How to Prepare Your AC Unit for the Fall

The official start of fall is just a few days away. Even though we might not feel the cooler temperatures quite yet, it’s still time to start thinking about preparing your air conditioner for the fall and winter. Taking time to maintain your system now can extend your unit’s lifespan and prevent the need for air-conditioning repair next year.

Continue reading to learn what you and a professional HVAC contractor can do to keep your unit in tip-top shape.

Schedule an HVAC maintenance call

The best piece of advice we have is to contact an HVAC contractor to perform a full checkup. This maintenance call includes everything from cleaning to part replacement to ensure your system is fully functional. At KVK Inc., we take the time to prepare your heating system for the winter and make sure your AC will be able to withstand the colder temperatures this winter.

Clean the coils

Your AC’s evaporator coil and condenser coil get dirty throughout the summer months due to blowing dirt, grass clippings and other types of debris. All of that grime makes your AC work harder than it has to once you turn it back on in the spring, so take a moment to wash the coils, and clean up the area surrounding your outdoor unit.

Replace your air filter

A cheap and easy way to avoid air-conditioning repair is to remember to replace your air filters every month or so. By replacing the filter, you’ll help keep the unit clean and reduce your energy usage. Even though you might not have the AC on for a while, you’ll still want to swap out your filter.

Shut off the power

Once the temperatures are at a consistently cool temperature and you know you won’t need the AC for the rest of the season, shut down the unit’s power. There should be a shut-off box on the exterior wall near the outdoor condenser. Flip the switch to “off” to avert the risk of someone accidentally switching the thermostat to “cool” in the dead of winter.

Run the heat

You might not need to keep the heat on quite yet, but now’s a good time to test out your furnace. Turn the heat on, and wait a few minutes to ensure it actually does come on; call a professional right away if it doesn’t. You may smell a burning odor for a few minutes, but don’t worry—that smell is just from dust that settled on your heating unit.

Add insulation

Your outdoor condenser unit can undergo a lot of stress during the frigid winter months. Instead of leaving it out in the open, protect it with a specially-designed condenser cover. Additionally, wrap any exposed pipes or wires with foam pipe covers to add some extra protection from the snow and harsh temperatures.

Call KVK Inc. today

Now’s the best time to schedule your seasonal HVAC maintenance. Contact us today to schedule a fall tune-up and see how our services can prevent expensive air-conditioning repair.

Categorised in: Air Conditioning Tips

This post was written by Writer