Will Rain Damage A Window Air Conditioner?

Are you afraid of losing your window air conditioner before it serves you for the longest period? One of the reasons you get to buy a window air conditioner is to help you make the temperature in the house favorable. So, you’ll try your best to ensure it maintains its good shape for as long as you can to avoid unnecessary spending.

You will protect it from water and ensure it’s safe from anything that can destroy it that’s within your control. But will rain damage a window air conditioner? We’ll help you understand more about this in this post. So, read up to the end to get an in-depth explanation.

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Is it Possible for Rain to Damage Your Window Air Conditioner?

Rain will not destroy your window air conditioner or interfere with its performance. This is because the window AC is made of quality materials that can withstand rain. Most of these machines consist of either metal, copper, or aluminum, which are waterproof.

Also, the AC’s electrical components are well sealed, making your unit operate regardless of the amount of rainfall. Rain will help you maintain your window air conditioner in shape as it washes down dirt on your unit’s condenser. This helps you have a quality air supply in the house as the condenser doesn’t strain to work.

Havey rainfall will not destroy or harm your window air conditioner. However, if your unit is not properly installed, the rain will affect your window AC and destroy your walls and floors. Also, if storms and strong winds accompany the rain, it can make dirt get trapped on the AC’s blower resulting in problems. It’s advisable to check on your unit after the rains to remove any dirt like leaves or sticks to avoid such issues. Additionally, deep standing water could be a problem. You need to check if there’s flooding water is 14 to 16 inches high around the unit as it can damage the electrical components of the ac. It’s better to call an HVAC contractor to inspect the unit after the water has receded before restarting it.

How To Protect Your Window Air Conditioner During the Rainy Season

Although rain doesn’t damage window AC, some people still fear having it destroyed, making them use covers on these machines. However, you only need to use special covers for windows AC and not polythene/ plastic covers as they’ll encourage moisture buildup in the ac, making it get spoilt. The moisture can also make the unit rust or encourage mold growth which is not good for your health.

When you realize your window is leaking, though, look for the best way to fix it. Not doing so will give the rain opportunity to interfere with your windows frame and make you incur additional expenses. You can, in this case, fix the gap using adhesive weatherstripping to prevent the AC from having air leaks. But if it’s a smaller space, a rope caulk will help you solve the problem.

Can Rain Contribute to Your Windows Air Conditioner Getting Spoilt?

Yes. When heavy rains result in flooding around your house, then your AC can be destroyed. But this is a rare case as windows are raised high above the ground preventing the floodwaters from reaching your unit. To be safe, though, especially if you’ve low-lying windows switch off your AC when it pours heavily.

On the other hand, acid rain will corrode your window AC’s condenser, affecting the quality of air supplied to your house. After acidic rain, you can prevent your AC condenser from damage by washing it with tap water to remove the acidic layer.

Also, a too heavy downpour can cause water to accumulate around the window AC’s vital parts, making it dysfunctional. And if heavy winds accompany the rains, it will blow leaves and other dirt to your window AC, reducing its efficiency. Finally, when the winds are so strong to break a nearby tree, your window AC is prone to break, making you count losses.

Should I Do Maintenance to My Window Ac Immediately After the Rains?

Maintenance is not necessary at this stage unless you notice water leaking on your floors or walls. After all the rain helps clear the dust and leaves that build up on your window AC, you might take some time before cleaning or checking on it.

But this doesn’t mean you should stop doing the monthly or yearly maintenance on your system. On the contrary, this will help you identify problems before they become bigger issues that are hard to repair. Some of the maintenance problems you can solve by yourself; however, the complicated ones require the hands of experts who understand how to go about it.

Should You Switch Off Your Window When It’s Raining?

You shouldn’t switch off your window air conditioner when it’s raining as the equipment is meant to work in any weather condition. But you need to check the unit to ensure it’s in good shape that even if water gets into contact with it, nothing happens.

However, when storms accompany the rain, it’s best to switch off the unit as lightning can destroy it. Storms, in most cases, interfere with the power supply within the area, which can cause the window AC to have varied current flow. When this happens, your unit is likely to be damaged.

How Rain Water Helps Your Window Air Conditioner

When it rains, you should be happy as your window air conditioner will work better. The rain will help cool your AC’s coil and wash away the dirt, which are the main factors affecting its performance.

When it also rains, your house will have quality fresh air as rain dilutes pollutants in the air. This helps you have a comfortable environment as the window AC sucks in quality air. Furthermore, the rainwater will help wash away dust and debris on your window AC, reducing your workload.

Bottom Line

Even though a window AC is an electrical component that shouldn’t come into contact with water, the rain will not affect its performance. This is because it’s insulated and made of quality materials that cant be destroyed easily by rainwater. The only exception is when it’s acidic rain or stormy rain, which can damage vital parts of the window air conditioner. Otherwise, the rain will help you clean the unit, reducing some of your work. So will rainwater damage a window air conditioner? As you’ve read, this is not possible and shouldn’t be your worry anymore.

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