Prepping Your Home’s HVAC Equipment for Storms 

Sometimes it feels like storm season is all year. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowfalls are upon the north. The safety of your family during dangerous storms should absolutely take priority. But even while the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. Check out these suggestions for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season. 

Attach Your AC 

Your outside air conditioning equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly fastened to avoid the air conditioner from going airborne or washing away in a storm. If you live in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to protect the equipment from high winds. Ask your professional technician about securing your home’s air conditioning system during your AC Tune-up. 

Stop the Surge 

You can’t literally stop the surge that often comes 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 heavy appliances, such as a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could damage. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and request a technician’s 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 there is time, turn off your heating and air conditioning 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 remove any debris. 

This, Too, Shall Pass 

When the storm has passed, make sure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. To get started, make sure there are no indications of damage and get rid of any debris from around the equipment. Try to evaluate and confirm there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 954-736-4314 for a system inspection if it looks like there may have been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the system checked by a technician to ensure safe function, turn the HVAC system back on immediately to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into your system or ductwork. 

If there was any damage to your equipment, 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 and find out about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all seasons long.