PTAC Preventative Maintenance for Winter Months

At Norwest, we offer great services for your PTAC unit, including preventative maintenance for an upcoming winter. The winterization of any PTAC unit is crucial for its long term health. By not properly maintaining it, you risk it breaking down sooner rather than later. Let's take a look at some of the steps to take to protect your AC unit from the harsh winter elements.

Preventative Steps For Your PTAC Unit During The Winter

Every summer invariably comes to a close, and some PTAC units require preventative maintenance in order to prepare for winter. This can be an overlooked aspect of having a PTAC unit, but the proper winterization of any unit is crucial in keeping it working for years on end. And not only working, but also saving you money on potential repairs and replacements. In short, keeping your unit in good working condition is smart business. Here are five elements to help you keep your PTAC unit working year round.

Turn Off  Power for PTAC Unit Before Cleaning

There is typically an exterior power circuit that these larger PTAC units use. So, if you do not plan on using the unit during the winter, then it is wise to turn off the power. And turn it off all winter. Doing so will prevent damage to the unit or any potential electrocution when doing the next few steps. And if it is turned on in the winter accidentally and is exposed to water during freezing temperatures, some damage may occur.

If this is a unit you will use during the winter months, then simply turn off for the cleaning and turn back on afterwards. But keeping off during cleaning is smart and an important safety measure.

Keep Unit Clean

It may seem self-explanatory, but keeping the unit clean all year long goes a long way. You can use a high-pressure hose to clean off the fan blades, condensing coils and clean off any dirt or bugs.

On top of that, keep the area outside the PTAC unit clean. Do not leave anything that may potentially damage it hanging around. Trim any plants or trees that may be growing too close. And sweep any leaves in the nearby area that may blow onto it. During the winter, freezing temperatures and snow can trap this debris in places that will cause damage. So best stay on top of it.

Check PTAC Unit For Cracks & Damage

After the cleaning is complete, give the PTAC a quick check for any potential cracks, damage or rust. Seal up any crevices to keep debris out of the unit during the winter. But if you notice any substantial issues, then please get in touch with us. Our PTAC preventative maintenance work will make sure that the unit holds up during those cold, winter months.

Cover It

Covering your unit once these steps are complete is a small form of protection against the harsh winter elements. However, if you do decide to cover it, there is the possibility of moisture getting trapped underneath it, which may lead to the growth of mold. In order to avoid this headache, expose some of the coils to the air so there is still some circulation.

A more DIY option is simply placing a piece of plywood on top of the unit. This wood prevents the risk of mold growth and corrosion, since it allows it to breathe. And it also offers protection for debris and stops leaves from entering the unit. As you can see, some preventative measures for your PTAC for the winter months can be a little experimental!

Check Periodically

We highly recommend periodically checking the unit during the winter, especially after instances of snow and ice appear. And if snow and ice builds on top of the unit, clear it off as soon as possible. It is a lot of weight to have on top of the PTAC unit and avoids it from handling any extra strain. And this strain can lead to damage in the future by wearing out the steel.

PTAC Preventative Maintenance & Winterization in New York

For more information about PTAC preventative maintenance for winter and our winterization services in general, please get in touch with our office. When you reach out to us, we can properly go over in detail what it is you need and how our PTAC services help. We offer extensive repair work for units and our results speak for themselves. So, for affordable and trustworthy preventative maintenance for your PTAC unit for an upcoming winter, get in touch with NorWest today! And not only just for winter, but preventative maintenance is important at all times! We work on PTAC units throughout the greater New York City area.

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