Mark Roemer Oakland Explains How to Winterize Your Air Conditioner

Introduction

According to Mark Roemer Oakland, it’s crucial to winterize your air conditioner in order to safeguard against snow and ice during the winter. Otherwise, the mechanical parts inside the unit can deteriorate, clog, and rusts due to the accumulation of debris, snow, and water. Fortunately, you can winterize your air conditioner pretty easily once you know the proper steps.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few tips you can follow to winterize your air conditioner:

• Turn off the power – Before you proceed forward with any of the other steps, you have to shut off the power to the AC. To do that you can simply toggle the on/off switch of the AC unit which is typically located under the plastic or metal lid. The benefit of keeping the switch off is that it prevents the AC unit from turning on during warm winter days. As a result, it doesn’t accumulate water that can freeze overnight and cause damage to the unit.

• Clean it thoroughly – Next, you have to clean off the dirt that the air conditioner has accumulated throughout the summer. You can use a wet cloth dipped in a cleaning solution to get rid of the gunk, bird pooping, and dirt. It’s also important to check for any sticks, dead bugs, debris, and leaves around the bottom.

Also, ensure that there are no dead leaves and sticks around the unit since they can attract small animals during the cold since which can cause all sorts of problems such as creeping inside the unit or gnawing the wires.

• Cover the AC – Once the unit becomes dry it’s time to cover with a plastic or a vinyl cover such as a tarp or a furnace cover. Also, ensure to cover the top and secure it with a slab or plywood brick or tie with bungee cords or a vinyl rope so that it can stay protected against strong winds. If you are not sure about the type of cover that should be used, you can consult the manufacturer.

It’s important to remove the cover during the summer when you have to use it again in order to prevent dangerous fire hazards due to overheating.

• Insulate the exposed pipes – It’s crucial to insulate the pipes of your air conditioner too since otherwise, they can freeze and burst when the temperature gets low. You can use foam pipe covers and use duct tapes to secure it safely in place. Foam piper covers are available at most home improvement stores.

• Conduct regular inspections – The final step is to perform periodic inspections of your winterized AC unit to ensure everything is okay. Clean off any debris, water, and ice that accumulates on top of the unit after a few weeks and try to keep away small animals from the unit.

Conclusion

Mark Roemer Oakland believes that early fall is the best time to winterize your AC unit. Properly winterizing your AC unit can allow it to run smoothly for most of its expected lifetime and keep it protected against harsh weather.