As the leaves start to change colour and the temperature begins to drop (even more!), it’s time to prepare your home for autumn-winter. A task that may be on your seasonal to-do list could be putting away your air conditioner or fan. Proper storage ensures that these appliances remain in top condition and are ready for use next summer. In this guide, we’ll show you the best way to store your air conditioner and fan for the autumn and winter months, helping you prolong their lifespan.
Before you pack away your air conditioner or fan for the season, consider whether storing them is even necessary. A top air conditioning unit, like the Meaco Cool MC Pro Series, offers year-round functionality with modes like Cool, Fan, Dry, and Heat. These versatile settings allow your unit to function as a fan, heater, air conditioner or to add a little dryness – all in one! Whether it’s reducing humidity in damp months, circulating air during mild but muggy weather, or adding warmth to a room in winter, your air conditioner can be a valuable companion all year long. However, if you’re set on putting it away, skip ahead to learn how.
Similarly, air circulators like the MeacoFan Sefte® offer excellent benefits throughout the year, especially in winter. They work by circulating warm air from your heaters evenly throughout the room, eliminating cold spots and ensuring a consistent temperature. This not only improves comfort but also reduces condensation build-up on windows, which can help prevent mould growth and maintain healthier air quality.
Using an air circulator during the colder months can also make your heating system more efficient. Find out how you can save hundreds of pounds on laundry costs by combining a fan with a dehumidifier. By circulating warm air, your fan helps reduce the workload on your radiators or heaters, lowering your overall energy consumption and cutting heating costs. Plus, with running costs as low as 0.1p an hour, the MeacoFan Sefte® is incredibly energy efficient—just 2.4p for a full 24-hour period! Click here to jump straight to storage instructions for your fan.
Still, if you’re set on hibernating these devices, continue reading to learn the best practices for storing them safely and prolonging their lifespan.
Why Proper Storage Matters
Air conditioners and fans are valuable appliances, and taking the time to store them correctly can prevent damage, extend their lifespan, and save you money on replacement or repairs in the long run. Neglecting your appliance during the winter months could lead to issues such as mould growth, rust or a reduction in the product’s performance.
Six Steps to properly Store your Air Conditioning Unit
- Turn Off and Unplug – Before you do anything, make sure your air conditioner is turned off and unplugged. This might seem obvious, but it’s a crucial first step for safety.
- Clean the Filters – Dirty filters can harbour dust, pollen, and even mould, which can affect your air conditioner’s performance. Clean the filters by running a vacuum cleaner over them; a soft brush attachment will effectively remove any debris. For a deep clean, gently use a damp cloth.
MeacoCool filters are designed to be life-long, however, skipping this step when storing your air conditioner can lead to them needing to be replaced. - Drain Any Remaining Water – Most air conditioners have a small water tank that collects water when used in Dry mode, or when it’s been very humid. It’s important to make sure all the water is fully drained to prevent leaking and mould growth. To drain water from the MeacoCool air conditioners, the air conditioner should be raised and a hose attached to the outlet on the rear of the machine (Check out more detailed instructions).
4. Tidy Those Cables – Check if your air conditioner has a built-in cable tidy. Neatly wind the cables around it to avoid tangling or damage during storage.
5. Cover the Air Conditioner – Once clean and dry, cover the unit with a breathable fabric or plastic sheet. This will protect it from dust, debris or sun damage in storage.
6. Store in a Cool, Dry Place – Ideally, your air conditioner should be stored indoors in a cool and dry environment. Avoid placing it in areas where it could be exposed to extreme temperatures.
Six Steps to properly Store your Fan
Unplug and Clean – The first step in storing your fan is to unplug it. Then, give it a thorough clean. Wipe down the blades, grill, and stand with a damp cloth. If the grill is detachable like it is on the MeacoFan Sefte® range, you can remove it for easier cleaning.
How to take apart and clean your MeacoFan Sefte®:
1. Put the fan on a flat, clean surface and remove the magnetic remote control from the centre.
2. Gently lay the fan on its side.
Use a screwdriver to remove the single screw located under the fan head.
Rotate the grill anti-clockwise to unlock it, then carefully set aside on a clean surface.
3. Vacuum the grill to remove dust -using a soft brush attachment works best for clearing debris. For a deeper clean, wipe the grill with a damp cloth after vacuuming.
4. To access the blades, remove the locking capstop by turning it anti-clockwise. The blades should then slide out for easy cleaning.
(If you’re wondering why its not ‘lefty loosey, righty tighty’ on this occasion, it’s because if you turned the locking cap clockwise, it’ll constantly spin with the fan blades!)
5. Regular cleaning is important, as dust build-up can reduce the fan’s efficiency and increase noise levels. Keeping it clean ensures optimal performance and whisper-quiet operation.
6. After thoroughly cleaning the fan blades and the interior, carefully slide the blades and the locking cap stop back into place. Secure the grill by aligning it, then turn it clockwise to lock it firmly in position. Don’t forget to put the screw back in place. Once everything is reassembled, your fan is ready for storage.
7. Store safely in a MeacoFan Storage bag! Shop now.
If you have a MeacoFan 1056 or MeacoFan 1056P, check out the cleaning instructions.
Store Upright – Store your fan upright to prevent unnecessary pressure on the blades or motor and keep it in a dry, safe spot away from heavy objects that could cause damage. For the best protection, consider using a Meaco storage bag. Designed to shield your fan from dust, moisture, scratches, and sun damage ensuring your fan stays in top condition for use next spring-summer.
Final Tips from Meaco
Regular Maintenance: Before storing your air conditioner or fan, check for any signs of wear and tear. Address any minor issues now to avoid bigger problems when you need to use them again.
Keep Manuals Handy: Store the user manual in a safe place, preferably with the appliance, so it’s easy to find when you need it.
Inspect Before Use: When you take your air conditioner and fan out of storage next summer, give them a quick inspection to ensure everything is in working order.
Register Your Warranty: If you haven’t already, make sure you register your product’s warranty to ensure quick aftercare should you come across a problem. Register your Meaco product.
Managing Moisture: Dehumidifying Season
As you pack away your cooling products, now is the perfect time to bring out your dehumidifier. With the wetter months approaching, your laundry may take longer to dry, and indoor humidity levels will start to rise. Start using your dehumidifier early, we recommend keeping it on for 24 hours a day with a target relative humidity of 55. This will maintain optimal humidity levels and prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mould and condensation. Starting early also helps your dehumidifier run more efficiently, as it won’t need to work as hard to reduce the moisture in the air in a couple of months’ time. Keeping your home dry and comfortable is key to maintaining a healthy environment.
Properly storing your air conditioner and fan during autumn-winter is an essential step to ensure they remain in top condition for years to come. By following these simple steps, you can avoid potential damage and be confident that your appliances will be ready to keep you cool when the temperatures rise again.
If you’re looking for high-quality air conditioners, fans, or other home comfort appliances, browse Meaco’s full range of products to find the perfect fit for your home.
Featured:
- 3-in-1 Air Circulator
- Air Beam Precision
- Whisper quiet – from 25 dB
- Shop Sefte® online
- Hard-wearing protective bag
- Available for both Table and Pedestal models
- Shop fan spares online
- Highly energy efficient
- Easy to use
- Additional modes available
- Shop MeacoCool online
