The average home has to switch from cooling to heating as the days become colder and winter approaches, which usually leaves the air conditioner sitting unused for months. In today’s post, local AC and heat pump inspection company J & M Air Conditioning & Heating takes a look at what happens to air conditioners when they’re not used for months.

Is It Okay to Turn the Air Conditioner Off?

Today’s HVAC system manufacturers are knowledgeable enough to take into account the fact that air conditioners – with the exception of ACs that double as heat pumps – are only used about half the year. It’s perfectly fine to turn your air conditioner off for the season, but you have to make sure that you follow the shutdown procedures prescribed by the manufacturer. You also need to keep your air conditioner clean, particularly the outdoor unit, during the time that it’s shut down.

Turning the AC Back On

Before you turn your air conditioner back on, there are some things you need to do to ensure proper operation.

First, inspect the outdoor unit and remove any leaves and debris from its enclosure. Make sure that the aluminum fins on the sides of the enclosure aren’t clogged with dirt. Their function is to expel heat from the condenser unit. The cleaner the fins and coils, the more efficient the air conditioner will be. If you notice signs of a fluid leaking from the outdoor unit, don’t turn it on. Instead, schedule an appointment with your air conditioning service technician.

If your air conditioner doesn’t have apparent problems, turn it on but run it in fan mode for at least 10 minutes up to an hour. The objective is to get air flowing through the air ducts to flush dust and odors out.

If you’re planning on getting a new air conditioner this year, consider purchasing a heat pump, which is essentially a reversible AC. A switch reverses the cooling process and pulls heat from the outdoors and into your home. This means you can run the same unit for heating and cooling, which can help you save on maintenance and utility costs.

Call J & M Air Conditioning & Heating for Your HVAC Needs

You can count on J & M Air Conditioning & Heating to help you with your furnace or window air conditioner, rain or shine. Give us a call at (951) 654-3464 or (760) 253-9631. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Hemet, CA, and the surrounding communities.