In 2023, 20 cyclones powered by way of Florida. Jacksonville Seaside was lucky to undergo restricted harm from Hurricane Idalia, essentially the most highly effective storm to hit some components of Florida in over 125 years.
Every year can convey hurricane surprises, so making ready your HVAC system to outlive regardless of the climate throws at it’s important.
Winds, storm surges, and flooding are the most typical and damaging impacts of hurricanes. Every has the potential to do severe harm to your HVAC system. Nonetheless, preventative house HVAC upkeep may assist your system survive comparatively unscathed.
We’ve put collectively a useful HVAC inspection guidelines that may assist you put together for no matter this yr’s hurricane season has in retailer.
Schedule an Inspection
Dwelling HVAC upkeep is sweet, however earlier than hurricane season, it’s important to name an expert HVAC firm to present your system a once-over. Not solely can they deal with every little thing on this checklist for you, however they’ll additionally spot points that you just may miss. As they forged an knowledgeable eye over it, they’ll establish potential weaknesses that might turn into a difficulty throughout a hurricane.
The Jacksonville Seaside, FL, hurricane season lasts from June to November. Nonetheless, issues intensify from mid-August to mid-October. Though Jacksonville Seaside is just not as weak as another components of the state, hurricanes raging a whole lot of miles away can nonetheless affect it.
Name in a Jacksonville Seaside HVAC firm to present your self peace of thoughts so you possibly can relaxation simple when the wind blows!
Batten Down the Out of doors Unit
Your outside unit might look sturdy sufficient, however robust hurricane winds may rip it off its pad if it’s not bolted down securely. Flying particles, similar to tree branches and different objects, is one other huge danger for outside HVAC models. It can harm the aluminum coil fins across the copper refrigerant tubing.
Some key hurricane HVAC suggestions embrace:
- Verify your outside unit is securely bolted to the concrete pad
- Add hurricane tie-downs — steel brackets, nylon straps, or steel cables — to your unit for additional safety
- Match a hurricane cage fabricated from robust tubular metal to guard the unit from flying particles
Put together the Space Across the Unit
Virtually something not bolted down can turn into a harmful projectile throughout a hurricane. So earlier than the storm hits, assess your yard and take precautions.
Think about shifting the next to a safe location the place they can not turn into airborne:
- Backyard furnishings
- Parasols
- Yard particles
- Weak branches on close by timber
Cleansing and clearing the realm round your condenser unit may give it the very best likelihood of coming off unscathed when the hurricane tears by way of your space.
Get a Surge Protector
In 2023, the Class 3 Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc within the Jacksonville space. Together with excessive winds and downed timber, many areas skilled energy outages.
Adjustments to the circulation of energy to your outside unit have the potential to do harm throughout a tropical storm or hurricane. So, it’s a sensible transfer to put in a surge protector.
Surges in energy can harm:
- Circuit boards
- AC compressors
- Capacitators
With out a surge protector, you might be dealing with expensive payments to restore and exchange some or all of those delicate parts.
Surge protectors reroute extra present away out of your condenser unit. They direct it right into a grounding wire, which directs it into the bottom, moderately than permitting it to overwhelm {the electrical} circuits in your HVAC system. This reduces the chance of harm to your AC and eliminates the chance {of electrical} fires and shocks.
What to Do When the Hurricane Warning Arrives
As each Floridian is aware of, there are two levels to the hurricane alert course of.
Once you obtain a hurricane watch discover, it’s time to begin taking a look at your hurricane season guidelines. It’s time to get able to put the ultimate touches in your HVAC preparations.
Once you obtain the hurricane warning, sometimes 36 hours earlier than it makes landfall, it’s time to make the ultimate preparations.
Flip off Your System
Earlier than the storm hits, it’s worthwhile to reduce energy to your HVAC system. It will present extra safety towards storm surges. Wind, water, and electrical energy are a potent mixture that may result in fires, so hold issues secure by shutting off the facility.
Cowl Your Out of doors Unit
Solely after the facility has been shut off are you able to cowl your outside unit. Use the sturdiest, weather-resistant tarp yow will discover and strap it down securely.
The quilt might not survive the storm if hurricane winds get extraordinarily robust. Nonetheless, whereas it’s in place, it could possibly assist shield your condenser from flying particles that might trigger harm that’s costly to restore.
Have a Jacksonville Seaside HVAC Firm on Velocity Dial
After a hurricane has handed, assess the harm to your system. Some could also be apparent, however there may very well be different harm that’s not seen to the untrained eye. So, earlier than firing up your AC once more, it’s sensible to name a Jacksonville Seaside HVAC firm.
They’re educated to examine your complete system for indicators of harm. They’ll have a look at the condenser unit and examine {the electrical} parts for indicators of harm. In the event that they spot damaged parts, they’ll repair them earlier than they trigger harm to different components of your system.
When you select to show your system on with out consulting professionals, pay attention fastidiously. Do you hear any uncommon noises? Is cool air flowing by way of the vents as earlier than?
If there are not any unusual noises and it’s working properly, congratulations! You will have made it by way of the hurricane unscathed. However when you’ve got any considerations, flip the system off and name in a Jacksonville Seaside HVAC restore service instantly.
Let Us Full Your HVAC Inspection Guidelines
The hurricane HVAC suggestions above may help you put together and survive the hurricane season along with your AC intact. Nonetheless, don’t neglect the first step on the HVAC inspection guidelines. You should definitely name the professionals who can spot points you might miss.
At Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air, we perceive the Jacksonville Seaside local weather and the affect hurricanes can have on HVAC techniques. Throughout an air-con upkeep service, we are able to examine in case your system is prepared for regardless of the hurricane season brings.
Name us at 904-867-8480 or click on right here to be taught extra and schedule a free inspection in the present day!
