If you dread the cold, you’ll know that there’s nothing worse than poor heating from your air conditioner. There are multiple reasons why this could happen – ice building up in the unit during colder months, clogged air filters and coils or simply using the wrong setting.
Whatever the reason, there are a few ways to prepare your air conditioner so that you’re not caught off guard in the dead of winter. Read on to find out what you can do to ensure your air conditioner is functioning optimally during the winter months.
1. Service Your Air Conditioner
The number one solution to most of your air conditioning problems is to ensure that you’re servicing it when required. We recommend getting your air conditioner serviced once every year by a licensed professional.
Just like how you would with your car, you’ll need to service your air conditioner regularly to keep it working at its best. This is especially important if you’re using your air conditioner
throughout the year. If you find yourself using your air conditioner throughout the day, every day, it would be wise to check your system every couple of months.
2. Check Your Filters
If you’ve been using your air conditioner all through summer, your filters may have accumulated a lot of dirt. To prepare for winter, you should clean or replace your filters as this will allow your air conditioner to function better.
As a general rule of thumb, you should clean your filters every month, especially when you’re using your air conditioner most – which tends to be during summer (for cooling) and winter (for heating). This is something that is fairly straightforward that you can do on your own. Be sure to check your air conditioner’s user manual to look for instructions on how you should be cleaning your filters.
Give It A Thorough Clean
Other than keeping your filters clean, you should be giving the entire unit a good clean every now and then.
Each model of air conditioner would have specific instructions on what needs to be cleaned and how to do it. Be sure to check your user manual for these instructions as cleaning the inner parts of your air conditioner, such as evaporator coils and condenser, may not be so straightforward.
If you’ve checked your user manual and are still unsure how to properly clean your air conditioner, consult a licensed technician to ensure that it’s done correctly.
Set It At The Right Temperature
Setting your air conditioner at the right temperature seems like a no-brainer, right? But you’d be surprised how not everyone gets this right and ends up complaining about a faulty air conditioner during winter.
| Season | Ideal Temperature |
| Winter | 18 – 20° |
| Summer | 25 – 27° |
This temperature range will ensure that you’re getting the maximum efficiency from your unit. If you’re living in an area where the climate is cooler during the winter, you can adjust the temperature to be a little warmer. The opposite is true for when you’re living in a climate where summers are hotter than usual.
Use A Timer
Having a timer for your air conditioner will help you save energy and keep your unit from being overworked. An air conditioning unit that isn’t overworked = optimal function.
For example, you could set your timer so the heating goes off a few hours after going to bed. That way, you only use it when you need it the most and ensure it isn’t running too much, for too long.
You can also schedule when your air conditioning unit should be turned on on a daily basis, such as right before you get back from work so that your home is nice and toasty for your arrival. This will help you save some energy and allow you to get the most out of your air conditioning unit during the winter months.
What Else Can You Do To Prepare Your Home For Winter?
Keep Your Home Well Insulated
Heat loss usually occurs in the roof or walls of your home. To prevent too much heat loss from occurring, you can install insulation in your roofing or cavity wall insulation. This might come at an extra cost but you’ll be saving hundreds of dollars in heating bills every year from it.
Use Curtains
You can benefit from the heat of the sun during the day by keeping your curtains open. But when it’s nighttime, draw your curtains close and turn your heating on. The extra layer from the curtains will help insulate your home and keep the warmth indoors.
Bottom Line
Colder months are ahead but that doesn’t mean you should start dreading them. With careful planning and preparation, you can avoid the shock and discomfort of not having proper heating.
Use the tips that we’ve shared above to stay warm. If you’re looking to get your air conditioner professionally serviced or get an old unit replaced, Gaschill is happy to help.
