You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer ushers in hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, blizzards are upon the north. Last month the storms caused destruction for our friends in Louisiana. The welfare of your family during hazardous storms should absolutely 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 air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioner
Your outside air conditioning equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly fastened to avoid the equipment from being thrown in the air or washing away over the course of a storm. If you live in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be required to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your professional technician about fastening down your home’s air conditioning system during your Precision Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually stop the surge that often happens 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 sizable 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 shield the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could hurt. Remember to never touch any electrical components, and seek a technician’s 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 down your heating and cooling system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Prior to turning your equipment back on after the storm, you must remove the tarp and clean up any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
Once the storm is over, make sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. To begin, confirm there are no signs of damage and clean any debris surrounding the system. Try to evaluate and confirm there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call 817-380-5647 for an AC inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the air conditioning. Once you’ve had the equipment inspected by a professional to ensure safe working, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on ASAP to help dry the home and limit mold from getting into your equipment 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 Calverley Service Experts and ask about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order all year long.