Tips to Prepare Your HVAC System for a Hurricane

Hurricane season is still technically here in Fort Meyers, Florida.  Should you need to prepare your home for wind gusts, heavy rain, and potential flooding, be sure to prepare your HVAC system, as well. Your air conditioner is a major investment for your Florida home, and you want to protect it when the storms are predicted to come raging through. Let’s look at a few tasks you can do to prepare.

Turn Off the Power to the AC

Find the electrical circuit breaker that powers the air conditioner, and turn it to the off position. Doing this step will help to prevent damage to the HVAC system if the electricity has gone out and then suddenly comes back on, or if there is damage to the electrical grid.

Secure and Cover the Outside Unit

High winds and blowing debris can cause severe damage to your home and to the outside unit of the air conditioner. Install hurricane tie-down straps to the cement pad it rests on, and make sure the bolts are good and tight.  If you have a lot of trees around your home, have a tarp or cover that will fit snugly over your HVAC unit. Cover the unit and secure with rope or bungee cords.

Schedule a Maintenance Visit to Assess for Damage

If the storm brought lots of rain or you experienced flooding, call us before you turn the electricity to the HVAC system back on. We can assess what kind of damage might have occurred. Electrical connections damaged by the water can cause sparks and become a fire hazard. In addition, flying debris can cause damage to the fins and coils of the outside unit. For your safety, please don’t turn the air conditioner back on until we inspect it.

Stay safe during the storm and give our knowledgeable team at Spectrum Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Inc. a call to have your HVAC system inspected and maintained. We are standing by and ready to speak with you at (239) 785-2149.