"Bob" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Had a new A/C installed.
Typical system with the evaporator in the furnace, and the Condenser
outside.

Couldn't get a really good answer from installer.

a. Live in New England; lots of snow in winter.
Do folks usually put a cover of some sort over the outside Condenser in
the winter ?

b. He mentioned that there is a small heater in the unit that is on all
the time; even if the unit is not actually running

Does it make any sense to shut off the 220 V power in the winter to the
outside Condenser, thus killing the heater ?

Or, best to have the heater always on, even in the winter time ?

Thanks,
Bob

I can not say about the cover. Sometimes it is beter to not cover things so
air can circulate and keep it dry inside. If you cover something up tight
against the ground, water will condense inside the unit. YOu may want to
put something just over the top.

The heater will probably be off while the compressor is running and on when
the compressor is off. It is to keep the refrigerant boiled out of the oil
in the compressor. If you do cut off the power to the unit, when you turn
the power back on, do not run the compressor for about 24 hours. That is to
give the heater time to boil the refrigerant out of the oil.