{"id":1730,"date":"2024-11-04T09:41:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T14:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/?p=1730"},"modified":"2024-11-01T16:42:56","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T20:42:56","slug":"winterizing-ac-units-is-important-read-this-for-best-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/winterizing-ac-units-is-important-read-this-for-best-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Winterizing AC Units is Important. Read This For Best Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2><strong>Winterizing AC Units. A Down-to-Earth Guide for Canadian Homeowners<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer_800x533.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer_800x533-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"two-technicians-winterizing -AC -units\" class=\"wp-image-430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer_800x533-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer_800x533-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Air_Conditioning_Air_Conditioner_Repairing_Energy_Efficiency_Mechanic_Maintenance_Engineer_800x533.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Look, I&#8217;ll be honest-I learned about winterizing AC units the hard way. But after watching my neighbour fork out $3,000 for repairs last spring (ouch!), I started to research on how to properly protect these expensive appliances from our brutal Canadian winters. And now I&#8217;m sharing everything I have learned about winterizing your AC unit, plus tips from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/hvac\/air-conditioning\/air-conditioning-maintenance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Ace Plumbing and Heating\">Ace Plumbing and Heating<\/a> who&#8217;s been installing and fixing HVAC systems across Calgary for over 35 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Why Winterizing AC Units is Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Picture this: It&#8217;s the first scorching day of summer, you flip on your AC, and then nothing. Nada. Just warm air and regret. That&#8217;s exactly what happened to my neighbour Kevin last year because he skipped winterizing his unit. Trust me, spending an hour on prevention beats spending thousands on repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Grab Your Supplies (The Shopping List)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we get into it, here are a few things what you&#8217;ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A proper AC cover (those cheap plastic ones from the dollar store won&#8217;t cut it)<\/li><li>Foam pipe covers (get the thick stuff)<\/li><li>You will also need a garden hose<\/li><li>A broom<\/li><li>About an hour of your time (and a coffee)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Winterizing AC Units. The Steps That Actually Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Kill the Power (Seriously, Don&#8217;t Skip This!)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First up, let&#8217;s make sure your AC doesn&#8217;t try to kick in during one of those weird warm January chinook days (climate change, am I right?). Then find your circuit breaker panel and switch off the AC&#8217;s power. It&#8217;s usually labeled &#8220;AC&#8221; or &#8220;Air Conditioning&#8221; \u2013 if your panel looks like my old one, with faded pencil labels, take this opportunity to label it properly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Clean It Like You Mean It<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time to channel your inner neat freak:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Sweep away those poplar leaves and pine needles<\/li><li>Give it a proper wash with your garden hose<\/li><li>Then let it dry completely (important!)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pro Tip: If you&#8217;ve got one of those fancy pressure washers, resist the urge to use it. A regular garden hose is plenty \u2013 we&#8217;re cleaning it, not stripping paint!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. The Inspection (No Tools Required)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then take a good walk around your unit. And look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Anything that looks wonky or bent<\/li><li>Rusty spots (especially near the bottom)<\/li><li>Loose bits and pieces<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And if something looks off, then snap a picture. It&#8217;ll come in handy if you need to call <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/contact\/message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ace Plumbing and Heating<\/a> or track changes over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Pipe Protection (The Often-Forgotten Bit)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See those exposed pipes? They&#8217;re like our bodies in winter \u2013 they need proper insulation! Wrap them up with foam pipe covers. Think of it as a warm toque for your AC pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. The Cover-Up (But Make It Breathe)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now this is where most folks go wrong \u2013 they wrap their AC units tighter than their Christmas presents. Don&#8217;t do that! You want:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A breathable, waterproof cover<\/li><li>Snug fit, but not airtight<\/li><li>Some airflow to prevent rust<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Winterizing AC Units. Some Check-Ups (The Easy Routine)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Every Week or So:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Brush off snow (your AC isn&#8217;t a snowman)<\/li><li>Then check that the cover hasn&#8217;t blown off<\/li><li>Also keep about a hockey stick&#8217;s length of space clear around it<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Monthly-ish:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pop out during commercial breaks during a hockey game to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Look for ice buildup<\/li><li>Make sure the cover&#8217;s still doing its job<\/li><li>Finally, clear any new junk that&#8217;s collected<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Red Flags to Watch For<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep an eye out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>Ice inside the unit (not good)<\/li><li>Rust spots getting bigger<\/li><li>Weird noises (if you turn it on by accident)<\/li><li>Cover damage<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>When to Call the Pros<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Look, some things are worth DIY-ing, and some aren&#8217;t. Call <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/contact\/request-estimate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Ace Plumbing and Heating\">Ace Plumbing and Heating<\/a> if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If you spot something that makes you go &#8220;hmm&#8230;&#8221;<\/li><li>There&#8217;s visible damage<\/li><li>Especially if you don&#8217;t feel comfortable doing this yourself (no shame in that!)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Getting Ready for Spring<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When the snow starts melting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>Uncover your unit (but keep the cover handy for the late Calgary snowstorms)<\/li><li>Then check for any winter battle scars<\/li><li>Book a tune-up with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/contact\/request-estimate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\" Ace Plumbing and Heating\"> Ace Plumbing and Heating<\/a> if needed<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Real Talk<\/strong> About Winterizing AC Units<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve learned after years of homeownership: Taking care of your AC isn&#8217;t about avoiding repairs, it&#8217;s also about peace of mind. There is absolutley nothing worse than lying awake at night during a heatwave because your AC conked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, remember every home is different, and these tips are based on my experience with standard residential units. If you&#8217;ve got something fancy or commercial, then you might want to check your manual or chat with a pro at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/contact\/message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Ace Plumbing and Heating\">Ace Plumbing and Heating<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ok, so you don&#8217;t have a central air conditioner, but you do have a window air conditioner. I just came across an article that gives you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/how-to-clean-a-window-air-conditioner-unit-5191162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"valuable tips on cleaning a window air conditioner\">valuable tips on cleaning a window air conditioner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay warm, friends! And don&#8217;t forget to bookmark this for next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winterizing AC Units. A Down-to-Earth Guide for Canadian Homeowners. Look, I&#8217;ll be honest-I learned about winterizing AC units the hard way. But after watching my neighbour fork out $3,000 for repairs last spring (ouch!), I started to research on how to properly protect these expensive appliances from our brutal Canadian winters. And now I&#8217;m sharing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[70],"tags":[13,89,102,105],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1730"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1730"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1740,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1730\/revisions\/1740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ace-plumbing.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}