HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness

How to Prepare Your HVAC System for This Year’s Hurricane Season

The first week of May was Hurricane Preparedness Week, a reminder for those in coastal areas that the Atlantic hurricane season begins soon. Meteorologists predict a season with an elevated number of tropical storms: 19 named storms are predicted, with 9 of them reaching hurricane strength. Typically, the Atlantic hurricanes develop between early June and late November.

Emergency preparedness recommendations are broad since the intensity of the storm will determine whether people evacuate or shelter in place. The key is to consider all of the risks and prepare for as many as possible. A key tool in your home recovery kit will be your home’s air conditioner. Air conditioning will keep your family as comfortable as they can be as soon as power is restored. Here are some HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness tips to help protect your AC through severe storms.

Pre-season HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness

Preventative Maintenance

Make sure your HVAC system is well-maintained by scheduling a preventative care visit early. Maintenance is a key factor in keeping your air conditioner running efficiently over 20+ years of service. Expect HVAC professionals to be very busy after a major storm with service and installation calls, so give Northwind a call now to make sure your system is well-cared for.

Prepare for Surges

The swirling winds of hurricanes do not produce intense lightning-like land-based, straight-lined thunderstorms. However, the swirling winds of a hurricane play havoc with the overhead power lines of the electrical grid. One hundred-mile-per-hour winds can snap poles and bring trees and limbs down on the power line. The winds cause intermittent power surges and outages. Power surges cause significant damage to appliances and HVAC systems—often more than $4000 worth of damage.

Surge protectors can help protect your home from power surges

• You might already use surge protectors with home computers and electronics
• A whole-house surge protector can protect your home for a fraction of the cost.
• For additional protection, an inline surge protector can be installed on the circuit that handles your HVAC system

Secure the Condenser Unit

The most vulnerable HVAC component during high winds is the outdoor condenser unit. Do not let the size fool you; the walls of the unit consist of copper tubing, filled with refrigerant gas, connected to thin aluminum fins. The condenser is easily carried away in high winds and damaged by flying debris. Protect your condenser unit by:

• Trimming tree limbs over or near the condenser unit
• Secure outdoor furniture, toys, and grills
• If your condenser unit is not strapped to the concrete pad, it can blow away in the high wind. Metal tether straps are available locally and can be installed before the storm arrives.
• A tarp or condenser cover can also protect the unit from flying debris

HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness After Landfall

Time Your Shutoff

Before the storm approaches turn the AC temperature down several degrees. Anticipate that the AC will be off for several hours, perhaps several days. Keep the space as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. As the wind and rain build, shut the HVAC system off and flip the circuit breaker that powers the system. If you are evacuating, turn the system off before you leave.

Cover the Condenser

Your air conditioner condenser unit needs unrestricted airflow to cool the refrigerant gas. Once you shut the system down, cover your condenser, but not before. The cover can protect the unit from light debris. For an extremely strong storm, consider inserting plywood pieces between the unit and the cover.

Recovery Time

After the storm has passed, be patient as repairmen bring the electrical grid back online. It might be tempting to turn the AC on since the air will be hot and humid. When the power is restored make an inspection of the outdoor condenser unit. Inspect the electrical lines and copper tubing, the condenser walls, and listen for escaping gas. Remove the cover before engaging the AC system.

Inside, use the following procedure:

• Turn your thermostat to the OFF position
• Flip the breaker on and wait a few minutes for the HVAC system to reset
• After fifteen minutes, turn the thermostat to the COOL position and turn the temperature down low enough to engage the AC
• If the AC begins cooling, enjoy and be thankful. If the AC does not come on or does not cool properly, make a call to your HVAC professional for repairs.

Need help with your HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness Checklist?

Northwind Air Conditioning and Heat can help with HVAC System Hurricane Preparedness. Contact us and get the answers you need.