Providing extra HVAC protection makes sense even if you have excellent homeowner’s insurance coverage. Storms in this region can damage your equipment, which results in the loss of use, which could be uncomfortable and dangerous in the winter.
- Install surge protectors. You can use a whole-house surge protector or use them individually to protect your appliances and devices from power surges. These power spikes not only occur after a power outage, but also throughout the day and night during good weather.
A whole-house protector will prevent damage to anything plugged in, while one specifically for your HVAC system will shield it from electrical damage 24/7.
- Label the circuit breakers. Absent surge protectors, label the breakers for your major appliance, including the HVAC system, and instruct family members old enough to turn them off when severe weather warnings have been issued.
- Consider a generator. In the summer, you can keep your refrigerator going, and in the winter, it could provide enough electricity to power a space heater.
- Tie down condenser. Strong winds associated with thunderstorms can topple the outdoor condenser for the air conditioner or heat pump. An HVAC pro can secure it to its slab to prevent tipping from strong gusts. When the condenser tips over, the damage may be irreparable. Unless your system is fairly new, you may have to replace it entirely.
- Trim the trees. Removing dead tree limbs or those close to the home’s structure will provide some HVAC protection. Ice storms can cause even healthy limbs and branches to fall on the condenser.
- Set aside a tarp and bungee cords. Secure the tarp with the bungee cords when high winds are forecast. A tarp won’t provide enough protection from falling tree limbs, but it will keep the blowing debris from a strong thunderstorm from damaging the delicate fins inside the condenser.
As the weather cools, HVAC protection through any or all of these recommendations will keep you and your system safer during extreme weather. To learn more, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, serving homeowners in the Lorain area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about severe storms and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area