Follow These Suggestions For Winterizing Your Air Conditioner

Follow These Suggestions For Winterizing Your Air Conditioner

Part of a good plan for maintaining your air conditioner is to have preventive maintenance performed annually. However, once the cooling season is over, maintenance doesn’t stop. One of the most effective actions you can take to maintain your A/C when it’s not in use is to winterize it.

To protect your air conditioner after summer use, follow these suggestions:

• Shut off electrical power. Your outdoor unit is connected to your home’s electrical power via a control box, and that power should be shut off. You’ll benefit from powering the unit down if there’s an electrical storm. Shutting off the power also prevents the unit from inadvertently coming on if someone accidentally shifts the control panel to cooling instead of heating. Finally, if the A/C is powered, it is exposed to potential damage if water in the condenser unit freezes.
• Clear the area around the unit. If the outdoor unit isn’t cleaned, winds will eventually draw leaves or grass into the unit, which can decrease its efficiency. Additionally, watch out for debris that can be drawn underneath the unit, because this area is difficult to access.
• Check for damage. Over time, it’s possible for weather conditions to cause damage to the outside metal or plastic box that houses the system. If upon inspection you see cracks or rust, call an HVAC expert to address the problem.
• Protect the unit. When you’re certain that you won’t use the A/C again, put an A/C cover over it. This protects it from weather-related wear and tear and prevents rust.
• Periodically check the unit throughout winter. If temperatures dip, you’ll want to take care of any frost or ice that collects on the system.

How will you benefit from closing up your air conditioner? By protecting the outdoor unit from colder weather, you’ll extend its life and ensure that it operates efficiently when it is in use — actions that eventually translate to more money in your pocket. If you’d like help with your air conditioner or need a technician to inspect it, call the experts at AirTro. We’ve been serving California residents since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about winterizing your air conditioner and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County.