The summer is finally coming to close, and while this might be sad news for some, just as many people are celebrating an end to the oppressive heat and welcoming in the crisp freshness of autumn.

There’s something else the changing of the seasons means: time to bring down the winter things and put away the summer things. Out come the sweaters and the flannel sheets, and into storage go our sandals and other light things. And as HVAC services know, some bigger pieces need to get stowed away as well, namely our window unit air conditioners. Two-thirds of American homes have air conditioners, and many if not most of them need to do the same thing every year. Check out these three tips for properly removing and storing your air conditioner, until next time.

Practice Safety

Above all, remember to be safe when taking out your window unit! They are very heavy and unwieldy, and attempting to do it without work gloves can result in a squashed finger. Worse, if you lose your grip, the entire thing could come tumbling out of the window and hurt someone walking below. If you don’t think you can handle the whole thing, get a friend to help you. After you get it out of the window, lower it down onto a towel on the ground.

Clean the Filter

Once you’ve safely removed your air conditioner, you can prep it for it’s long vacation. The most important part of this is to clean out the air filter. Since it’s the end of the season, you can probably afford to let the filter languish in a bath of white vinegar and water for at least an hour to disinfect it and get the last of any pet dander or pollen that might be lurking. It’s not a bad idea to wipe off the rest of the unit and make sure the whole thing is spick and span before you stow it away.

Store in a Covered Box

Finally, you need to find a home for your air conditioner for the rest of the year. It would be best if you could store it in a covered box or a sturdy bag to protect it from dust and debris, and stow it somewhere out of the way.

If you have a lot of air conditioning units, it might be a good idea to call an HVAC service to help you take them out — while they are around, have them inspect your furnace and tankless water heaters to make sure that they are up and running for the winter! HVAC services will really help ease the seasonal transition.