It feels like storm season is every season. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer starts the hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowstorms are upon the north. Most recently the floods wreaked havoc on our family in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during perilous storms should always take priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. See our tips for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Attach Your Air Conditioning
Your outside AC equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly secured to keep the system from going up in the air or washing away during a storm. If you live in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to protect the equipment from high winds. Ask your professional technician about securing your home’s AC during your AC Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t literally stop the surge that often comes during a storm, but you can shield your heating and cooling equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, like a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically shut down your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment that the power surge could damage. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and request expert help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your heating and cooling system and cover the outside system with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
Once the storm is over, ensure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. First, make sure there are no signals of damage and clean any debris surrounding the system. Try to evaluate and confirm there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call 407-329-7661 for a system inspection if it looks like there may have been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the equipment inspected by an expert to ensure safe working, turn the HVAC system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into your equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these suggestions on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and ask about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all year long.