Living in the Midwest, we are all too familiar with summer storms and tornado sirens. With the storms come rain, wind, fallen limbs and power outages. Ideally, purchasing a generator can safeguard your home from living without electricity. If you don’t own a generator, Trane.com offers tips on their website and also suggests referring to Ready.gov for ways to prepare your home and your A/C System for any impending issues brought on by storm damage.

Here are some steps that homeowners can take so air conditioner damage is minimized in the event of a summer storm.

Watch the weather. Simply by watching the weather and knowing when a storm is approaching, you can plan ahead and pre-cool your home so if a storm hits and the power goes out, you’re ready. Setting the thermostat to a lower temperature will make your home more comfortable, longer. Other recommended ways to cool your home include closing curtains and blinds and keeping doors and windows shut, keeping the warm air out and the cool air “in”.

A/C and electricity. Electrical surges from lightning can happen during a storm, causing storm damage to the unit. Did you know that debris can also get stuck in your unit during a storm, potentially causing an electrical failure? If you really want to play it safe during a summer storm, shut off the power to your A/C system, turning off power from your thermostat and circuit breaker.

Cover the unit. Covering your outdoor unit is a precaution that may never need to happen, but a severe storm situation is one of those instances that it may make sense. If tornados or a bad storm are forecasted, this extra step offers another layer of protection for your unit. Once the storm is over, remove the cover to ensure moisture is not trapped in the unit, which leads to damage (and mold or mildew).

Storm over? Check for damage. It’s really important to check for any damage after the storm and before you turn the A/C unit back on. If there was flooding or flying debris, your unit could be damaged and turning on the system will make things worse. If your unit was damaged, there could be refrigerant leaks which are toxic. Once you are sure the unit is operating and safe, turn it back on to prevent any issues with too much moisture.

At Viviano, we’ve been putting our customer’s comfort at the forefront since 1989, serving homeowners and businesses in the Metro-East with quality products and services. If your unit isn’t working after a storm and you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us at (618) 345-7498 or check us out online at www.vivianoair.com.