Three Tips To Help Your Air Conditioner Avoid Winter Problems

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The air conditioning system that keeps your home cool during the hot summers can be one of the most expensive and importance appliances that you own. However, you may not be aware of the steps that you should take to keep the air conditioning system safe from common winter hazards. To help you keep your air conditioner safe from these potential sources of damage, you should be mindful of the following few care tips.

Keep Ice Off Of The Exterior Unit

During the winter months, it can be easy for ice to start to develop on the exterior air conditioning unit. This may not seem like a serious problem, but if you do not remove this ice, it can damage the unit in a variety of ways. For example, when the ice melts, the prolonged exposure to moisture can contribute to corrosion forming on the air conditioner. To minimize the risk of this problem arising, you should break up any ice that forms on the system. While you may be tempted to place deicing chemicals on the unit, you should avoid this because these chemicals can be highly corrosive to metal.  

Regularly Inspect Around The Base Of The Unit

You should make it a point to inspect the area around your air conditioning unit. During the winter months, it can be possible for large pools of standing water to form as ice melts. This water can damage the foundation of the air conditioning system. Also, it is possible for trash, weeds and other materials to start to block the vents of the system. You should remove these materials from around the vent to ensure that they do not interfere with the system's airflow. Failure to perform this step could cause serious damage to the system if you used it during periods of warmer winter weather.  

Avoid Using The Air Conditioner When It Is Cool Outside

While you may enjoy keeping your home cold, it is important for you to appreciate the need to avoid using the unit when it is cool or cold outside. Running the unit when the temperature is too low can cause it to develop a thick layer of ice, which may damage the unit by restricting airflow or causing the condenser coils to rupture. The minimum safe temperature for operating your air conditioning system can vary according to the make and model, but you will be able to find this information in the owner's manual.

For more tips, speak with your AC installation service.


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