How to Make an Air Conditioner Cover

X-HT-200319

Keep your air conditioner running in the summer by protecting the compressor in the winter with a robust fabric cover! This step-by-step instructional video will teach you how to make a custom AC cover from SureRite® fabric. An all-weather polyester fabric with outstanding abrasion resistance, plus a polyurethane coating for excellent water resistance, SureRite is perfect for harsh winter conditions. Let's get started!

Video Chapters:

Intro – 0:00 min.
Measurements – 0:12 min.
Fabric – 1:50 min.
Side Panels – 2:34 min.
Marking Fabric – 2:58 min.
Cutting Fabric – 5:13 min.
Sewing – 5:50 min.
Hemming – 12:28 min.
Closing – 16:23 min.

Materials List:

SureRite® Beige 60" Fabric – #125612
Leech Line Dacron® 1/8" White – #21209
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) – #129
PremoBond® Tex 90 (V-92) White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) – #123337

Tools List:

Gingher® 8" Scissors Right Handed – #19104
Sailrite® Standard Fabricator® Sewing Machine Package (110V) – #400500
Measuring Tape, Pencil, Straightedge, Calculator

The compressor is the part of your air conditioning system that cools the air from outside and funnels it into your home or office. Without it, the system simply wouldn't work — which is why protecting the compressor in the off-season is so important. This winter air conditioner cover takes just a couple of hours to make. It will save you the time, money, and headache of repairing or replacing a compressor that has been exposed to frigid weather year after year.

Customizing Your Air Conditioner Cover

You can customize this air conditioner cover pattern to fit the shape and size of your AC compressor. Traditional compressors have pipes and cables that connect them to the building. We made our cover with a slit that perfectly accommodates these items, and we'll show you how to do the same! Plus, a drawstring pocket in the bottom of the cover lets you cinch it around the base of the compressor, so you never have to worry about the AC unit cover blowing away in strong winds.

While making your air conditioner compressor cover, you'll learn helpful sewing tricks, including:

How to make a drawstring sleeve with a double hem.
How to keep leech line from pulling out of a drawstring sleeve.
How to pattern around obstructions such as pipes and cables.
And more!

Don't wait any longer to save yourself time and money on repairs! Start making your AC cover for winter right now by following along with the short tutorial video above.

Share Your Results!

How did your compressor cover turn out? What did you think of working with SureRite fabric? Share photos of your finished project and your thoughts on this all-weather fabric in the comments below!

Footnote:
This blog was updated in July 2024 to provide more details about the project and introduce SureRite fabric to the materials list.