Sometimes it feels like storm season is all year. 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. Last month the storms caused destruction for our friends in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during hazardous storms should always take priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. Here are some suggestions for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioning
Your outside air conditioning equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly secured to prevent the system from going airborne or washing away in a storm. If you are in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your professional technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioner during your Precision Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually prevent the surge that often comes during a storm, but you can safeguard your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment from it. Get a high-quality surge protector where any large appliances, such as a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help protect the electrical components in your heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could harm. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and seek professional help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, shut off your heating and cooling system and cover the outside equipment with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, make sure you remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
When the storm has passed, be sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. First, verify there are no indications of damage and get rid of any debris from around the equipment. Try to examine and verify there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 843-410-6103 for an AC inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the air conditioning. Once you’ve had the equipment checked by a professional to ensure safe operation, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into the equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Pardee Service Experts and find out about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order all seasons long.