Sometimes it feels like storm season is all year. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. As the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, snowstorms are upon the north. Last month the floods caused destruction for our family in Louisiana. The safety of your family during perilous storms should absolutely take priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family are safe. Check out these tips for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioning
Your outdoor AC equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly fastened to prevent the air conditioner from going airborne or washing away in a storm. If you live in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your equipment with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your professional technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioner during your AC Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t literally avoid the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can protect your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, such as a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically shut off your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment that the power surge could harm. Remember to never touch any electrical components, and ask for expert help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to acquire shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, shut down your HVAC system and cover the outside equipment 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, ensure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. To get started, verify there are no indications of damage and get rid of any debris from around the system. Try to examine and confirm there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 925-384-1303 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 professional to ensure safe working, turn the HVAC system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into your system 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 Freschi Service Experts and ask about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order through all the seasons.