Everything You Should Know About Heat Pumps

Summer Is Over: 3 Steps To Winterize Your AC

14 December 2016

Jessica Jimenez

Now that the cold weather is here, it's time to winterize your air conditioner. Taking a few precautionary steps this winter, will help ensure that your AC is up and ready to go when the weather warms up again. Luckily, it doesn't take much to put your AC to bed for the winter. In fact, you can take care of the entire winterization process in one afternoon. Here are three simple steps you can take to get your AC ready for winter.

Clean it Off

If your AC worked hard over the summer, it might have a thick coat of dirt on the coils and fan blades. That dirt can wreak havoc on your unit during the winter. If left on the coils, a thick coat of dirt can turn to mud, which can be difficult to get rid of when spring arrives. To protect your AC, place a high-pressure nozzle on your garden hose and give the coils and fan blade a thorough washing. Allow the water to flush the coils until you no longer see dirt flowing from the bottom of the unit. Allow your AC to air dry.

Drain the Condensation Tube

The next thing you'll need to do is drain the condensation tube. Your AC creates moisture while it's running. That moisture is removed from the system through a condensation tube. Leaving moisture in the tube during the winter could cause it to freeze. If that happens, you may need to replace the condensation tube in the Spring. To avoid that problem, drain the condensation before closing your AC up for the winter. Simply disconnect the tube from your AC and allow all the moisture to drain out. Once you've drained the condensation tube, you'll be ready to put your AC to bed.

Cover it Up

After your AC has been cleaned, and the condensation tube has been emptied, you'll need to cover up the unit. Covering your AC will protect it from the freezing temperatures, and keep dirt out of the coils. It will also help prevent rodents from climbing into your AC and building nests during the cold winter months. Place a cover over your AC and then secure it with a piece of rope, or bungee cord.

Now that winter is here, you'll need to shut down your AC. Use the simple steps provided here to keep your AC safe in the cold. When Spring arrives, be sure to have an AC repair technician come out and give your system a thorough inspection before turning it on again. This will help you avoid breakdowns when the weather warms up.

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