When you look at the headline of this post, you might wonder if we’ve gone a touch crazy. Temperatures are dropping and it’s already December! Why would you need to worry about preparing the air conditioning system for this kind of weather?
But we’re not talking about making sure that your air conditioner will work well during the winter. We’re talking about protecting the outdoor unit of the AC through the winter weather so that it’s in the best shape for when you need it again around spring time. Below are the steps that you can take to properly winterize the outdoor unit of your AC.
- First, shut off the outdoor units circuit. You should find this located close to the cabinet, protected by a plastic or metal cover. Switch the circuit to the “off” position. This will prevent the air conditioner from turning on during a brief warm spell and accidentally pulling in water that can cause rust and other problems.
- Next, give the outdoor unit a cleaning. This doesn’t need to entail much. Use a garden hose to wash down the cabinet. Then remove larger debris, like leaves and sticks, from it. Let the unit dry completely.
- Now place a protective cover over the cabinet. Waterproof vinyl is the best material for this, and you can purchase specialty AC covers from hardware stores. However, any waterproof material that’s large enough to encase the whole cabinet will do the job.
- Secure the cover in place so that a strong wind won’t whip it off during the winter. You can wrap bungee cords around it a few times to do this.
- Throughout the rest of the winter, make regular checks to see that the cover is still in place.
As soon as the winter weather fades with the coming of spring, remove the cover, switch the circuit back on… and then call up our technicians for spring maintenance. After this, you should have a AC that’s in excellent condition to handle another summer.
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration is here to help you with your heating needs in Arlington, VA. Quality since 1998.
