The season for cool weather and falling leaves has arrived. With this season comes the use of heat so winterizing your air conditioning system needs to be done before much longer. It is best not to put it off for very long because you may forget it altogether.
Insuring that it will be in working order next year when you need it is the number one priority for your air conditioner. When the weather starts heating up is not the time you want to be searching for a repair person to fix your system. While you are sweltering and longing for those winter months when the air conditioner was the last thing on your mind, so are many other people. Now everyone needs service and the wait could be long.
Contrary to what most people think, you should not use a water hose to clean out the coils on your air system. This can be dangerous if you should cause a wire to short out by coming in contact with water. The best way to clean the outside unit is to gently wipe away any debris. Some people recommend using the soft brush part of a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris that may build up when the unit is in use. You should use your manufacturers' guide for doing this. It will tell you what you should and should not do.
Most people think you should cover the unit in the winter months. However, the manufacturer of the unit has taken into consideration that the unit will be outside and covering it is not necessary. In fact, some people say it may do more harm than good. Covering it could cause moisture to build up inside and cause parts to rust. This could interfere with your systems performance when it comes time to start it up again.
If you want to put something over the top of the unit just to keep rain or snow from gathering inside, especially if it is a particularly rough winter, consider a small canopy. It can be put up over the unit and anchored to the ground. It will not be touching the air conditioning unit so it will not hold moisture in. The main function of this type of cover would be to keep a lot of snow from piling up on top of the unit. When it is especially cold, it could take a while for the snow to melt.
Taking care of your air conditioning system now could save you money later. Make sure there are no leaks in your system before retiring it for the winter. It is a good idea for this type of maintenance that someone who knows what they are doing check it out. For the most part the rest of getting your system ready for the winter is a do it yourself project. The best way to make sure you aren't going to do anything to harm the unit is to consult your manufacturers' guide if you are in doubt. It should have a toll free number you can call if there is a question that is not covered in the guide. To sum it up, better safe than sorry.
No comments:
Post a Comment