During summer, hurricanes are a common incident and if you don’t take proper measures, hurricanes can cause severe damages to your HVAC system. Here are five tips to prepare HVAC system for hurricane season.
5 Tips to Prepare HVAC System for Hurricanes
1. Elevate the Outside Condenser Unit
Floods are expected during the hurricane season, and as a homeowner, the last thing you would want is water inside your condenser unit.
If the floodwater goes inside the outside condenser unit, it can cost you thousands of dollars to repair the unit. In the worst-case scenario, you may have to replace the whole unit. That’s why if you live in a flood risk area, it’s recommended that you elevate the outside condenser unit to protect the unit from floodwater.
However, while elevating the outside condenser unit, you’ll have to ensure that you don’t make any damages to the refrigerant lines or fans. And accidentally, if you damage the refrigerant lines, it can be proved as an expensive mistake. This is why, unless you’re a professional HVAC technician, you should never move or elevate the outside unit. It’s recommended that you call a nearby HVAC service professional and do it professionally.
2. Cool Your Home 1-2 Days Before the Storm
When a hurricane hits your area, it’s common to have power outages for few hours. However, by following these steps, you can keep your home comfortable and cool even when you have no power.
Step 1
Lower the thermostat settings by four to five degrees than the average temperature 1 to 2 days prior to the storm.
Step 2
After lowering the thermostat temperature, keep all the windows and doors locked as much as possible. By doing this, you’ll be able to preserve the produced air inside your space and keep your space cool.
Step 3
When you notice the hurricane is near the city, turn off the power of your HVAC system. You can do this by turning off the HVAC power switch or by removing the plug from the power supply.
Power outage due to hurricanes usually lasts for around 12 to 24 hours. If you follow the aforementioned steps, you’ll be able to keep your space cool and comfortable during the power outage.
3. Install a Surge Protector
Lighting during a hurricane or storm can prove disastrous for your HVAC system or any other electrical appliance. However, by installing a surge protector in your house, you can protect your heating and cooling system from lighting.
Lighting not only causes damages to your HVAC unit or electrical appliances but also your circuit board. When lightning strikes your house, it can cause your HVAC unit to fail.
When there is a power surge, the mechanism of your HVAC unit will slowly start to deteriorate. As a result, your HVAC unit will start to perform poorly, and eventually, you’ll have a system failure. If you want to protect your expensive electrical appliances and HVAC system from sudden power surges or lighting during the hurricane, there is no alternative to using a surge protector in your house.
4. Remove Debris & Furniture Surrounding the Outside Unit
During hurricanes, the speed of the wind can go up to 160 miles per hour. And with this speed, objects and debris can take flight and hit your HVAC system. To prevent this from happening, you’ll have to ensure that there is no debris or furniture near the outside condenser unit.
Before the hurricane hits, trim all the weak branches of the trees. Also, if you have any furniture or patios in your backyard, store them inside your garage. Moreover, if there are excess amounts of leaves or dust near the outside unit, clear them.
5. Cover the HVAC System
As soon as you learn about the hurricane coming your way, you’ll have to cover your HVAC unit. Also, tightly fasten the condenser unit of your HVAC unit.
As I mentioned, during a hurricane, the wind speed can go up to 160 miles/hour. And when it does, it can make objects take a flight, including cars. But by taking the measures, you can keep your HVAC unit safe and free from any damage.
See the summary of this article here – 5 Tips to Prepare AC for Hurricanes [Infographic]
