It feels like storm season is every season. Spring arrives with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, snowfalls are upon the north. Last month the floods wreaked havoc on our family in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should always take priority. But even while the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family stay safe. See our tips for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season.
Attach Your Air Conditioning
Your outside air conditioning equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly attached to prevent the system from being thrown in the air or washing away in a storm. If you are in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioner during your AC Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually stop the surge that often comes during a storm, but you can safeguard your heating and air conditioning 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 an increase in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could harm. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and request professional help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your HVAC system and cover the outdoor equipment with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
After the storm ends, make sure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. To get started, confirm there are no signs of damage and clean any debris surrounding the equipment. Try to check and verify there is no apparent harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 937-503-7896 for an AC inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the system checked by a technician to ensure safe function, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into your system or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Stevenson Service Experts and find out about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all year long.