Once you switch from using your air conditioner to cranking up the heat, you’ll want to prepare your unit for the winter season. Doing so better ensures your air conditioner works once the weather starts warming up again next year. Use these tips, and don’t hesitate to procure the aid of a professional air conditioning company.
Clean Around the Unit
One of the first things you’ll want to do is clear your outside unit of all leaves, debris, dirt and anything else that might have fallen on or around it. You can use a hose to spray off the unit and get rid of stubborn droppings, bugs, dirt and the like. Just make sure you allow the unit to dry.
As you’re cleaning your unit, be sure you take a peek at the coils and coil fins to see whether they need to be cleaned. These parts of your air conditioner have a tendency to attract dirt, which can compromise your unit’s overall performance. For the best results, it’s good to clean your coil at least once a year. In regards to the coil fins, check to see if they’re bent
Be Sure You Turn the Unit Off
It’s a good idea to shut your air conditioner off during the winter season. While you may not turn the thermostat to the air conditioner for a few months, you never know when your unit might switch on, which can draw water into the unit, which can in turn freeze and lead to avoidable and expensive problems later on
Use Pipe Covers
Another step you can take to keep your pipes from freezing is to wrap them in foam or rubber pipe covers. As you’re wrapping your pipes, you’ll want to start with the elbows and tees, wrapping the foam in duct tape to secure it.
Cover Your Exterior Unit
You can either cover your air conditioner in a waterproof cover, or you can simply place a piece of plywood over it to keep leaves, ice and snow off your unit. It’s essential you not allow any water to seep through the cover, because moisture can lead to your unit rusting, which can lead to damage. One thing to keep in mind is your unit was meant to be placed outside, which means it’s more resilient than you might think. That being said, it’s still a good idea to check on your exterior unit once a week to see that it’s still covered.
Check Your Filters
There’s a chance your air filters have grown filthy over the summer, which means they might need to be changed soon. Take a peek at your filters to see what condition they’re in. If they’re dirty, you can set yourself a reminder on your calendar to change them out before using your unit again when the weather warms. Now might be a good time to go ahead and buy new filters since they could be on sale during the colder months of the year when everyone is starting to switch over to using their furnace.
Prepare for Spring
It might seem premature to start preparing your air conditioner for spring, but doing so now can better ensure you and your family remain comfortable when the chill leaves the air and the weather starts warming up again. Contact air conditioner professionals to see if you can go ahead and schedule a service appointment for the first day of spring. Not only does doing so better guarantee you remain comfortable all year round, you get a head start on everyone else in the neighborhood who decides to have their unit serviced at the turn of the season.
If you’d rather not wait until spring, or if your air conditioner is older, you can go ahead and have your unit inspected now. Doing so can let you know whether your unit is in good condition for the next spring and summer. Something else to consider is the fact that if there is something wrong with your unit, knowing about it now gives you time to save up for all necessary repairs and parts over the winter so you don’t have to break the bank paying for emergency services.
Before you crank up the heat and put your furnace to good use, make sure your air conditioner is ready for the winter and the next spring. Taking the proactive approach is sure to pay off in the long run.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
