Severe weather conditions, especially during hurricane season, can certainly damage your outdoor HVAC unit. Luckily for you, there is no need to worry, because Ace Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to provide seasonal HVAC tips to better prepare you and your family for hurricane season!
How To Protect Your Outdoor AC Unit
Secure the area around the unit. Friendly fire can be one of your HVAC system’s biggest enemies during a storm. During those extreme weather conditions, high-powered winds can cause objects within your backyard to hit your HVAC unit. This means making sure your patio furniture has been relocated to a secure location and trimming all shrubbery around your unit.
Surge Protection
Often, homeowners are quick to ensure their electronic devices such as their television are equipped with surge protection in case of a power outage. However, they forget to show their HVAC unit that same appreciation! Do not forget to secure your unit with surge protection for power outages.
Hard Start Kit
Imagine running full speed, when suddenly you trip and fall. Wouldn’t it be nice to receive a helping hand to get you back running? That is how a hard start kit can help your HVAC unit with sudden power outages. Hard start kits will assist your HVAC unit in restarting even when tripped up by sudden power outages.
How Hurricanes Affect HVAC Systems
Turbulence Can Dislodge Your Unit
Do not let the weight of your HVAC unit fool you. When high-powered winds contact your HVAC unit, they can get them off course. Your unit can be displaced by hurricane winds and even knocked off its ground pads in the blink of an eye.
Debris Can Clog Your Unit
When hurricane winds kick in, all kinds of junk can be picked up in the wind’s current. This debris may get lodged within your unit and cause severe damage to internal components.
Heavy Debris Can Damage Your Unit
Your HVAC unit is out of its weight class when it comes to heavy debris flying through hurricane winds. The impact of these larger objects can not only damage your unit and require repairs, but squash it in the process.
How To Prepare For A Hurricane
Essential Supplies
Once disaster strikes, you may not be able to secure the resources you need now. Securing nonperishable food and clean drinking water is necessary to help you and your family. Also, securing these items in bulk is vital in staying safe throughout the duration of the storm. Having flashlights with their additional batteries when outages strike is crucial.
Home Preparation
Covering your windows and doors can protect you from pieces of debris penetrating these vulnerable spots in your home. Monitoring when to turn off your power in case conditions worsen is also a necessity for your home.
Vehicle Preparation
Ensuring that your vehicle has gas before evacuation is a necessity when prepping for a storm. But getting a checkup on your vehicle is something you may forget. Also keeping a first aid kit handy may make all the difference in the possibility of being stranded.
Get Professional Solutions From Ace Air Conditioning & Plumbing!
If you’re in need of air conditioning maintenance or repairs, give us a call today at Ace Air Conditioning & Plumbing! We are the premier Lake Charles HVAC company ready to take care of any of your heating and cooling needs. Our friendly technicians are ready to service you!