Winterizing your AC Unit

Do It Yourself in Preparing for Winter

The outdoor or central air conditioner keeps your home cool in the summer. During the winter months it is important to winterize your AC unit; snow and ice can cause damage if it is not protected. The Department of Energy reports that winterizing your AC unit can affect your expenses. It is possible to reduce your bill by 25%, simply by winterizing your unit each fall.

Winterizing your AC unit can be done in a day and you do can it yourself! Here is what you will need:

• Work gloves
• Rags or cloths
• Garden hose
• Outdoor air conditioning unit cover, tubular foam or rubber pipe insulation
• Hedge clippers or weed trimmers
• Dish soap

1. The first step is to clean around the AC unit. Be sure to check the interior of the unit for any debris.
2. Shut off the power.
3. Remove any debris and then use a mild dish soap to rinse off inside and outside the unit. Be sure to wash the coils as they get greasy. You will need to remove the access panel to reach the interior.
4. Cut the foam or rubber insulation to fit around the pipes. Covering the pipes will prevent them from freezing. The insulation can be attached to the pipes with plastic ties. If you do not want to cover the pipes individually you can purchase an outdoor air conditioning unit cover.
5. After your unit has been prepped for winter, be sure to keep removing snow, ice and debris as it accumulates. Leaves, branches, dirt, rocks, and even small animals may gather around the unit during the winter months.

Once the weather begins to warm, simply remove the cover and insulation. It is recommended to have your unit regularly serviced to avoid larger issues from occurring leaving your sweltering on hot days.

Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning is the leader in heating, cooling, ventilation, and air quality products and services in the La Crosse area. We have been serving the Coulee Region for more than 80 years. Our technicians are highly and continually trained utilizing the most sophisticated HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technologies and equipment. All of our service technicians are NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified—the largest non-profit certification organization that is governed, owned, operated, developed, and supported by the HVAC industry. At Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves on amazing customer service. Contact us today.