With fall starting to settle in across the country, air conditioners are gradually giving way to heating systems in many homes. What most homeowners don't think about, however, is that this is the best time to plan your necessary air conditioning maintenance. Addressing maintenance needs now can help you to identify and correct any potential problems with your air conditioning unit so that you can avoid costly surprises in the spring. Here are a few things to consider.

Examine The AC Unit

The first thing you should do now that your air conditioner is down for the season is to examine the unit for any signs of problems. Moisture issues, physical damage, odd noises, or other problems should be addressed right away so that the issues don't worsen over the colder season while the system sits dormant. If you don't trust your own perspective, reach out to an air conditioning maintenance contractor to inspect the unit for you.

Clean The Condenser Coils

An annual maintenance appointment will include a thorough condenser coil cleaning. This is an important step to complete before you leave your air conditioner dormant for the next several months. Any debris, dirt, or contaminants that are on the coils can put those coils at risk of deteriorating damage and corrosion over the winter months. Have the coils professionally cleaned so that there is no residue on the coils that could damage the system.

Test The Fan And Motors

Your air conditioning maintenance technician should also test the fan and the motor before winter. If there's any wear or damage to the fan or the motor, leaving the system unused for the winter can allow that wear to encourage deterioration and potential failure of the air conditioner. When you overlook these issues, you may find that the air conditioner that worked when the weather got cold no longer runs when spring weather comes in.

Check The Refrigerant

The refrigerant system in your air conditioner is closed. That means the refrigerant just cycles through the system where it is consistently retained. However, that system isn't impervious to developing leaks or facing seal failures. Testing the refrigerant pressure is the best way of identifying these problems before they lead to air conditioning failure. Your technician can then find the source of the leak, patch it, and recharge the system before the weather warms up.

Fall and winter are usually quieter months for air conditioning maintenance technicians because air conditioners are no longer in use. This makes it an ideal time to schedule a maintenance appointment before summer leads to busy schedules again.

If you need air conditioning maintenance services, reach out to a local HVAC technician.