How to Ready Your Air Conditioner for the Off Season

It’s been a long hot summer here along the Coastal Bend, particularly for your air conditioner. Now, it’s time to begin getting the A/C ready to be put on standby during the winter break.

Instead of just switching it off at the thermostat and leaving it at that, however, take a few proactive steps now to ensure that your air conditioner’s ready when you need it again next spring.

• Put in a new air filter. In a central air and heating system, your furnace utilizes the same air filter as the air conditioner and needs a clean start for the heating season. Throw out the last dirty A/C air filter of the summer and install a new one for the furnace.
• Inspect the condensate drain pan. Located under the indoor air handler, the pan catches condensate dripping off the evaporator coil and conveys it down a drain line. Make sure there’s no standing water left in the pan. Mold and algae will grow in the water over the winter season while the system’s shut down. If you see any residual water, schedule an HVAC service call to unclog the condensate drain.
• Check the outside component. The outdoor half of the central air conditioner should be kept free of falling leaves that block the fan grille or air intakes. If you’re certain you won’t use the A/C until spring, consider covering the outside unit with a commercially-available cover. Over the winter, keep weeds from growing around the unit, too.
• Have the unit inspected by a professional. If you schedule a furnace maintenance check-up in the fall as you should every year, that’s a good time to have the technician check the A/C, too, and make sure it’s ready for winter. He’ll resolve any wear and tear issues that may have accumulated during summer such as worn blower and fan belts, check for loose bolts and signs of leakage from refrigerant lines. This puts your cooling system to bed, well-prepared for seasonal start-up next spring.

For professional advice and service to get your air conditioner ready for the off-season, contact CCAC.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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