HVAC Preparedness for Hurricane Season

The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season is in full swing! This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an “above-normal” season. Given this information, have you started with the preparations for your home or business’s HVAC system?

By preparing your heating and cooling system before storms hit, you can extend the life of your unit and reduce or even eliminate future repair costs. Your HVAC system needs protection, so if you’re unsure of how to prepare your unit so that it’s kept safe from the storms, trust Avis Plumbing & Air Conditioning to assist you!

We want to help you stay prepared by sharing some HVAC tips and recommended practices.

Routine Maintenance

Hurricane Season comes around once a year, which means your routine maintenance and tuneup should also take place at least once a year. The key to extending the life of your HVAC unit and preventing extensive damage is to stay on top of your regular maintenance schedule regardless of whether your unit experiences malfunctions or has never broken down.

Our A/C Technicians are the experts and you can trust them to take care of all your air conditioning maintenance needs. We can help keep your HVAC systems and A/C units running smoothly all year round, especially during hurricane season.

Before the Storm

There is usually ample warning given before a hurricane makes landfall, which can give you just enough time to make the following preparations:

Cover Your Unit

While your outdoor units are designed to withstand storms and rainy conditions, if your area is predicted to see stronger winds than usual, it may be beneficial to cover your unit with either a waterproof cover or even plywood. By doing so, you will be able to protect your HVAC unit from flying debris or anything that might damage it.

Ensure Your Unit is Elevated

It’s no secret that hurricanes bring a lot of water, typically from an over-abundance of rain and storm surges, causing flooding. Keeping your unit elevated on a concrete slab will prevent it from sitting in the standing water collecting beneath it.

Remove Debris and Projectiles

Anything sitting in your yard or surrounding the area of your A/C unit can become a projectile. Any object flying around can come into contact with your unit, causing extensive damage, meaning you may have to make costly repairs. It’s best to keep the area around your unit as clear as possible.

Shut Your Unit Off

Before the storm makes its way to you, the best thing you can do is shut off your A/C unit. During a heavy storm such as a hurricane, there is always a possibility of lightning striking electrical lines and transformers, sending surges of power out that could zap your HVAC system. Too much power being sent to your system could kill it completely.

Florida is notorious for its humidity, so turning off your system may not be the best choice for you or an option at all. In that case, you might be concerned about keeping your home cool in case of an outage. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

Just before you turn off the power to your air conditioning unit, run it down a few degrees so that your home stays a bit cooler.
Opt for using ceiling and standing fans
Purchase a surge protector for your unit

After the Storm

Once the storm has passed, be sure to immediately turn on your a/c unit to get it running and prevent mold and bacteria growth. Be sure to take a look at your unit and system for any debris or noticeable damage.

Avis Plumbing and Air Conditioning will monitor potential storms and inclement weather in order to keep you up-to-date on our operations.

In the case of an A/C emergency, Avis Plumbing and Air Conditioning are available 24 hours, 7 days a week to provide repairs to your HVAC system. The team at Avis is able to provide same-day service 365 days a year to the residents of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Captiva, Sanibel, and the surrounding Lee County area. From residential to commercial, Avis’ expert technicians can handle the issue quickly and efficiently.