Sometimes it feels like storm season is all year. Spring brings rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. Before the Atlantic hurricane season comes to a close in November, blizzards are upon the north. Most recently the rains caused destruction for our family in Louisiana. The welfare of your family during perilous storms should absolutely take priority. But even as the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to be sure that your home and family stay safe. Check out these suggestions for preparing your home’s cooling and heating equipment for storm season.
Secure Your AC
Your outdoor air conditioning equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly fastened to avoid the air conditioner from being thrown in the air or washing away in a storm. If you live in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your expert technician about securing your home’s air conditioning system 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 and cooling equipment from it. Get a high-quality surge protector where any large appliances, like a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s an increase in the line voltage. This will help protect the electrical components in your heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could harm. Be sure never to touch any electrical components, and request expert help if you are not familiar with using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
Your loved ones and you need to acquire shelter first and foremost, but if time allows, shut off your heating and cooling system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, make sure you remove the tarp and get rid of any debris.
This, Too, Shall Pass
When the storm has passed, ensure the system is safe before turning on your HVAC system. To get started, verify there are no signs of damage and remove any debris from around the equipment. Try to examine and make sure there is no apparent harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 260-557-1275 for a system inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the system inspected by a professional to ensure safe function, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and restrict mold from getting into the equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these recommendations on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Rolf Griffin Service Experts and find out about our membership options to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order all year long.