Hurricane Helene remains fresh in the minds of many Tallahassee-area residents, and you may find it hard to believe that six whole months have passed since the Category 4 storm slammed into the Big Bend. Other than perhaps giving thanks that Helene spared our area from catastrophic damage, it’s time to quit looking back and instead prepare for the future as we head towards the start of a new hurricane season.
Stretching from early June until the end of November, Florida’s hurricane season breeds powerful tropical storms with damaging high winds, flying debris, flooding, and power surge issues. However, you can take numerous proactive measures to help mitigate potential storm damage, including a few to specifically help protect your valuable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Here are some tips on HVAC hurricane-proofing from the service technicians of Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling.
Pre-Hurricane Inspection and Fortification
Take the first step in your HVAC hurricane prep efforts by thoroughly inspecting your outdoor condenser unit while considering potential storm-induced threats from flooding and wind. If the HVAC unit is in an area that could experience flooding, its foundation should be elevated. The HVAC unit should also be securely anchored to its foundation with bolts, hurricane-rated brackets, or hurricane strapping. To address deficiencies with elevation or anchoring, contact your HVAC service company.
To reduce potential impacts to the HVAC unit from airborne debris, inspect nearby trees, bushes, and shrubbery to identify and remove dead branches and overhanging larger limbs that could pose a threat. While you may be tempted to add further protection by fencing or enclosing the outdoor unit, we recommend against it. If nothing else, discuss fencing options with an HVAC service technician to ensure any enclosures don’t create unforeseen problems.
To address potential storm-induced power surges or short-circuiting, your HVAC system should be protected by either a whole-home or dedicated surge protector, or both for added defense. Again, your HVAC service professionals can help you determine and install the best surge protection.
HVAC Hurricane Prep When Storm Approaches and Hits
You should take several steps to storm-proof your AC when a tropical storm seems to be barreling toward the Tallahassee area. First, inspect your yard and clear it of any items that could become wind-driven projectiles that might damage the HVAC unit. Even if your HVAC unit isn’t elevated and isn’t located in an area prone to flooding, inspect and clear your gutters and downspouts to ensure they don’t inadvertently cause rainwater to pool around your unit.
Just before the storm hits, you can cover your outdoor unit with a protective tarp or customized caging, but only when you’re ready to turn off your AC system for the storm’s duration. And when it’s time to stop its operation, you should also turn off its power at the circuit breaker for the best protection against electrical surges or circuit breaks.
There’s not much you can do during the storm except wait for it to pass. We recommend staying indoors until the storm’s energy subsides, as there’s little one can do to rectify any storm damage at its peak. Your safety and that of your family should take priority over potential storm damage to your home and belongings.
Post-Storm Inspection and HVAC Restart
After the storm has passed, inspect the outdoor HVAC unit for any visible signs of damage before restarting it. If you notice any evidence of damage from flying debris or if it has been submerged in water, do not attempt to turn it on until a Tallahassee emergency HVAC service provider, such as Air Control Heating and Cooling, has examined it. Powering on a damaged HVAC system can lead to further breakdowns of undamaged components.
Keep Your HVAC System Maintained
In addition to HVAC hurricane prep, you should be mindful of keeping your system working at peak operational efficiency. Regular maintenance enhances your HVAC system’s cooling efficiency, helps reduce energy costs, prevents breakdowns, and boosts the operating lifespan of your system. With two membership levels, consider joining our Air Control Club maintenance plan, which provides an 18-point inspection, servicing as needed, and the following bonus benefits:
- 24-hour priority response on service calls.
- Zero or holiday-only overtime charges.
- Reduced service call diagnostic charges.
- 10% service call savings on parts and labor.
- 10% savings on duct cleaning and indoor air quality products.
- $250 discount on replacement units
Storm-Proof Your HVAC System in Tallahassee with Air Control
To hurricane-proof your HVAC system in the Tallahassee area, consult with the NATE-certified Air Control Heating and Cooling experts. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services in Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville since 1968. you can contact us at (850) 562-1234.