Think Winter Isn't The Time To Service Your Air Conditioner? Think Again!

Fall is here and winter is around the corner. In many parts of the country, homeowners have turned off their air conditioners for the season. Now is the perfect time to service your air conditioner and keep it protected from seasonal hazards. Maintaining your air conditioner in the fall and winter will help ensure that the unit is ready to cool your home in the coming year.

Change the Air Filter

The air filter for your HVAC system is located in the slot between the return air duct and the blower. This filter services your entire HVAC system and needs to be changed every three months. If you used your air conditioner throughout the summer, this means that the air filter is overdue for a change. Replacing the filter now will help keep dust out of the air ducts and will prevent dust from reducing the efficiency of your AC in the coming year.

To replace the filter, turn off the HVAC system and remove the old filter from the slot. Use the old filter to find an identical filter at the hardware store. Once you've made your purchase, put the new filter in place in your HVAC system and turn the HVAC system on.

Clean Around the Condenser

Now that all the leaves have fallen from the trees, there may be a lot of dead, dry debris gathering around the condenser. This debris can clog the condenser and create maintenance problems when the air conditioner starts running again in the spring. To prevent this from happening, rake up all dry leaves around your air conditioner condenser and throw them away or compost them as you see fit. Glance inside your condenser and look for dry leaves inside. If you see dry leaves in the condenser, cut the power, remove the top of the condenser and use a wet dry vacuum to remove the leaves inside.

Cover the Condenser

If your condenser is located beneath the eaves of your house, your condenser may be vulnerable to icicles that fall on the unit in the winter. To protect the condenser, put a piece of plywood over the top of the condenser for the season, and remove it when spring comes.

Get a Tune Up

Air conditioner repair people can be less busy in the winter, so now is the perfect time to schedule a tuneup for your unit. In fact, some air conditioner repair people run discounts for tuneups during the off season. To get started, contact a local repair service such as Smedley & Associates.