We’re almost a month into spring, and enjoying beautiful oranges, reds, and yellows. But this is also a time when temperatures begin to drop, telling you to give your air conditioner its much-needed rest. Thankfully, winterizing your outdoor HVAC unit is a whole lot easier than you might think.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your trusted heating company in Brooklyn Center MN. We help homeowners secure their cooling systems during off-seasons, making sure they stay in great shape.
Why Winterize?
Minnesotan winters can be quite unforgiving, and your air conditioner will need some attention to make sure you can use it when the temperatures begin to rise again. The idea is to prep your system in early fall, just before you enclose your home and run your heating unit.
One of the things you need to remember when winterizing your AC is that it was designed to be outdoors. It isn’t going to malfunction if it sits out in the snow or rain. That said, there are certain things you can do to make sure it doesn’t sustain any damage during the cold season. If you don’t properly care for your unit, you could end up needing major repairs when you try and turn it on a few months from now.
When a qualified professional inspects and prepares your AC for winter, you will stay on top of repairs. He can detect small malfunctions and replace parts before they completely fail and cause more serious problems. Also, winterization gives you peace of mind, knowing that your system runs efficiently and smoothly when you need it in the summer.
How to Winterize?
Shut it off.
The first thing you should do before performing any maintenance on your air conditioner is to turn the circuit off. Ideally, your AC will have a metal lid by the outdoor system that has an on/off switch. Turn that switch off to shut down your cooling system. Sometimes in places like Minnesota on a warm sunny day, the unit will register the warm temperatures and run. While this could be refreshing for the day, water could get into the coils and freeze if the temperatures drop again, causing rust and corrosion within your unit.
Clean the outside unit.
A clean, tidy HVAC area is always good for your AC. So, remove leaves, twigs, and grass clippings and keep an area of about 2 feet surrounding the unit clean. A garden hose should help remove foreign objects from your AC unit.
Foam pipe covers.
Cut and fit foam pipe covers to any exposed outdoor pipes. This step helps insulate the pipes and protect them from harsh winter temperatures. To hold the foam covers in place, tightly wrap duct tape around the cover. You can also use zip-ties, which you can easily buy from any home improvement store. Don’t forget: next winter you need to take it off, so be sure you won’t be having a hard time taking it off when you have to.
Cover the AC unit.
For added protection, cover the outdoor unit with a waterproof air conditioner cover. If you don’t want to spend extra money, you can use home items, such as plywood with a brick on top of it, bungee cords, and vinyl tie-downs.
Schedule a furnace tune-up.
While we’re talking about winterizing your air conditioner, you can’t ignore the need for furnace maintenance. So, as you transition from one HVAC system to another, consider having a qualified technician take a look at your unit. He can help you winterize the outdoor unit and prepare your furnace for the winter at the same time. This little investment can mean the difference between you and your family enjoying a toasty home all winter and being stressed out trying to get a heating expert to come to check your unit.
Ask Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
If you want to enjoy all of the benefits of HVAC winterization and furnace tune-up, be sure to talk to one of our New Hope furnace repair and maintenance specialists. We’ll make sure your air conditioner and furnace are safe and ready when you need them. Give us a call today and schedule a preventive maintenance check-up.