The chilly season usually takes its time to get here in La Habra, CA, but it always does and when it does, we tend to shut our air conditioners down for months at a time. During the winter months, our AC units suffer from expected amounts of wear and tear, which may translate to problems when we fire them back up again in the spring. You can help prevent that by winterizing you air conditioner: taking a few easy steps to keep it protected from the elements and running the way you need it to when the temperatures start to climb again. Here’s a few quick tips on how to do that.
Schedule a Maintenance Session
Ideally, you should schedule a maintenance session at least once a year, and if you haven’t yet, now is the perfect time. It lets you plan the session around your existing schedule, since you won’t need your air conditioner for a while, and if any further repairs are needed, it gives you the time to schedule a session to treat them well before the heat starts to rise again. Moreover, by cleaning off the dust, replacing filters, and performing similar ancillary functions, you can keep the lack of use from interfering with the system later on down the line.
Clear Debris from the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor portion of the air conditioner is responsible for venting hot air. It can get clogged by leaves, twigs, and other debris in the winter time when you’re not using it. Make sure you get out there every few weeks and clear away any debris: weeds, leaves, twigs, and the like. In addition, you might consider buying a waterproof cover for your outdoor unit to protect it from the elements. Just remember to uncover it if a heat wave hits and you want to use the system.
Contact JC Mechanical, Inc. for help with winterizing your air conditioner.