Summer is officially over and that only means one thing in Rochester: winter is right around the corner. Hopefully, you’ve already bought winter tires for your vehicle, dug out all your snow equipment from the garage, and found your gloves, coats, and winter clothing. It’s important to note, however, that you shouldn’t forget about your home’s air conditioners — even during the coldest winter months.

Only 42% of homeowners call a professional to perform routine maintenance on their AC units, but not doing so can actually lead to some serious and costly problems. Over time, the filters within an AC unit can become clogged, coils will get dirtied, and airflow will be blocked.

Here are some great reasons why air conditioning units and general HVAC preventative maintenance is so important:

  • Prevent carbon monoxide leaks — If your HVAC systems haven’t been inspected or repaired recently, there is a chance that they are leaking carbon monoxide. This is a deadly consequence of not properly handling an HVAC unit.
  • Save a significant amount of money — Though you’ll have to spend a certain amount of money early on to actually have your AC units inspected and repaired, it will actually save you a significant amount more in the long run. Neglecting your units will force you to completely replace them later on, which can be expensive. Also, since more efficient systems result in less energy used, your energy bills will be much less once your HVAC units have been fixed.
  • Ensure your warranty remains intact — Some AC manufactures actually require regular maintenance in order to validate the warranty. Without your warranty being intact due to forgoing preventive maintenance, your repairs might not be covered.

Since air conditioning units require year-round maintenance, it’s important to not only know the dangers of neglecting AC maintenance, but also what steps you should take early on to ensure peak performance all year long. Here are some winter AC maintenance steps to keep in mind:

  1. Turn off the power to your air conditioning unit.
  2. Clean out your AC unit.
  3. Have your AC unit professionally inspected and repaired.
  4. Cover your AC unit and add extra insulation.
  5. Check your AC unit at least once a week.