It feels like storm season is every season. 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. Last month the floods caused devastation for our family in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should invariably be priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to be sure that your home and family remain unharmed. Check out these suggestions for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioner
Your outdoor AC equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly secured to avoid the equipment from going up in the air or washing away over the course of a storm. If you reside in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your equipment with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your expert technician about securing your home’s air conditioner during your Precision Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t actually stop the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can protect your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment from it. Put in 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 safeguard the electrical components in your HVAC equipment that the power surge could harm. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and seek professional help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your loved ones and you need to seek shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your heating and air conditioning system and cover the outside system with a tarp. Prior to turning your equipment back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and remove any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
Once the storm is over, be sure the system is safe before starting up your heating and air conditioning system. To get started, confirm there are no signs of damage and get rid of any debris surrounding the system. Try to examine and verify there is no visible harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call 615-953-9885 for a system inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the air conditioning. Once you’ve had the equipment checked by a technician to ensure safe working, turn the heating and cooling system back on as soon as possible to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into your system or ductwork.
If there was any damage to your equipment, check out these tips on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Donelson Air Service Experts and ask about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order through all the seasons.