Hurricane Season is No Joke
How to prepare your A/C for the worst
With Father’s Day taking place on June 19, we originally wanted to theme this month’s blog around some of our favorite dad jokes, like:
It couldn’t vent its problems.
Or
It’s pretty cool.
Funny stuff, right? But, it turns out that June is also the start of hurricane season, which runs all the way through the end of November. And, living on Florida’s Gulf Coast, we’d be remiss if we focused on our awesome punchlines instead of providing you, our dear reader, with some tips on how to prepare your air conditioning system for the worst that can come our way. We’ve touched on this topic before, but this time we’re going to go a little more in depth. Why?
You need to be ready long before finding your home in the cone of uncertainty – and sometimes long after it passes. Since your cooling system is such a significant part of your home and your level of comfort, you want to ensure it weathers the storm. Dad jokes aside, here are some tips on how to get your A/C ready to handle the before, during and after – should a hurricane come knocking on your door.
Hurricanes and severe storms bring high winds, which can turn even a seemingly harmless lawn ornament into a damaging projectile. Be sure to remove or secure anything that’s loose and could become a hazard. Trim trees and other branches near your outside A/C unit. This can help prevent limbs and sticks from falling on the equipment or jamming up its components. We don’t recommend covering the unit if you’re going to keep your power on, as it will impede its operation. If you’re unsure if additional steps are needed, call a professional before it’s too late.
It’s not easy to predict what your power grid will do. By cooling your home to a temperature slightly lower than normal will pay off if and when the power goes out. Be sure to close the blinds and curtains (along with windows and doors) to help keep your home cool longer, even without electricity.
First off, if an evacuation order is in place for your location, follow it. If you remain in your residence through the storm, be sure to closely monitor its severity. Your AC is a big investment which can provide comfort for years. You’ll want to protect its internal components by unplugging or powering off the unit before the electricity goes out. Doing this can protect it from power surges that come from lightning strikes or after the electricity being turned back on. Power surges can short out or burn internal electrical components, including the motor.
Once the storm passes, you’ll be left with all the debris leftover from the wind. Inspect your outdoor unit and make sure it is free from sticks, branches, lawn decorations and so forth. Check the exterior for any damage and the inside to make sure that debris hasn’t infiltrated the unit. If you notice any damage, do not turn on your A/C.
If everything looks alright and the unit isn’t sitting in a puddle of water, turn it on. If you are in doubt as to whether it is safe to turn the system back on, you should contact a certified technician to come out. This could help prevent costly damage to the unit from debris or other internal issues that you might not recognize.
Father’s Day takes place this month… and so does the beginning of hurricane season. While we do love our dad jokes and get a good chuckle when sharing them, we feel it’s our job to get you and your A/C prepared for the worst with these before, during and after tips. If you have any questions about preparation or would like to take advantage of our current special with $250 OFF a brand-new A/C install, give us a call at (941) 225-2775 or visit us HERE!