With summer winding down and the colder seasons on the way, you may want to start thinking about shutting down your AC. It will help protect it from the elements so you don't have a huge mess to clean up next spring. Follow these five steps for getting your AC ready for winter.
1. Make Any Needed Repairs
Don't let HVAC problems linger through the winter when shutting down your AC. If your AC needs to be repaired, call your HVAC contractor so that the problem doesn't get worse.
2. Change the Air Filter
You've been changing your air filter regularly through the summer, right? After shutting down your AC, throw away the dirty filter and replace it with a new one. You don't want all that dirt and gunk in your AC all winter long.
3. Turn Off the AC
You'll need to shut off the AC in two places: The first place is indoors at your thermostat box. Adjust it to the "Off" setting (not "Cool"). Next, locate the box outside near the condenser unit. It's typically on the side of the house in a small electrical box. Turn that switch off when shutting down your AC.
4. Clean the Condenser and Evaporator
The condenser and evaporator coils have probably taken on a lot of dirt and debris over the summer. Pick up a can of coil cleaner at your local home improvement store and spray it on both indoor (evaporator) and outdoor (condenser) coils to clean them. For an easier time, you can choose a self-rinsing cleaner.
5. Cover the Outdoor Unit
Once your outdoor unit is completely dry, cover it up. Use a waterproof tarp and bungee cords to secure it when shutting down your AC. This will keep debris out of the fan through the winter.
6. Schedule Professional HVAC Service
Now that your AC is shut down, it's time to get your furnace ready for the colder months. Call your HVAC contractor to schedule a furnace tuneup so you're ready to go whenever cold weather may strike.
For any questions about shutting down your AC or to schedule service this fall, please contact us at Air Assurance.