Make Almost Everything In Your Home

Preparing Your Air Conditioner For Hibernation

4 September 2015

Leonard Campbell

If you have a central air conditioning system in your home, and its usage is dwindling as the weather is becoming cooler, you will want to take the necessary steps in doing some routine maintenance steps before packing it away for the winter. Taking the time to service your air conditioner before it is put away for an extensive time period will ensure it will work right away when weather warms up the following season. Here are a few steps to take in preparing your air conditioning system for storage during cooler weather.

Clean Out The Condensing Unit

The condensing unit should be completely cleaned before storage so debris does not become encrusted within the mechanisms, making it difficult to restart when hot weather returns. To clean, you will first need to shut off the power to the unit. Lift the cover, using a screwdriver to help you pry it out of place if necessary.

A shop vacuum with a brush attachment will work best at removing debris from within your condenser. Rub the brush gently along each of the fins inside to remove any dirt from within the unit. Remove the grille so the fan is exposed and vacuum each blade with the attachment. Test your work by physically moving the fan using your hand to make sure it still moves freely. For a severely dirty fan, use a mild detergent mixed with water to wipe down each blade.

Take A Look At The Evaporator

The evaporator portion of a central air conditioning system is located near or within your furnace. To clean this, use the shop vacuum attachment again to remove dust from around the fins inside. Change out the air filter at this time so your air conditioner will be able to be turned on the next season without worry you are spreading dirty air throughout your home.

The evaporator has a tube that runs from it to the water pump. This usually becomes filled with grime after being used for an entire season. Remove it completely and submerge it into a sink full of warm water with a mild detergent added. You can purchase a tube brush to help remove debris if algae seems to be encrusted within the tube. Rinse, dry and replace.

Cover Your Condenser

Before temperatures plummet and freezing precipitation fall, make sure your condenser is covered to protect it from these harmful elements. Adding a cover will keep out debris, save your unit from cracking, and will protect piping from unnecessary damage. Make sure the cover is large enough to keep all portions of your condenser unexposed.

For further assistance, contact a professional AC repair shop, such as Proctor Mechanical Corp.

Share

About Me

It may seem crazy, but you can make almost everything in your home by understanding the manufacturing processes by which they were created. This will save you money, for sure, but it will also be a lot of fun and you will feel the satisfaction of knowing that you made something with your own hands. If this is something that excites you, it's a great thing that you came to my weblog. I'm Jose Martinez and I have built most of what I use around my house. As long as there aren't regulations or safety considerations that prohibit you, there is no reason why you can't make everything.