Get Your Air Conditioner Ready for the Off-Season

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the summer season for air conditioning, and while we likely have a few more steamy weeks here in Austin, TX, the temperatures will start dropping before you know it. For most people, that means simply turning off their AC and forgetting about it until the spring, which could be a big mistake. If you can get your air conditioner ready for the off-season, and then maintain it periodically throughout the winter, you can reduce the risk of repairs and help your system retain its efficiency for a long time to come. Here’s how.

START WITH SERVICING

When it’s clear that the air conditioning season is well and truly done, schedule a servicing session with a trained technician. He or she can assess the wear and tear caused over the summer and make a lot of little adjustments to help correct it: tightening loose bolts, recharging refrigerant, cleaning dirty filters, and the like. He or she will also check for signs of more serious problems, and if necessary, schedule a specific repair to treat them. Your system will be able to do its job without using quite as much energy when you fire it up, and you’ll have a chance to fix significant issues while they’re still small and manageable.

KEEP IT MAINTAINED

Once your servicing session is done, the next step is to periodically check on your air conditioner, particularly the outside unit. Weeds, leaves, and other detritus can clog up the vents if they build up around the unit, and in some cases might even slip through the vents and get caught up in the internal mechanisms. Wet weather can also lead to ice on the system, which can be severely damaging. Keep your air conditioner dry, or purchase a weather-proof cover for it during the off-season. (Just remember to remove it if you need to use the AC for any reason.)

Intelligent Air Services provides air conditioning maintenance and repairs in Dripping Springs and the surrounding areas. Call us today!