Prepping Your Home’s HVAC Equipment for Storms 

You may start to think that storm season is year around. Spring comes through with rain storms and tornadoes, while summer kicks off hurricane season. As the Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, blizzards are upon the north. The well-being of your family during perilous storms should absolutely take priority. But even when the winds die down and the rain dries up, you still want to make sure that your home and family stay safe. See our recommendations for preparing your home’s heating and cooling equipment for storm season. 

Attach Your AC 

Your outside AC equipment should be installed on a concrete pad and properly secured to avoid the air conditioner from going airborne or washing away during a storm. If you are in a climate that produces hurricanes, it may be critical to fasten your equipment with hurricane straps to keep the system safe from high winds. Ask your air conditioning technician about anchoring 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. Get a high-quality surge protector where any heavy appliances, such as a furnace, 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 protect the electrical components in your heating and air conditioning equipment that the power surge could hurt. Make sure you never 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 find shelter first and foremost, but if there is time, turn off your heating and cooling system and cover the outdoor equipment with a tarp. Before you turn your system back on after the storm, be sure to remove the tarp and clean up any debris. 

This, Too, Shall Pass 

After the storm ends, make sure the system is safe before turning your heating and cooling system back on. To begin, confirm there are no signals of damage and clean any debris surrounding the equipment. Try to examine and verify there is no noticeable harm to any of the refrigerant or electrical lines running from your AC. Call 403-279-5760 for an equipment inspection if seems like there is any damage or flooding to the system. Once you’ve had the system checked by a professional to ensure safe operation, turn the heating and air conditioning system back on ASAP to help dry the home and prevent mold from getting into the system or ductwork. 

If your system has had any damage, check out these tips on What To Do If Your Air Conditioning System Experiences Flooding or Hail Damage and then call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and learn about our membership options to help keep your HVAC system in working order through all the seasons.