While your AC system is created to withstand the elements, including precipitation and hail damage, occasionally you need to call your air conditioning repair technician to inspect likely damage. If your air conditioner sits in standing water, due to a torrential downpour or other unexpected issues, it can cause severe damage to the moving parts and electrical components. The water usually has to reach about 15 inches in depth to affect your AC system, but if there has been any flooding whatsoever, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for an air conditioner inspection as soon as possible.
If intense rainfall or flooding caused your air conditioning unit to sit in standing water, there are a couple of things we recommend doing to avoid further damage or a dangerous environment:
- Deactivate all the electrical controls for your AC system. If you are not comfortable turning off your switches, you can call your air conditioning service company to help help you complete the process.
- Allow your air conditioner to dry out. Get rid of any standing water if possible and cautiously clear any debris from the surrounding area.
- Leave your AC system off until a professional AC inspection has been performed. Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and ensure your equipment will work safely and effectively with a full air conditioner safety inspection.
REMEMBER: Do not cover your outdoor heating and air conditioning systems with a tarp. This can actually cause more problems, including not allowing the system to air out completely and remove moisture, possibly causing rust or other damage.
In addition to downpours, spring also brings hail storms, also. Each year thousands of commercial and residential air conditioning systems are damaged by hail. While you can probably see obvious damage from the outside, you may not realize that the damage inside the air conditioner may be causing restricted air flow, hindering the performance of the system. Sometimes you can fix the air conditioning system more easily, by combing the fins or replacing the coil, but an insurance company’s claim breakdown showed that around 10% of AC systems damaged by hail had to be completely replaced.
Strong winds tend to accompany storms and while your air conditioning unit probably won’t get wind damage, other things picked up by the wind, like tree limbs, furniture, or unattached enclosures, can be thrown, damaging your air conditioning unit.
For a full AC inspection and safety check, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we’ll make sure your air conditioner is working safely and efficiently. Help keep your family safe during storm season and make sure to follow these guidelines if your city is under a serious storm warning.