Closing Up Your AC for the Winter in Whitby
Once the nights get cold in Whitby, the air conditioner goes quiet for six or seven months. A few minutes of attention at the end of the season makes the spring start-up a lot smoother.
Clean around the outdoor unit
Pull out leaves, grass clippings and seed pods from around the condenser and off the top grille. Hose the coil gently from the inside out if you can reach it, with the power off. Don’t use a pressure washer; it flattens the fins.
To cover or not to cover
A full plastic or vinyl cover traps moisture and gives mice a nice warm place to build a nest on the wiring. If you want protection, a piece of plywood or a breathable cover on the top only keeps icicles and falling debris off the fan, while the sides stay open. Just remember to take it off before you turn on the AC in spring.
The disconnect switch
Some people pull the disconnect for the winter. That’s fine for a regular AC, but never do it on a heat pump, since that’s your heat source. If you do switch the AC off, turn the power back on at least 24 hours before the first use in spring so the compressor’s crankcase heater can warm the oil.
Inside: the humidifier damper and the filter
If you have a bypass humidifier on the furnace, the summer/winter damper on the duct should now be set to winter (open), and the water supply valve turned on. A new filter at the start of the heating season is cheap insurance too.
Anything that sounded off this summer?
If the AC was making a new noise, icing up, or running non-stop on hot days, the off-season is the easiest time to get it checked. There’s no rush, parts are easier to get, and you won’t be waiting behind every other no-cooling call in July.
We service Whitby and the rest of the GTA. Learn more about our air conditioning services, or send us a note or call 647-657-2977.
