Florida’s hurricane season brings powerful storms that can wreak havoc on your home, especially your AC and heating system. Without proper precautions, these storms can cause extensive damage to your AC and heating system, leading to costly repairs or replacements. Let’s explore the impact hurricanes have on your comfort system, and how to protect it from severe weather.
How Hurricanes Can Damage Your Comfort System
Hurricanes bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flying debris—all of which pose a serious risk to your outdoor unit. High winds can hurl branches and objects into it, potentially damaging critical components like the fan blades, condenser, or refrigerant lines. This kind of damage can severely hinder your system’s ability to cool or heat your home efficiently. Worse, if the refrigerant lines are punctured, the system can lose its refrigerant, rendering it completely inoperable.
Flooding from heavy rains can also pose a significant threat. When water enters your unit, it can cause electrical short circuits, corrosion, and rust. This not only leads to immediate malfunctions but can also shorten the lifespan of your system. Water exposure can lead to motor or compressor failure, which are costly to repair or replace.
Additionally, during a hurricane, dirt, leaves, and debris can easily clog the coils and fins of your unit. When these components are obstructed, the system is forced to work harder to maintain proper airflow, reducing its efficiency and increasing energy consumption. Over time, this strain can cause your comfort system to break down prematurely.
Furthermore, power outages and surges during a hurricane can significantly damage your unit’s electrical components. If your system tries to restart after a storm-induced power outage, it could cause a surge that damages the capacitors, circuit boards, or even the compressor. This makes it essential to protect your unit with surge protection or shut it down before the storm hits.
Tips to Protect Your AC and Heating System
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Secure Your Unit: Anchor your unit to the ground using brackets or hurricane straps to prevent it from being knocked over during strong winds. Ensuring your unit is properly secured can prevent costly damages caused by the unit tipping or shifting in high winds.
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Cover Your Unit: Use a breathable cover or tarp to keep flying debris from damaging the coils and fan. However, make sure the cover allows air circulation to prevent moisture buildup, which could lead to corrosion and rust.
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Turn Off the System: Shut down your comfort system before the storm to prevent damage from flying debris or water intrusion. It’s important to also turn off the power at the circuit breaker to avoid electrical surges when the power comes back on.
Cool Rays is Here to Help!
After a hurricane, it’s essential to have your comfort system checked for damage and cleaned to ensure it runs smoothly. Cool Rays offers a free service call with any repair to get your system back up and running after the storm. Protect your comfort and call the best AC service under the sun—schedule your appointment today and get a free service call!
