Prepping Your Home’s HVAC Equipment for Storms 

It feels like storm season is every season. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, snowfalls are upon the north. The safety of your family during dangerous storms should always take priority. But even while the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family stay safe. Check out these tips for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season. 

Anchor Your Air Conditioning 

Your outdoor air conditioning equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly secured to prevent the system from being thrown in the air or washing away during a storm. If you live in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be required to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to protect the equipment from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about securing your home’s air conditioner during your Precision Tune-up. 

Stop the Surge 

You can’t literally stop the surge that often occurs during a storm, but you can shield 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 shut off your heating system if there’s an increase in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could harm. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and ask for expert help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly. 

Provide Cover 

You and your family need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your HVAC system and cover the outdoor equipment with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, make sure you remove the tarp and remove 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, make sure there are no signs of damage and remove any debris from around the equipment. Try to check and confirm there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioning system. Call 574-218-6404 for a system inspection if it looks like there may have been any damage or flooding to the equipment. Once you’ve had the equipment checked by an expert to ensure safe working, turn the heating and cooling system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and restrict mold from getting into the system 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 HVAC system in working order all seasons long.