A Positively Moving Experience
Packing an Air Conditioner
Now that it’s Summer, the heat is on, and an air conditioner is one of the staple items that every single household needs. If you’re planning on organizing a move, you may be somewhat confused as to what the best way of packing and transporting an air conditioner is – especially since they are simultaneously bulky/heavy and delicate/expensive pieces of equipment. Here’s a guide from the residential moving experts at Noah’s Ark Moving and Storage on how to pack and transport an air conditioner.
Cleaning
First off, you need to clean the air conditioner in order to ensure it still works when you get to your new location, as well as as a preventative measure of problems arising when you place it in storage. First, check that it’s not connected to any power. If it’s directly wired into your power, you may decide it’s not worth the effort of disconnecting it, and would rather buy a new one. If you decide to take it, make sure to follow the official manufacturer instructions for disconnection to a T. One of the most important aspects of the air conditioner disconnection is discharging the capacitor, ensuring that there’s no electrical energy left inside the air conditioner when you start cleaning it. This is a safety essential.
Then, clean off the outside cover of the air conditioner with a wet cloth, taking off as much dirt and dust as possible. The front cover is then taken off – which can be more easy for some air conditioner models then others. Ensure that whatever screws or parts that you remove are kept somewhere safe where you won’t lose them. Sometimes, reusable filters can be cleaned with warm water with some soap – just make sure it is completely dry before placing it back inside the unit. Try using a small vacuum cleaner to remove any dust inside the air conditioner – then put it all back together!
Packing
Ensure that the air conditioner unit is unplugged and completely cool before you start packing it. Lift it up and shut any open side panels. Then, tape up the power cord to the side of the unit. Make sure that it’s taped to the side and not the back, which is where the coils are. Hopefully you have the original box that the air conditioner unit was packed in, where it can fit snugly and perfectly – and if this isn’t available, a normal box meant for a similar piece of equipment can work fine. Use packing paper in order to pad it – just don’t use polystyrene beads, since these can actually get inside the air conditioner and break it. Tape the box so it won’t open up, and label it clearly so the professional moving company you are working with knows to handle the package delicately when it’s being loaded onto and off the truck. When the package is at your new location, simply unpack it, plug it in, and enjoy the cool refreshing air!
