Give your AC a winter break: Expert tips to avoid surprises next season

Every November there’s that moment – you reach for a blanket, feel the air getting crisp, and then you see the AC, idle after months of keeping it cool. Don’t just leave it there to gather dust. Giving your air conditioner a thoughtful winter send-off can save you headaches and cash next summer. Let’s walk through it together, step by step. Step 1: Really Clean the Filters (Don’t Just Tap Them Out) Here’s the part that almost everyone rushes. If you can, take the filters out and give them a proper soak – lukewarm water, gentle rubbing, patience. Resist​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​a. Allow the filter to air dry completely. Not only will these musty smells escape, but you’ll be surprised at how much dirt accumulates, especially if you’ve skipped mid-year cleaning. Trust me, you will see the difference the next time you turn it on. Step 2: Brush the fins up slowly. Inside the indoor unit, those delicate little fins are dust magnets. Run a soft brush over them, no brute force, please. If you have a handheld vacuum, a single pass on low power helps. Why bother? That fine dust can mess with cooling efficiency, and starting summer with clean fins means faster freezing air. If you feel like it, even lightly sweeping around the suction area where air enters the unit helps more than you think. Step 3: Give the Outdoor Unit Some Love Go outside (consider it your five minute walk for the day) and check your AC’s outdoor air compressor. Brush off dead leaves, clean the ventilation spaces and make sure nothing is stuck in there. Consider a cloth cover for the months ahead, a cotton sheet does well. Skip the plastic tarp as it traps moisture, which is almost every machine’s enemy. If you live in a city with curious animals or a lot of construction, check again mid-season. Step 4: Check for dripping and moisture While you’re at it, check for any suspicious moisture around pipes and connections. It’s easy to miss a leak if you’re not expecting it, but a little patch can turn into a bigger problem later. If something seems off, write it down and mention it to your service person the next time they come (which, let’s be honest, is usually right before a heat wave). Step 5: Switch off, but be strategic Let’s talk about that familiar urge to run over and just pull the plug. Most of us do it without thinking. But your AC actually prefers a more thoughtful send off. First, switch off at the mains rather than the remote as this cuts all active power and lets the unit rest without any creep current passing through small circuits. If you decide to unplug completely, take a moment to dust the socket itself. Give it a quick wipe and then cover it with a cap or even some tape to stop dust from creeping in. You’ll thank yourself later, especially if the socket is behind furniture or in an awkward place. Your future self is already nodding in approval. Step 6: Give it some space After months of running at full tilt, the AC needs to breathe – seriously. It may sound minor, but the area around your wall unit matters. Don’t let winter storage become an excuse to pile suitcases, blankets or boxes right in front of it. When you contract this area, it traps moisture and dust, giving fungi the perfect environment to sneak inside those air ducts. Instead, move things just a foot or two away so that air can circulate freely, even when the unit is not turned on. A little space makes a world of difference. When April heat rolls in, you’ll turn on the AC and get clean, cool air, not a whiff of an old, stuffy room. Think of it as giving your hard-working device the downtime and space it deserves.