October 16, 2014


winterizing ac unit

Protect your central air conditioning unit by preparing it for winter.

Harsh Missouri winter is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking about switching from using your central air conditioner to your home’s heating system. If you want to make sure that your central air conditioning unit is going to be ready in the spring, make sure that you put it to hibernate for the winter the right way.

Preparing the Outside Unit

During the winter you are going to want to provide protection for the outside portion of your HVAC unit from the cold, snow, and ice. This will prevent rust formation and breakage from the weight of snow and ice. Call your St. Louis HVAC technician in-between seasons to shut down your home’s cooling system and check that the heating system is ready for the cold. The first thing they will do is switch the air conditioning off at its main breaker. This will prevent it from being turned on inadvertently if there is a particularly warm winter day.

Covering the Outside Unit

Next, they will hose the unit down and remove any leaves or twigs. Once the outside unit is cleaned, it will be left to completely dry. While the unit is drying, the HVAC technician is going to make sure that the exposed pipes outside are completely covered with foam pipe covers. This is going to help ensure that they are protected from freezing temperatures. If there is any water in the system, it will expand when frozen. This could potentially cause the pipes to crack if they are not properly covered. Once the HVAC unit is dry, it should be covered with a vinyl or plastic cover. Secure it with rope or bungee cords to make sure that it does not flip up or fly away with a brisk wind.

Make sure during the winter months that you are periodically checking the outside air conditioning unit and brushing off any build-up of ice or snow. Following these steps is going to guarantee that once the temperatures start to rise in the spring, your air conditioner is going to be ready for it.

St. Louis HVAC Company

Your HVAC system in general and the central air conditioning unit, in particular, are expensive components of your home that should be protected to the best of your ability. Only entrust them to the care of a St. Louis HVAC company that has a stellar reputation. They will be able to assist you by providing seasonal maintenance for your HVAC system, making sure your HVAC system is ready for each new season.

Let Scott-Lee Heating Company take care of the details for you all year round. This will ensure that your air conditioning unit is tucked away for the winter and up and running again once the last frost has left us. Call us today at (314) 200-0788.