What Happens When an Air Conditioner Has Not Been in Use for a Few Months?
If a device hasn’t been in use for a long period of time, it’s typical for it to develop issues. It may be anything from a refrigerator to a lawnmower, but what about an air conditioner? Is there any harm if you don’t use your air conditioner for 3-4 months or more?
To put your mind at ease, most air conditioners are unaffected by this. Modern air conditioners are designed to last a long time. If your air conditioner is overall in good condition and receives the regular maintenance it requires, it is unlikely to develop any difficulties after being switched off for a few months.
However, there are several measures you should take before restarting your air conditioner after a period of being idle.
A Few Steps To Take When your Air Conditioner has Not been in use for a long period of time:
An accumulation of dirt, dust, and debris is one of the few things that can harm an idle air conditioner. This is especially true if the surroundings are particularly dusty.
Before changing the thermostat to cool, if the air conditioner has been turned off for several months, follow these steps to ensure your air conditioner is functioning properly:
- Examine the compressor outdoors. The compressor is usually installed outside. You must inspect it for debris build-up or grime. Before turning on your AC, clean the surrounding area and remove any clutter or obstructions. However, do not open the unit. If you wish to inspect the interior components, it is prudent to get professional assistance.
- Follow the maintenance routine as directed. Your air conditioner’s maintenance schedule takes into consideration the time when it is not in use. It should be done once a year at the very least. If you didn’t have any maintenance done the previous season, make sure you call a technician before turning on your AC again.
- Set your AC to fan mode first. Allow it to run for at least 10 minutes in this manner. This will aid in the removal of dust from the system prior to switching it to cool mode. When you’re going to turn your AC off for the winter, make sure to run it on fan-only for 60 minutes at the end of the season.
- Get your air conditioner serviced properly. If your AC was acting up before you turned it off, it’s likely the problem has worsened. With that, before turning on your AC again, you should have it serviced by a professional.
It’s better to be safe with preventative air conditioner maintenance to avoid potential, costly repairs down the road. For quality HVAC services, True North Mechanical delivers. You can rely on us to offer outstanding workmanship through our numerous years of experience in the HVAC sector. Call us at 780-713-4004.!