For years I've used a hunk of black plastic over the air conditioner to keep the leaves and winter detritus out. This cover installs and uninstalls in seconds and is far more attractive than a flapping hunk of plastic blowing flapping in the wind. The cover came with a spare bungee should that decline over the years, and that is convenient. It is small enough that summer storage of the folded canvas will be a tiny slot on the garage shelf.