Don’t Let Your AC be Gone with the Wind

Hurricane season
If you are living in Florida, you will be well aware that hurricane season is upon us. Since Florida is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the state most prone to hurricanes and tropical storms. This type of weather can no doubt cause severe damage to your property if you are ill-prepared for it. While you will most likely be familiar with general steps you should be taking to prepare your home for hurricane weather, we would like to draw attention to the steps you should take to prevent damage to your home air conditioning system.

Before the storm

1. The first thing you should do is to have a maintenance inspection if you have not recently had one. Not only are maintenance check-ups important in themselves if you want your AC to last for years to come, but in the context of stormy weather, a routine inspection will ensure that the storms do not cause any minor issues to develop into serious problems.
2. If your AC unit is outside on the ground, you should make sure that it is installed on top of a concrete slab and bolted to the concrete with hurricane straps. This is so that your AC unit doesn’t take to the air during the storm.
3. Another important step to take is to protect your AC’s electrical components. Severe storms can cause power lines to fall on your home or lightening to surge through it. These surges can result in your home losing power as well as ruin the electrical components of your AC. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you invest in a surge protector for your AC.
4. We would also recommend that you cover your AC unit before the storm. This will protect your unit from any airborne objects since hurricanes and storms can do severe damage by causing objects to be thrown into other objects. You can cover your AC with a tarp or even a homemade plywood structure.
5. Finally, be sure to turn your AC off!

After the storm

1. Do not turn your AC back on immediately after the storm!
2. First, you will need to remove your AC cover.
3. Next, you will need to inspect the unit and the surrounding area to ensure that your AC is still in working condition. This means checking for any damage such as dents from fallen debris. Also make sure that there is nothing that can cause any obstruction to airflow or prevent your AC from working properly.
4. It is also important to check that there is no damage to any of the refrigerant and electrical lines that run from your AC – this is best done by a professional to prevent any further damage to your unit or to yourself.
5. If you have any doubts as to whether your AC has successfully weathered the storm, it is best to contact a professional to check for any serious problems.

If you take these steps, hurricane season is sure to be a much less stressful time for you. However, should you have any additional concerns, further questions, or if you would simply like to schedule a maintenance inspection, feel free to contact us.