label Seasonal
Yes, you can store an AC, an air cooler and a room heater in a storage unit between seasons. The key is preparation. Clean each one and dry it completely, drain every drop of water from the cooler, and have a trained technician uninstall a split or window AC. Then pack them upright in their boxes or padded covers, with cords and remotes bagged alongside.
A desert cooler takes up a corner of the balcony for eight months. The oil heater sits behind the door from March to November. A spare window AC lives under the bed. In a Delhi NCR flat, appliances that only work for part of the year can take up a lot of space for the rest of it.
Why store seasonal appliances at all?
There are three common reasons:
- Space. Coolers and heaters are bulky, and smaller flats have no loft or storeroom for them.
- Condition. A cooler left on a balcony through the monsoon and winter collects dust, rust and sometimes insects. Indoors, out of the way, it lasts better.
- Moves and renovations. If you're between homes, or the AC has been taken down for painting, it needs somewhere safe to wait.
Families often store these alongside winter clothes and quilts. Our post on seasonal swap-outs covers the clothes side.
How do you get an AC ready for storage?
Split AC
A split AC has an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and refrigerant pipes between them. Don't unbolt it yourself. Have a trained AC technician or the brand's service centre uninstall it so the refrigerant is handled properly. Ask them to cap the pipe ends, then keep the pipes, remote and mounting brackets together in a labelled bag.
Window AC
A window unit comes out in one piece but is heavy. Two people, or a technician, should take it out. Before packing:
- Clean or wash the filter and let it dry fully.
- Wipe the casing and let any water in the base drain out.
- Keep it upright, the way it sat in the window.
Portable AC
Drain the water tank or tray as the manual describes. Then run it in fan mode for a while to dry the inside, if the manual suggests that. Pack the exhaust hose separately.
How do you store an air cooler?
Water is the main problem with coolers. Leftover water in the tank or pads can leave smells, scale and mould after months in storage.
- Empty the tank completely and wipe it dry.
- Remove the cooling pads. Throw out worn ones and plan to replace them next summer, or clean and fully dry them.
- Clean the pump intake and fan blades.
- Leave the cooler open in the sun or a dry room for a day before covering it.
- Wrap it in a breathable cover so dust stays out without trapping damp.
How do you store a room heater?
- Oil-filled radiator: let it cool, wipe off the dust, and wrap the cord loosely. Store it upright on its wheels.
- Fan and halogen heaters: blow or brush dust from the grille, check the cord for damage, and pack them in their box or bubble wrap.
- Gas heaters: disconnect and remove the cylinder before the heater goes into storage. Gas cylinders and fuel can't be kept in a storage unit. See what can and cannot be stored.
How should they be packed and placed in the unit?
| Appliance | Must do before storing | How to place it |
|---|---|---|
| Split AC | Uninstalled by a technician, pipes capped | Units upright, nothing heavy on top |
| Window AC | Filter cleaned, water drained | Upright, on the floor |
| Air cooler | Tank emptied, pads out, fully dry | Upright, in a breathable cover |
| Oil heater | Cooled and dusted | Upright on its wheels |
| Gas heater | Cylinder removed, not stored | Upright, boxed |
Use the original boxes if you kept them. Otherwise pad corners and grilles with bubble wrap or old blankets. Put remotes, screws and small parts in a labelled bag taped to each appliance. Keep the heaviest items at the front of the room at floor level, so next season's swap is quick. For more on packing, see our electronics storage guide.
When should you swap them in Delhi NCR?
Weather varies from year to year, so go by the weather rather than a fixed date. The usual pattern looks like this:
- Late autumn: once the nights turn cool, store the cooler and spare ACs and bring the heaters home.
- Early spring: when the cold days are over, store the heaters. Take the cooler out before the heat builds.
AC technicians tend to be busiest when summer arrives, so book uninstall and reinstall visits early. Our Delhi winter guide covers the rest of the seasonal swap.
Off-season appliance checklist
- Split or window AC uninstalled by a technician
- AC filters cleaned and dried
- Cooler tank emptied and dried, pads removed
- Heaters cooled and dusted, cords checked
- Gas cylinders and fuel kept out of storage
- Batteries out of remotes
- Small parts bagged and labelled on each appliance
- Everything stored upright with nothing heavy on top
A note on safety and warranty: the manufacturer's manual comes first. Uninstalling and reinstalling a split AC involves refrigerant and electrical work, so leave it to a trained technician. Doing it yourself may affect your warranty.
We have private, lockable storage rooms with 24/7 CCTV in Gurugram, Delhi and Noida. Plans are month to month, which suits seasonal storage. If you only have a few items, box storage may be an option. Check the room size you need with the storage calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Have a technician uninstall it first, clean and dry it, and store the units upright with the small parts bagged.
Yes. Empty the tank completely, take out the pads, and let the cooler dry fully so no water sits in it for months.
No. Gas cylinders and fuel are not allowed in a storage unit. Remove the cylinder and store only the heater.
It is safer to have a trained technician do it, because it involves refrigerant and electrical work. Doing it yourself may affect the warranty.
Not always. A few appliances can share a room with other household items, or with winter clothes. Use the storage calculator to estimate the size.
Plans are month to month, so you can store them for one off-season or longer.
Sources and notes
Checked 31 Oct 2026.
- Storage rooms, CCTV and monthly plans: Self Storage India private rooms and city pages.
- Items not allowed in storage: what can and cannot be stored.
- Uninstalling, draining and storing appliances: follow your appliance manufacturer's user manual and authorised service centre.
