How To Care For Your Air Conditioner During The Off-Season
You might not be using your air conditioner anymore, but that doesn't mean that it's not in need of maintenance. In fact, the off-season is the perfect time to have your air conditioner cleaned and serviced. Many people wait until spring to have their air conditioner serviced. However, waiting that long could lead to a few warm days without the use of the air conditioner should the temperatures begin to rise earlier than expected. When you clean and service your air conditioner during the off-season, you're ensured that it will be ready for use as soon as the temperatures begin to rise in the spring. Here's how to care for your air conditioner before spring.
Contact Your Service Provider
When it comes to caring for your air conditioner during the off-season, it's important that you leave the initial care to the professionals. Your air conditioner will need to be serviced from top to bottom. Some of the off-season maintenance your unit needs includes cleaning the coils, clearing the condenser lines, and servicing the fan motor and blower. Without this care, your air conditioner may fail once you begin using it next spring.
Clean the Filter Compartment
If you haven't inspected the filter compartment, it's time to do that right now. Since a filter is needed for use with your air conditioner and your heater, the filter compartment is in use all year long. Most people simply change the filter without paying attention to the dirt that's building up in the compartment. Unfortunately, a dirty filter compartment can reduce the air quality in your home and make your filter less efficient. Use your vacuum to thoroughly clean the filter compartment. If you can see a thick layer of dirt in the duct above the filter compartment, have your ducts cleaned as soon as possible.
Prepare the Outside of the Air Conditioner
During the off-season, your air conditioner will be exposed to inclement weather and pests activity. To protect your air conditioner against both issues, you'll need to spend some time preparing the outside of the unit. First, clear that area surrounding the air conditioner, especially if it's installed at ground level. Second, cover the air conditioner with an insulated wrap. The insulated wrap will keep out the wind, water, snow, and ice that might come along this winter. Finally, be sure that the pipes and wires coming from the air conditioner are covered and protected against cold weather damage.
For help maintaining your air conditioning system, contact a local company such as Baton Rouge Air Conditioning & Heating.