4 Ways to Protect Your HVAC Unit from Snow and Ice

Fallen snow during the winter season can create beautiful landscapes throughout any neighborhood, but there is a dark side to this beauty. When left unchecked, snow and ice can infiltrate your outdoor HVAC unit and impact the entire system’s ability to function properly.

Covering the outdoor unit is not an option because that can cause its own set of problems, but that doesn’t mean you have no recourse for winter weather protection. In fact, here are four quick tips that we would recommend:

Check the Outdoor Unit Daily

Your first line of defense against snow and ice is, well… YOU. Each day, it’s important that you check the outdoor unit for snow, ice, or other debris that could impede the system’s ability to function properly, and remove such obstructions.

Insulate the Pipes

When pipes freeze up, your system will stop working properly. The much bigger problem, though, is that frozen pipes can quickly become burst pipes. The solution is to cover and insulate any exposed pipes throughout your home and those located outdoors.

Ensure Proper Airflow

If you want your HVAC system to continue working efficiently once the weather drops, it’s important to ensure proper airflow throughout your home. In addition to unblocking registers and maintaining your ductwork, checking your air filter on a regular basis and replacing it when it begins to clog up will go a long way to accomplishing this.

Call a Professional

Keeping your entire HVAC system running properly is essential to preventing problems. Before the winter season arrives, call your trusted HVAC technician and have your indoor and outdoor units checked. He or she will be able to give the system a tune-up to ensure properly efficiency and prolong its lifespan, in addition to providing money-saving tips and addressing any potential problems with the system.

For more expert advice on winter weather protection, or if you have any other questions related to home comfort, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the friendly technicians at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We’ve been serving the HVAC needs of Orlando and the surrounding area since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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