Prepping Your Home’s HVAC Equipment for Storms 

You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowfalls are upon the north. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should invariably be priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to make sure that your home and family stay 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 installed on a concrete pad and properly attached to avoid the equipment from going up in the air or washing away during a storm. If you reside in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to protect the equipment from high winds. Ask your professional technician about securing your home’s AC during your Precision Tune-up. 

Stop the Surge 

You can’t really avoid the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can safeguard your heating and air conditioning equipment from it. Get a high-quality surge protector where any large appliances, like a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s a spike in the line voltage. This will help safeguard the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could hurt. Remember to never touch any electrical components, and request professional help if you are not comfortable using surge protectors properly. 

Provide Cover 

Your loved ones and you need to acquire shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, shut off your heating and cooling system and cover the outside system with a tarp. Prior to turning your equipment back on after the storm, you must remove the tarp and remove any debris. 

This, Too, Shall Pass 

When the storm has passed, ensure the system is safe before starting up your heating and air conditioning system. To begin, verify there are no indications of damage and get rid of any debris from around the equipment. Try to check and verify there is no apparent harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 866-397-3787 for an equipment inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the equipment checked by a technician to ensure safe working, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and restrict 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 Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing and find out about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order all seasons long.