Houston is no stranger to hurricanes and their damage. It is vital to know how to protect your home and family and your HVAC unit during severe weather. Our team at Air Tech of Houston AC & Plumbing wants to ensure you know what to do to protect your air conditioner unit from storm damage.
How Storms Can Damage Your AC Unit
Severe weather in Houston can be harsh for the well-being of your home and your air system. Lots of rain can cause water to pool around your HVAC system, causing water to enter and hurt your unit. Hail and strong winds can also create issues with wiring, fans, and pipes connecting your air conditioner to your home.
5 Ways to Protect Your AC
When you know a severe weather storm is on the way, it is crucial to take the proper measures to ensure the safety of your family and home. Protecting your HVAC unit is just one of the things you should make sure to do when preparing for a storm. Here are five ways you should prepare:
Collect Loose Debris
Due to heavy winds that often come with storms, locating any large items that can potentially fly into your air conditioning unit is essential. Large items such as outdoor furniture, tree branches, and children’s toys can cause damage to your unit if it flies into it from heavy wind.
Prepare a Back-Up Generator
After Hurricane Harvey and the winter storm, many of us learned how vital it is to ensure you have a backup generator ready to go in case of power outages. A backup generator can protect your AC by allowing you to use other electronics to keep your home cool while your HVAC system recuperates. Having a generator ready to use can ease stress during storm prep.
Shut Off AC System
By shutting off your unit from the main breaker box, you can confirm it is fully turned off and not connected to any power. This is essential when you are expecting many outages because when your power goes on and off, this can cause your AC unit to overheat and can result in damage. Having power surges while your air conditioner is still connected to electricity can even cause electrical fires.
Unplug and Remove Window Units
Strong winds caused by the storm can forcibly remove window units in your home. This will cause not only damage to your windows but also to your air conditioning system if the window unit is still connected.
Cover and Secure Outside Units
There are a few different styles of coverings you can use on your AC system, but for protection against severe weather, we recommend using a sturdy tarp. Make sure to strap down and secure the tarp to stay put even in the windiest conditions.
Severe Weather Damage
Unfortunately, damage cannot be avoided entirely and can happen even if you have done everything to protect your system. Luckily, Air Tech of Houston AC & Plumbing is ready to fix any HVAC damage you may have received during a storm.
If you find yourself needing an AC repair or air conditioner maintenance, our team is here for you!
