When the very cold weather comes, it's time to shut down your air conditioning and get the heat prepared. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as switching the mode on the thermostat from cooling to heating. There are some things you need to do to your air conditioner to get it ready for the winter since it's the best way to ensure that the unit will be ready to go next spring. Here are 4 steps to follow if you want to get it done.

Turn Off The Power

It's possible that the air conditioning could accidentally be turned on in the winter. All it takes is someone in your home messing with the thermostat settings, and the condenser could kick on during frigid temperatures and cause damage to the unit. Take all the necessary steps to ensure that the unit has been turned off, which could include an external switch or flipping the circuit breaker for the unit.

Clean The Unit

With the power turned off, now is a great time to make sure that all of the leaves, sticks, and debris have been cleaned out of the condenser outside of your home. These things not only encourage animals to make a home in the unit in the winter, but can cause damage to the unit in the process if their nests remain inside when you start it up.

Remove the cover on the unit so you can use a hose to spray out debris between the fins. Also, pull out dead leaves and anything else that fell inside it. Just be sure to not damage the fins on the unit, since they aid in ventilation.

Drain The Condensation

There should be a drain on the underside of the condenser that releases the moisture from the unit. Make sure that this is cleaned out before the winter starts. It will help prevent mold, mildew and rust from forming inside the condenser. There will also not be an issue with water that freezes either.

Cover The Unit

All you need is a small piece of wood to cover the top of the condenser. It will stop items from falling into it during the winter, and give it some additional protection from winter storms. A full cover can actually trap moisture inside the unit, which is what can cause rust to form.

If you fail to follow these tips, the unit may not be working right next spring. You'll then need to contact an air conditioning repair company to come out and fix it for you.