It feels like storm season is every season. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer starts the hurricane season. Before the Atlantic hurricane season tapers off in November, snowstorms are upon the north. Last month the storms caused destruction for our loved ones in Louisiana. The safety of your family during treacherous 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. Here are some recommendations for preparing your home’s heating and air conditioning equipment for storm season.
Attach Your AC
Your outdoor AC equipment should be placed on a concrete pad and properly secured to keep the equipment from going up in the air or washing away over the course of a storm. If you live in a climate that is subject to hurricanes, it may be necessary to fasten your air conditioner with hurricane straps to protect the system from high winds. Ask your professional technician about fastening down your home’s air conditioner during your AC Tune-up.
Stop the Surge
You can’t really stop the surge that often happens during a storm, but you can safeguard your heating and air conditioning equipment from it. Put in a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, such as a furnace, are plugged into a standard wall outlet, to automatically turn off your heating system if there’s a jump in the line voltage. This will help shield the electrical components in your heating and cooling equipment that the power surge could harm. Make sure you never touch any electrical components, and seek 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 permits, 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, 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 starting up your heating and air conditioning system. To begin, confirm there are no indications of damage and remove any debris surrounding the system. Try to evaluate and make sure there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 817-668-6689 for an equipment inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the equipment. 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 prevent mold from getting into your equipment or ductwork.
If your system has had any damage, check out these suggestions on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Stark Services and ask about our membership options to help keep your heating and cooling system in working order through all the seasons.