By Nancy Clark
I have a Mercedes. It’s my third by the German manufacturer, but at the point of sale was the first that I heard the salesman mention that one of the reasons the engine on this model ran at a nearly-imperceptible purr was that it was fueled by premium gasoline. “Just like your last car,” he added.
I came face to face with the fact I had failed my last car. I never read the instruction manual. I switched up the gas from cheap to premium on a whim whenever I filled up.
Now come to find out that the air conditioner I paid so dearly for a year ago should be shut down, serviced and covered in winter.
Turns out, MileHi HVAC would have told me.
Winterizing is a process. You can do it yourself or call MileHi HVAC.
The first step is to locate the electrical circuit on your unit. Usually the switch is covered with a plastic or metal lid. Open the lid and flip the switch to off. This step is necessary to prevent the AC from turning on a particularly warm winter day and it serves to keep the water out of the unit that potentially will freeze when Colorado’s weather turns on a dime.
It’s essential to clean the unit, removing dirt and debris on it and around it. Spray the AC unit with a hose and cover it to protect it from dirt that would otherwise accumulate over the winter.
Cover the unit after cleaning it. Covers are available online at Amazon, Home Depot and other retailers. You can purchase a cover from MileHi HVAC that is the perfect fit. It’s smart to secure the cover with a vinyl rope or bungee cord to prevent wind gusts shifting the cover moving it out of place and exposing the AC to the winter elements.
Check the AC cover periodically over the winter to ensure it is secure. Remove snow and ice and collected debris. Simply make it a practice to check the AC unit when you shovel your sidewalks.
Annually, at minimum, make an appointment with MileHi HVAC to have the AC unit serviced. Regular professional maintenance will prolong the life of the AC unit, saving you thousands in replacement costs. The tech will address any repairs to keep the AC equipment running optimally, cooling your home at its most effective rate.
It is recommended that you have your unit cleaned by a NATE Certified HVAC technician.
Contact MileHi HVAC for more specifics or to answer questions you have about your AC care. The pros at MileHi HVAC know this stuff. It’s what they live for. Count on them.
