Here at A/C Covers we've been specializing in making customer A/C Covers for 20 years. In that time we've been able to come up with a pretty good method for making high quality, custom covers. Over the years we've also seen many new companies come and go, all claiming to offer "high quality, custom covers" but never managing to pull it off because their covers don't hold up, or because they're not custom. We don't need to brag about our covers, or belittle the competition for that matter, simply because our covers speak for themselves - and have been for years. After receiving many questions from our customers in the last couple of years we have however decided to give you this short list to consult to determine if the cover you're buying is really custom ...... or a generic imitation.

• If you have to choose the shape of your air conditioner (square, medium, round,etc.) when you order, it's not a custom cover, it's a generic imitation.
  • If the cover is custom it should be made for your specific unit (not just a shape or brand), but rather your specific unit. That's why we ask for your model number instead of your shape. Using that model number we are able to pull - directly from the manufacturer - the exact measurements for every inch of your unit. We can tell you if the corners are rounded or squared or what the grill on top looks like. We can tell you where the connections are and how high they come up on your unit because. we've done the work so you don't have to.
• If the company guarantees 1-2 day shipping all year round, it's not a custom cover,  it's a generic imitation.    
• • This one at first blush seems like quite a deal. "Wow why wait when I can get my cover fast." But let's think about it for a second the only way they can ship it that fast is if they have no demand or if they're pulling it off the shelf. When you order from us there is a slight wait involved, especially if you order as the snow is on the way. We don't apologize for the fact that our reputation for good, high quality products keeps us busy because we understand that you want a quality long lasting cover. We also know that if all you was wanted something quick to cover your unit you would have run to the hardware store or jumped on-line and bought a tarp. Our customers want a high quality, custom cover and unfortunately that takes more than a day or two. Remember : When you grab a burger you want it fast, when you buy a steak you want it right. 
• If they ask you how your unit was installed to figure out your design, it's not a custom cover it's a generic imitation 
  • This one is a tricky one, because there is a grain of truth to the fact that the installation does impact the design on many units. But we don't ask you for the information because you probably didn't install it, we get the information directly from the manufacturers and specifically from the same instructions that the HVAC companies used to install your unit. That's why all we need is your brand and model number because that information is enough to get the specs and information for your specific unit and all the measurements, connections, special installation instructions and quirky design features that go with it. To be honest with you we've learned through the years that the measurements we get from the folks that make the air conditioners are generally a "little" more accurate then the measurements we get from you as you fight with a tape measure while squeezing between your unit and the house all the while trying to avoid the flowers and that prickly rose bush.
• If the covers are made "to allow shrinkage", it's not a custom cover, it's a generic imitation
  • This one is my favorite. It always reminds of those magical "Shrinky Dinks" that my little sister use to play with when we were kids. Sorry, but doesn't the simple fact that it has to shrink mean that it didn't fit when you got it? I've actually seen some covers that explain that their shrinkage factor is as much as 10% . That means that when you first get the cover it was 10% too big. Which leaves me to ask you how long are you really willing to sit and wait for your cover to shrink to the size that it should've been in the beginning. My other question is when it shrinks down are you really sure it will shrink down perfectly in all parts of the cover (or will it just shrink down until it's "close enough").

Unfortunately there's lots of people out there that see this kind of product as just an easy add on that they can whip out quick for any easy profit - after all, the only thing you need to make one is a little material and a sewing machine, how hard can it be right?

The truth is there are thousands of different units out there (at last count we had over 7,000 active designs in our system) and any company who can make your cover by asking if it's round, square or rectangle just isn't trying very hard to get you a custom cover. If all you need is close enough then go the route of the cheap imitations, if you're looking for a long lasting, great fitting cover that will last click here and we'll be happy to take care of you.