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 ends in November, snowfalls are upon the north. Most recently the storms caused devastation for our friends in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during treacherous storms should invariably be priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family are safe. Check out these suggestions for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioning
Your outdoor AC equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly anchored to keep the equipment from going airborne or washing away during a storm. If you reside in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to keep the system safe 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 literally prevent the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can safeguard your heating and air conditioning equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any large appliances, such as a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically shut down your heating system if there’s a spike in the line voltage. This will help protect the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could damage. 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 seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, shut off your HVAC system and cover the outside system with a tarp. Prior to turning your equipment back on after the storm, you must remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
After the storm ends, make sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. To begin, make sure there are no indications of damage and clean any debris from around the equipment. Try to check and verify there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call 512-592-3072 for an equipment inspection if it looks like there may have been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the system inspected by a professional to ensure safe working, turn the heating and cooling system back on immediately to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into the equipment or ductwork.
If your equipment has suffered any damage, check out these recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Strand Brothers Service Experts and find out about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order all seasons long.