You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. Before the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, blizzards are upon the north. In August the rains caused destruction for our family in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should always take priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family remain unharmed. See our suggestions for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your AC
Your outside air conditioning equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly secured to keep the equipment from going airborne or washing away over the course of a storm. If you live in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your equipment with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioning system during your Fall Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t literally stop the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can safeguard your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 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 off your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could hurt. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and request expert help if you are not comfortable using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your family and you need to find shelter first and foremost, but if time permits, shut off your HVAC system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, make sure you remove the tarp and get rid of any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
When the storm has passed, ensure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. To get started, make sure there are no signals of damage and clean any debris from around the system. Try to evaluate and make sure there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 801-436-8985 for an AC inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the air conditioning. Once you’ve had the system inspected by a technician to ensure safe working, turn the HVAC system back on immediately 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 recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Barlow Service Experts and learn about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order through all the seasons.