You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, snowfalls are upon the north. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should invariably be priority. But even while the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family are safe. See our recommendations for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season.
Attach Your AC
Your outdoor air conditioning equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly anchored to keep the equipment from going airborne or washing away over the course of a storm. If you reside in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to keep the equipment safe from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about securing your home’s air conditioning system during your Fall Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually stop the surge that often occurs 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, a furnace for example, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically shut down your heating system if there’s an increase in the line voltage. This will help protect the electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment that the power surge could harm. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and ask for professional help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your loved ones and you need to find shelter first and foremost, but if time allows, turn off your heating and cooling system and cover the outside equipment with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, you must remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
Once the storm is over, ensure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. First, make sure there are no signals of damage and get rid of any debris from around the system. Try to examine and verify there is no apparent harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call (866) 963-7996 for a system inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the system checked by a technician to ensure safe working, turn the heating and cooling system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into the equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had 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 and find out about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order all seasons long.
