Hurricane Season and Your HVAC: How to Protect Your System Before, During & After the Storm
Key Takeaways:
As hurricane season sweeps through Florida, make sure you’re prepared for the potential risks to your HVAC. A few simple steps can ensure hurricane season HVAC protection. This could be hurricane straps to secure the unit or covering it with plywood to protect against physical damage. Turning off the unit during the storm can also prevent potential power surges from damaging the electronics.
During hurricane season, your home can face a number of potential dangers, and your climate control system is no exception. Major storms can cause a host of potential problems, from electrical surges to flying debris and excessive water. As you prepare your home to weather an upcoming storm, take the time to make sure your HVAC is also protected.
Outdoor Preparations
Well before the storm is scheduled to arrive, you can take care of the outdoor preparations. This helps with your hurricane season HVAC protection and increases the odds that it will come through the storm intact. Here are a few things you can do:
1. Strap It Down
Use hurricane straps to anchor the outdoor condenser to the concrete pad. This simple step can go a long way toward keeping the unit in place even during heavy storms.
2. Cover It
A piece of plywood over the top of your condenser can help protect it from flying debris. While you do want to protect the condenser from debris, you do not want to use plastic or a heavy tarp to cover it, since that can trap moisture and humidity inside the unit and lead to an increased risk of damage.
3. Remove Potential Hazards
Take a look around and remove any items that could fly into the unit during the storm, including patio furniture. As you secure outdoor items, make sure nothing is left around the condenser.
Inside the Home
As the storm nears, hurricane season HVAC protection is a must. Take time to do a few of these things inside to protect your unit.
1. Pre-Cool the Home
If you’re worried about increasing heat and humidity, turn the thermostat down by a couple of degrees while everything is still in working order and the power grid is still flowing normally. Closing curtains and covering doors and windows can also help keep your home cooler.
2. Turn Off the Unit
Unexpected power surges can wreak electrical havoc on your equipment. Turn your AC unit off at the breaker box to prevent power surges from getting to it and causing damage. Then, turn off the thermostat so it’s not trying to run.
After the Storm
When the hurricane is over, you still want to protect your AC unit. A few simple steps can go a long way toward protecting you.
1. Don’t Turn the Unit Back On Immediately
If you’re still experiencing power surges, especially if your power was interrupted for a long time, wait to turn your unit back on. Electrical problems are still a serious risk.
2. Examine the Unit
As you head outside to remove the hurricane straps and take off the plywood, take the time to examine the unit and see if it sustained any obvious damage. If you notice obvious signs that the unit was struck by another item, from falling trees to flying furniture, bring out a professional to inspect the unit before you turn it back on.
Let Us Help with Hurricane Season HVAC Protection
After a hurricane, you want your air conditioner back up and running as soon as possible, but you also want to make sure you aren’t inadvertently causing more damage. If you suspect damage to the unit, we can inspect it and let you know what repairs are needed so that you can get your home back to its ideal temperature sooner. Reach out today to schedule your appointment.
