It feels like storm season is every season. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer starts the hurricane season. As the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, blizzards are upon the north. Last month the storms caused devastation for our loved ones in Louisiana. The well-being of your family during dangerous storms should invariably be priority. But even while the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still need to make sure that your home and family stay safe. See our suggestions for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season.
Anchor Your Air Conditioner
Your outdoor air conditioning equipment should be positioned on a concrete pad and properly attached to avoid the air conditioner from being thrown in the air or washing away during a storm. If you reside in a climate that generates hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your AC with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your expert technician about fastening down your home’s air conditioning system during your Fall Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t really prevent the surge that often occurs during a storm, but you can safeguard your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment from it. Put in a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, a furnace for example, 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 harm. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and request professional help if you are not accustomed to using surge protectors properly.
Provide Cover
You and your family need to acquire shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your heating and air conditioning system and cover the outdoor system with a tarp. Before turning your system back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and get rid of 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. To begin, make sure there are no signals of damage and clean any debris from around the system. Try to evaluate and make sure there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your air conditioner. Call 208-488-4892 for a system inspection if appears there has been any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the system checked by an expert to ensure safe operation, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on immediately to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into the equipment 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 TML Service Experts and ask about our Ultimate Protection Plan to help keep your heating and air conditioning system in working order through all the seasons.