It feels like storm season is every season. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. As the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, snowstorms are upon the north. Most recently the rains caused destruction for our loved ones in Louisiana. The welfare of your family during treacherous 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. Check out these recommendations for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season.
Secure Your Air Conditioning
Your outside air conditioning equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly fastened to avoid the equipment from being thrown in the air or washing away in a storm. If you are in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your equipment with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your expert technician about securing your home’s air conditioning system during your Fall Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t really avoid the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can shield your heating and air conditioning equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any sizable 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 heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could harm. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and request expert help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your loved ones and you need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if time allows, shut down your heating and cooling system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and clean up 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 signals of damage and get rid of any debris surrounding the system. Try to check and confirm there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 321-428-7635 for an AC inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the air conditioning. Once you’ve had the equipment inspected by an expert to ensure safe function, turn the HVAC system back on immediately to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into your equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these suggestions on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and ask about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order through all the seasons.