The summer may seem far away, but it’ll be here sooner than you think. And once that heat starts ramping up, you’re going to want to make sure your home is cool and comfortable.

In the meantime, though, your A/C unit likely is a bit colder than that. We’ll go over some winterizing tips that can keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape come summertime.

Covering Your A/C Unit

The first question you need to ask yourself is, “how old is the A/C unit?”

Modern outdoor A/C units are manufactured to endure weathers of all different extremes. Your A/C box (the condenser) is built specifically to stand up against all but the most extreme highs and lows of weather.

The same goes for the internals. Each coil is weather-tested and should manage well.

However, as mentioned at the beginning, how old is your machine? Technology in this field has advanced handily in the past 10-20 years and means that older units may be prone to leaks, cracks, or breakdowns as a result of a variety of factors.

More Than Rain Falls into Your A/C Unit

Consider the location of your external A/C unit. Likely if you’re in the Houston area, you don’t see much snowfall annually, meaning you don’t have to worry about an abundance of snowmelt flooding your system.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet. In fact, if you live in a densely forested area, or your A/C unit sits beneath trees, you’ll need to take extra care of it.

Leaves, pine needles, bird nests, seeds, and other debris that falls into an A/C unit can impede its functionality. Leaves and seeds particularly sap up moisture and create a dangerous environment for the inner parts.

And with over 33 million trees in the Houston area, there’s a good chance your A/C unit is at risk. Thus when the leaves start turning, it’s a good bet that you should cover the unit to ensure these unwanted guests stay out.

Similarly, if over the winter you notice a lot of debris falling into your unit, invest in a cover for your system.

Air conditioner repairs are par for the course in Houston, but a cover can help prevent unnecessary expenses. All in all, having a cover for your A/C unit can’t hurt your machine.

… In most cases.

Each Cover is Not Equal

Covers for an A/C unit need to promote airflow. Restrictive covers, especially plastic coverings can restrict this. If your A/C unit doesn’t have enough airflow, moisture can build up and actually promote rust and internal damage.

They also can encourage critters to stay for a night or more.

If you decide to purchase a cover, ensure it’s breathable and primarily functions to keep water and debris from falling into the unit.

If it does that, without making for a cozy nest or moisture-machine, you’ll be in the clear.

Ways to Preserve Your HVAC System

There are two ways you can help cover and protect the unit. The first is to purchase an A/C unit cover. There are many factory-made options that will offer just about any color and style you’d like.

Ensure they have breathability and won’t increase the risk of rodents or pests making your system their home.

The other option is you could DIY a cover. You don’t want to cover the entire unit. In fact, because covers only need to come down about six inches on the sides, it’s fairly easy to find old materials to protect your unit.

Flexible sheets or cloths are good for providing breathability and keeping out seeds, leaves, and the like. Just make sure to take them off if there’s a storm brewing, as they will retain moisture and do more harm than good.

Another option for the fall season is using a piece of plywood and holding it down with a brick. This reduces airflow some, but as long as the sides are uncovered the coils and interior should be able to breathe.

Preventative Maintenance Tips

At the start and end of seasons, check your A/C unit to ensure there are no nests, debris, or critters living inside. A quick check can help you take the appropriate next steps.

Clean Up the A/C Unit

Prior to performing any maintenance or going inside the unit, make sure to turn of the system.

If you see dirt, dust, bird droppings, bugs, or anything that could gunk up the machine it’s wise to clean it out. Choose a warm day, one where the unit will be able to dry completely in the sun.

Using only warm water, get rid of any of the debris or residue that may have built up inside the machine. Do your best to dry wherever you cleaned to ensure moisture and mold can’t build up inside.

Check for Damages

Once you’ve cleaned your A/C unit, check the wires. If you found animals living in your unit, it’s possible they chewed on the wires. Occasionally there will be no trace of an animal except for these damaged wires.

Naturally, that’s a problem and may require further repair.

Once you’ve checked wires, check any exterior piping leading to the unit. These pipes should have foam covers or some protective coating to ensure they don’t freeze.

If they don’t, or they’re damaged, you can purchase pipe covers and wrap them in duct tape to ensure they stay freeze-free.

Check After Storms

If there’s a hail or ice storm, check on your A/C unit. Brush away any ice or snow that may be lingering to look for damages.

So long as you do this during the extreme seasons, your unit should last you a long time.

Services and Repairs

HVAC systems are complicated. Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping them in tip-top shape, and a cover can help with that.

And if you find damages or need a tune-up, we service the Houston area. Contact us via call, text, or email with any questions you may have so that your home keeps cool when it’s hot, and hot when it’s cool.