After the hurricane: How to maintain AC units after the storm?
Hurricanes are common in some specific parts of the world and the United States, Florida is known to have a hurricane season from June to November. The intensity and frequency of these storms vary, but in most cases, they are very damaging. Sometimes heavy rains result in flooding. Residents get trapped in homes and it’s nothing but chaos all around.
After the storm, it’s not a household that has to recover, but the whole community needs to get out of the damages and go for repairing and recovering activities. Hurricane damages structures, vegetation, and outdoor appliances like HVAC units. Hurricanes can be traumatizing for residents and they have no idea what to do and from where they should start the recovery process.
We have collected a list of all possible repairs that a common house has to go through. Inspect your home and see if your house needs these repairs or all of them.
Recovery repairs
Florida is a tropical state and hurricanes can be disastrous here. Depending on the strength, a storm can not only be damaging for structures but life-threatening for the residents too. People experience different kinds of problems, floods, broken trees, and power fluctuations are the most common ones. Damage to properties, particularly roofs, is also very common. With this variety of damage, you have to decide where you need to start.
Most people concentrate on roofs and cleaning their yards, but no one notices Air conditioning units, which also require your immediate attention. It is very necessary to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature after all the problems of storms.
What are the possible repairs for the air conditioning unit?
You need to inspect your AC unit before you turn it on again. There can be different kinds of damage that the unit may experience. Here we are discussing it in detail.
Physical damage to the outdoor unit
When you inspect your house to notice physical damages, damage to the outer unit or condenser Unit of the air conditioner can be one of them. Hurricane winds are very strong and can damage anything outside, it can be furniture on the patio, trees on the lawn, and window glasses too. When you inspect your condenser unit, it can be covered in dust or flooded with water. The damage is not only limited to the surface of the unit, the storm may have damaged some internal parts too. Displacement of condenser coils and breakage of electrical wires are common after the hurricane.
You may not find the outdoor unit in its original position. Strong winds can easily displace it. No matter what kind of damage your unit has experienced, don’t try to fix it yourself. You have no item about the extent of damage, so calling a professional is the right decision. A technician knows how to handle these problems and how to repair the broken parts. However, hire an experienced technician who knows his Job. An inexperienced person can cause more damage to your machine, instead of repairing it.
The air conditioner is not working
After a storm the air becomes very humid. To get rid of this humidity inside the house, the air conditioner can help. But sometimes the AC unit doesn’t even turn on, while you have properly shut it down before the storm. There can be various reasons for its malfunction.
Power outage is common during a hurricane. Power fluctuations can cause problems in wiring and it stops working. In some cases, the voltage is not enough to start the unit. When the complete power supply will be restored, it will start working. However, if the outdoor or indoor unit has been damaged due to any reason, it will not work until the damage is repaired. You need to call a professional to fix such problems. He will examine the unit and may have to replace a few parts and the air conditioner will start working again.
Burning odor
When you inspect your unit, you may experience a boring odor and it will be coming from the unit. If so, don’t turn on your air conditioner. If you have already started it, switch it off immediately. Sometimes strong winds displace a few parts of the outer unit or wires touch each other, which leads to sparking and burning odor.
Problems like these can be avoided if you have a surge protector. Some people have these devices for the whole home, while others use them for appliances like air conditioners only. When the power supply is restored, usually there is a power surge that causes such issues. You have to consult professionals to fix these issues. They can guide you about surge protectors and their installation too, to avoid these problems in the future. In most cases, it’s the malfunctioning of the blower, which an expert can easily replace and your system will start working properly.
Schedule complete maintenance
Air conditioning unit is very important for every home. It is an expensive one and if you do not take care of it, it will get badly damaged and there will be no solution but to replace it. Proper maintenance is the secret to the long life of every home appliance, including the air conditioner.
Once the storm is over, you need to hire a professional who can inspect your unit. He will inspect indoor and outdoor units and check for any physical or electrical damage. He will repair it and your unit will be ready to work: But if you try to save money and will not do the maintenance activity, it may start working right away, but you will be facing problems in the long run.
Hire a professional techy with a good reputation. Technicians indeed charge money but they save your expensive appliances too. You will have a stress-free life if your appliances are working properly.
You cannot stop storms, but we can get ready for them. If they cause any damage, professionals are there to help you.
About Century Air Conditioning & Heating
Century Air Conditioning & Heat was established in 1986. We’re a family owned and operated HVAC contractor in Orlando, FL. For over 36 years, we’ve been a trusted source for air conditioning equipment, heating equipment and related services. Century is an A+ BBB accredited business.
Air Conditioning & Heating Services Offered in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida Areas:
Orlando Air Conditioner Installation | Orlando Air Conditioner Installation |
HVAC Air Conditioning Maintenance | Orlando Air Conditioning Service |