It feels like storm season is every season. Spring arrives with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, snowstorms are upon the north. Most recently the floods caused devastation for our loved ones in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during treacherous storms should absolutely take priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. Check out these tips for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season.
Attach Your Air Conditioner
Your outside AC equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly attached to avoid the equipment from going airborne or washing away during a storm. If you reside in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be required to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioner during your AC Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t really prevent the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can protect your heating and air conditioning equipment from it. Get a high-quality surge protector where any large appliances, like a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s an increase in the line voltage. This will help safeguard the electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment that the power surge could harm. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and request professional help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to acquire shelter first and foremost, but if time permits, turn off your HVAC system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Prior to turning your equipment back on after the storm, make sure you remove the tarp and get rid of any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
Once the storm is over, be sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. To get started, make sure there are no indications of damage and clean any debris surrounding the system. Try to evaluate and verify there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 352-414-4006 for a system inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the equipment inspected by a professional to ensure safe working, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and restrict mold from getting into the equipment or ductwork.
If your equipment has suffered any damage, check out these tips on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and learn about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all seasons long.