summer months if your central AC doesn’t cut it- or doesn’t exist for that matter! But what happens when it rains? Will rain damage a window air conditioner?

Rain will not damage a window air conditioner. Window air conditioners are built to last regardless of weather. But rain can reveal problems that already exist, such as if your AC isn’t sealed properly inside the window or if there’s something wrong with it internally.

Keep reading to learn about window air conditioners, how rain effects them, and how to protect yours!

What is a window air conditioner anyway?

Let’s make sure we’re on the same page before getting any further!

Window air conditioners are small units that draw out the room’s hot air and blow in cold air in return. A window air conditioner will usually only cool down the room it’s in. Some people use window air conditioners along with their central air if they live somewhere hot or if their central air isn’t that strong.

Window air conditioners are also popular in apartments where central air conditioning is either lacking or missing completely.

Air conditioners pump heat out your window so the room stays cool.

Will rain damage a window air conditioner?

Time to cut to the chase.

Rain will not damage your window air conditioner as long as the unit is installed correctly. Window air conditioners are made of waterproof material and are designed to withstand rain.

Make sure your window air conditioner’s electrical components are well-sealed! 

Likewise, it’s vital to make sure that your unit is properly installed. Not only can your AC get damaged- your walls and floors may also suffer if there’s a consistent leak.

If you realize that your window AC wasn’t installed properly, it’s worth contacting an HVAC professional.

Will your window air conditioner work in the rain?

You’ve got your window air conditioner. It’s getting hot, and you’re about to turn it on. But then it starts raining! What do you do?

Your window air conditioner will work in the rain as long as it is properly sealed and installed. Window air conditioners are specifically designed to be able to withstand rain.

Take a peak at your window air conditioner’s drainage system every once in a while to make sure it’s working correctly. Otherwise, running it in the rain can cause serious problems!

Can you run your window AC during a thunderstorm?

Okay, so rain is fine. Are thunderstorms any different?

You can run your window AC during a thunderstorm. There is a myth that you should turn window air conditioners off during thunderstorms so they don’t get struck by lightning, but the chances are incredibly small.

You may have heard the urban legend that running a window air conditioner during a thunderstorm will attract a lightning strike to your AC. In reality, the chances are so small that they don’t outweigh having a hot room!

Should you turn off your window air conditioner when it’s raining?

You know the answer by now.

You do not have to turn off your window air conditioner when it’s raining. Window air conditioners are designed to withstand harsh weather and work in the rain. But if you start to hear strange noises, you should turn your AC off. It may be an indicator that your AC is improperly installed and getting damaged from the rain.

There is no need to turn off your window AC just because it starts to rain! Window air conditioners are built to run when it’s raining.

That being said, rain can exacerbate the problems that come along with improperly installing a window AC. If your AC starts to make unusual noises or run differently, turn it off right away and check its installation when the weather clears up.

Should you do maintenance to your window AC after it rains?

Let’s talk about maintenance!

There is no need to do maintenance to your window AC immediately after it rains. You can look for wet spots on your walls and floor surrounding the AC to make sure everything is properly sealed, but your AC will not be damaged by the rain unless something is already wrong with it.

As you may have gathered by now, rain really is no biggy when it comes to window AC’s. So you don’t have to worry about doing any sort of maintenance post-rain unless you see signs of leaking or if your AC is making weird noises.

How to protect your window air conditioner during the rainy season

We all want our products to last- and window AC’s are no exception!

To protect your window air conditioner during the rainy season, buy an AC cover. Make sure that it’s not polythene or plastic, as both encourage moisture buildup and mold- which is not stuff you want to be breathing in!

You technically don’t need to cover your AC in the rainy season because rain actually helps your window air conditioner run better (more on that in the next section!).

But if you’re really concerned about it getting damaged, do some extensive research and find a well-fitting AC cover that isn’t made of plastic or polythene.

Read Also: How Long Should I Run a Dehumidifier After a Flood – The Most Effective Guide

How rain water helps your window air conditioner

To wrap things up, let’s talk about how rainwater actually helps!

Rain helps your window air conditioner by cooling your AC’s coil and washing away dirt. These two things will improve your window air conditioner’s performance. The air quality will also be better because rain dilutes air pollutants.

Rain is like a little tune-up for your air conditioner. Rain helps clean things up and get them up and running! It cools the coils and washes away dirt, dust, and debris.

And as a bonus for you, rain helps dilute pollutants in the air- so your air conditioning will be as fresh as ever!

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