You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer starts the hurricane season. As the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowfalls are upon the north. Last month the storms caused devastation for our friends in Louisiana. The welfare of your family during dangerous storms should invariably be priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to be sure that your home and family stay safe. Here are some tips for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Secure Your Air Conditioner
Your outdoor AC equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly anchored to avoid the system from going airborne or washing away over the course of a storm. If you live in a climate that generates 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 securing your home’s air conditioner during your Fall Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually prevent the surge that often occurs during a storm, but you can safeguard your heating and cooling equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, like a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s an increase in the line voltage. This will help protect the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could damage. Remember to never touch any electrical components, and request expert help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to find 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 remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
After the storm ends, make sure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. To begin, confirm there are no indications of damage and remove any debris from around the equipment. Try to evaluate and confirm there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 601-852-3105 for an AC inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the equipment inspected by an expert to ensure safe function, turn the heating and cooling system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into your equipment or ductwork.
If there was any damage to your equipment, check out these recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Comfortech Service Experts and learn about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order all year long.