What if AC is Not Used for Long Time?

I remember this one time I didn’t use my air conditioner (AC) for almost 6 months, probably during the winter. When summer rolled around, I turned it on, and it just didn’t feel right. My AC wasn’t cooling properly. This got me thinking about what happens if AC is not used for long time. As I am unaware of it completely, I hired an AC Technician to repair it. He said ignoring the AC for too long can cause a few problems.

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What Happens When a Window Air Conditioner Not Used for a Long Time?

Here’s what the technician said:

1. Dust Buildup: When an air conditioner is not used for a long time, dust can collect in the filters and vents. This makes it harder for the AC to circulate air properly and can even affect the air quality in your home.

2. Capacitor Problems: The capacitor in the outdoor unit might lose its charge after months of inactivity. Without it, the AC struggles to start, and this could even lead to compressor failure.

3. Worn-Out Seals and Gaskets: The rubber parts, like seals and gaskets, can dry out and crack. This can lead to refrigerant leaks, which are costly to fix.

4. Brittle Belts: If the belts inside dry out, they can snap when you try to use the AC again.

5. Duct and Sensor Issues: Duct leaks or sensor malfunctions are also possible if the system hasn’t been used or checked for a long time.

I hope you found this helpful.

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Also Read:

Is It Necessary to Service AC Every Year

I moved from Bangalore to Delhi last month with all of my belongings, including my air conditioner, because I got a new job there. Since I was working from home, I haven't used my air conditioning unit in over a year. Because of this, I was worried and looked up what happens if an air conditioner is not used for 1 year or 2 years or more. I found that my AC unit might freeze, corrode, lose effectiveness, or break down.

What Happens If An Air Conditioner is Not Used for 3-4 Years?

As you are aware, air conditioning has become a necessity in our lives, particularly in the sweltering summer months. Let’s see the consequences that you have to face if you don't use your air conditioner for a long time:

• Accumulation of mold and dust inside the AC unit.

Dust can build up inside your air conditioner if it is left inactive for a long period. It thus clogs the filters, lowers its effectiveness, and may result in poor air quality.

• The outdoor AC unit's capacitor will break.

Without having a capacitor in AC unit, the compressor would not get enough power to function. However, a capacitor may lose its capacity to generate the voltage required to turn on your air conditioner after being left inactive for more than a year. 

You must contact a skilled AC technician immediately if this occurs. If you ignore this for too long, it may lead to more costly issues like compressor failure or refrigerant leakage, as well as damage to other components.

• Gaskets and seals will contract, break, and seep.

Over time, your AC unit's gaskets and rubber door seals may shrink and crack. It may result in leaks around the unit's edges or, even worse.

• Belts will break down and become fragile.

The electric coil and compressor components in central air conditioning systems or window units are powered by belt drives. But, these belts grow stiff and brittle if they dry out from lack of use over time.

Moreover, my friend informed me that though your AC not used for 2 years or more, it's probably in fine condition. This is only possible if your AC receives routine cleaning, maintenance, and inspections.

In many instances, when an AC is not used for a long time, it is probably tough to start after having been idle for that long. Even just getting it functioning again might have required a trip to the repair shop. The question is what happens if AC is not used for long time and whether there are any negative effects when an air conditioner isn't used for three, four, or even longer months. It all relies on your level of familiarity with seasonal upkeep. I will tell you how.

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What happens if AC is not used for long time?

The majority of the time, the solution is excellent news for homeowners. Modern air conditioners are designed to last for many years, frequently operating continuously for months at a time. When the AC is turned off, as long as it has received regular seasonal maintenance and is in excellent operating order, you shouldn't experience any issues. When you are about to turn off or restart an air conditioner for a prolonged period of time, there are still a few safety precautions to be taken.

An accumulation of dirt, dust, and debris is one of the few things that does have an impact on an unattended air conditioner. This is particularly true in an atmosphere as dusty.

Here is a helpful checklist to go through before setting the thermostat to cool if the air conditioner has been sitting inactive for a few months and you want to learn that if AC is not used for a long time:

• Examine the compressor outdoors. Is anything surrounding it being overgrown by weeds? Has any debris that has to be removed been blown in by the wind? For a radius of at least three feet surrounding the appliance, nothing should be able to obstruct airflow.

• Are you current with maintenance? If maintenance on the air conditioner wasn't done before the AC was turned off, it must be done before the air conditioner is turned back on.

• First, turn on the fan-only setting on the air conditioner. Let it continue in this manner for at least ten minutes. Switching the system to the cool mode will assist in clearing the system of dust.

Here are a few things to do before flipping the switch off if you're planning to turn off the air conditioner for the season or for any extended amount of time, like a six-month trip abroad:

• For 60 minutes, run the fan on the thermostat's fan only setting. This will assist in system cleaning

• Performing seasonal maintenance now will make restarting the AC later quick and easy.

The most important thing to remember is that your air conditioner should be able to withstand extended periods of idleness without any issues, but this depends on routine seasonal maintenance performed before or after the shutdown. I hope this helps you understand what happens if AC is not used for long time.