Winter is a much-needed break that all air conditioners need after flowing cold air throughout the winter. But switching off your AC should not mean you leave it on its own. Our blog post is about preparing your AC for winter to ensure it will be all set when the summer season arrives. Follow along with the post to learn how to keep your AC safe and sound during the winter.
Built to Beat Tough Weather
Typically, air conditioners are designed to withstand all environments and seasons, and some people even claim that their ACs work just fine even when they are not cleaned or maintained regularly. While inside components work fine, some outside components can be damaged due to moisture build-up, debris, and continuous melt and thaw. Therefore, ensuring that your AC unit is in safe and fine condition is wise.The initial thing that an AC owner must do for winter is to turn off the AC by turning off its main power supply. This will protect the AC from outages and save electricity.
Clean the Air Conditioner
1. Clean the Debris
Before you shut down your air conditioner for winter, consider cleaning it properly. Clean away bird droppings, garbage, fallen leaves, grass clippings, nests, dead bugs, twigs, and dust that might have gathered around the AC during summer.
2. Use a Hose Without Any Nozzle
In the autumn, it is advisable to use a garden hose and wash the outer portion of the AC unit. But, make sure to do this activity before it gets too cold at night. A light spray of water can help in getting rid of the last bits of dirt and dust. Do not apply water with a lot of pressure since it can harm fragile parts.
3. Vacuuming the Filter
Take out the air filter carefully from the central A/C unit. Use a hose vacuum attachment and apply it to the outer surface of the filter to remove any loose particulates that may have gathered on the filter. Exerting too much force may cause the filter to tear as it can be quite thin and flimsy. Filters that are free of particles help to improve circulation and the quality of air indoors.
4. Cleaning and Maintenance Services
One of the best strategies for winterizing your AC unit is to solicit the services of a reliable maintenance expert to carry out regular servicing. This shall relieve you Of all stress and worry that comes with the risk of destroying your unit during cleaning and preparation for the cold weather. In addition, autumn is also an excellent period for you to hire a professional inspection of the furnace as the HVAC technician will be visiting, so all the systems are ready for the cold season.
Keep Your AC Unit Away from Water
1. Clean Puddles, Ice, and Snow
Every time you see a water puddle formed on your unit, better sweep the water out. Damage and rust might occur due to the accumulation of snow or ice on and around the unit. Ensure there’s sufficient drainage around the unit so that rainy days or stormy periods will allow water to flow automatically away.
2. Check On Unit After Storms
Post storms of winter or snow, inspecting the AC unit for any damages or snow deposits would be worthwhile. Your unit might also get damaged due to heavy snow or ice dropping from the roof.
3. Be Aware of Water Sources
While working to maintain the unit, ensure that the surroundings do not have any sources of water that may cause problems with the unit. After a storm check, check the area above the unit for any broken gutters which might allow water to drip on the unit during thawing periods. Broken or overflowing gutters due to debris may lead to water spillage and create dampness problems in the HVAC system.
Adding Shrubs
You might also want to grow some shrubs around the central air conditioner, especially during winter months when there is a Lot of wind and even blowing snow so as to shield it. The breaking of strong winds and other stormy weather can help in shielding the air conditioning system from damage in the garden. When selecting and installing shrubs, care must be taken so that sufficient space is left around the unit to allow air circulation. This is because all central air conditioning systems work more effectively when there is good airflow. Refer to the unit’s guidelines or seek the advice of a qualified person on what the space allowances should be for your air conditioner model to give the best performance.
On the Dangers of Tarps
The cold by itself won’t inflict any damage on your air conditioning system’s compressor, but the dirt and debris that tends to collect over the course of the season can. Clear up the air conditioning unit and remove any leaves or other muck that has formed around it before you put the unit away for winter. After that, some people will simply put a piece of plywood over the top of the unit to prevent icicles, branches, leaves and other objects from falling into the top.
An air conditioner cover is quite useful, too, especially when it comes to protecting the metallic parts of the air conditioner during consistent thawing and freezing, but it also has its limitations. Simply putting a tarp over the entire central air conditioning unit and assuming that all is well is a very foolish approach. For one, some tarpaulins can trap moisture, causing mould growth and mildew underneath. In addition, the tarp may also look like a perfect blanket to some pests who will probably end up nesting inside the air conditioning unit. The key to getting AC unit covers is getting one which allows for about a foot gap or more from the ground to enable air circulation in and out – one that’s made for your particular unit, preferably.
Keep a Check On Your AC Throughout the Winter
After securing the AC compressor for winter, it’s advisable to check it from time to time to see if the AC compressor cover is still intact and to remove any debris that might have blown under it. Besides that, you should be good to go. If you want assistance preparing your AC for winter, the best thing to do is reach out to a licensed HVAC professional from Pack HVAC near you.