You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring arrives with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, blizzards are upon the north. In August the rains caused destruction for our family in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during hazardous storms should always 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 are safe. Check out these tips for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Attach Your Air Conditioning
Your outside AC equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly fastened to avoid the system from going airborne or washing away during a storm. If you reside 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 stop the surge that often comes during a storm, but you can shield your heating and cooling equipment from it. Install a high-quality surge protector where any sizable appliances, a furnace for example, 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. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and ask for a technician’s help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your family and you need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, shut down your HVAC system and cover the outdoor equipment with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, make sure you 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. First, verify there are no signals of damage and clean any debris surrounding the system. Try to check and confirm there is no apparent harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 574-218-6404 for a system inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the system checked by a professional to ensure safe operation, turn the heating and cooling system back on immediately to help dry the home and limit 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 BW/Cook Service Experts and learn about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all seasons long.