Prepping Your Home’s HVAC Equipment for Storms 

Sometimes it feels like storm season is all year. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. By the time the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, blizzards are upon the north. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should always take priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family are safe. Here are some recommendations for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season. 

Anchor Your AC 

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

Stop the Surge 

You can’t actually 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 down 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 hurt. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and ask for professional 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 time permits, 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 conditioner. Call 908-448-2154 for a system inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the equipment checked by a technician to ensure safe operation, turn the HVAC system back on immediately 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 Fras-Air/General Service Experts and find out about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order through all the seasons.