It feels like storm season is every season. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowstorms are upon the north. In August the floods caused destruction for our loved ones in Louisiana. The welfare of your family during hazardous storms should absolutely take priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. Check out these suggestions for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season.
Secure Your Air Conditioner
Your outside AC equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly fastened to prevent the system from going airborne or washing away in a storm. If you are in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be required to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to keep the equipment safe from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about anchoring your home’s air conditioning system during your Precision Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t really avoid 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 large appliances, like 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 heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could damage. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and request a technician’s help if you are not comfortable using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your loved ones and you need to find shelter first and foremost, but if time permits, shut down your HVAC system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, you must remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
When the storm has passed, be sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. First, make sure there are no signs of damage and remove any debris from around the equipment. Try to evaluate and verify there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 816-787-0500 for an equipment inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the system checked by a professional to ensure safe working, turn the heating and cooling system back on ASAP to help dry the home and restrict mold from getting into your equipment or ductwork.
If there was any damage to your equipment, check out these suggestions on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Neal Harris Service Experts and ask about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order all year long.