When you live in Florida, storms and hurricanes are imminent and if you’ve lived here for a while you probably already have your personal emergency plan in place. After getting everything together, you should know that your AC System also needs some preparation to weather the storms.
Here are a few steps you should take to secure your unit before bunkering down at home and waiting for the storm.
Before the Storm:
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Secure:
- Make sure your outdoor unit is secure and belted to a concrete base with hurricane straps. If the winds get to be strong enough, this will prevent it from going airborne.
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Turn Off:
- Power outages and fluctuations are common during storms so, to make sure your system does not get damaged during the storm, turn off your AC before the bad weather begins. If you have time, you should install a surge protector. Tip: Turn your AC a few degrees lower a couple of hours before the storm hits, so the cool lasts you more time during the down time.
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Cover:
- Your outdoor unit should be completely covered with a tarp in order to protect it from flying debris. You should remove the covering as soon as the storm subsides, as leaving it over the unit for a prolonged time may cause mold and rust to damage it.
After the Storm:
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Inspect:
- Take a look at the unit for any signs of damage. You should not turn on the unit again if there is any evidence that the unit has been underwater or partially underwater at any time. There shouldn’t be any visible leaks or electrical damage, either. If you are not sure if there is any damage, call us at Apple AC and we will assess the unit for you.
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Clean:
- Take a minute to remove any debris around the unit and inside the vents and fans.
Call Apple AC for any service you might need before or after the hurricane season. We are located in Winter Garden, FL and service most of the Central Florida area. Call us today at 407-654-3777!
Remember that these safety tips that we are providing will not assure you that nothing will happen, we just want to help you be better prepared. We can control how well we prepare, but we cannot control the weather or its intensity in the area.