While your air conditioning unit is created to withstand the elements, including heavy showers and hail damage, sometimes you need to call your AC maintenance technician to inspect potential damage. If your AC system sits in standing water, due to a torrential downpour or other unexpected issues, it can cause serious damage to the moving parts and electrical components. The water usually has to reach about 15 inches in depth to affect your air conditioner, but if there has been any flooding at all, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for an air conditioner inspection immediately.
If severe storms or flooding caused your AC system to sit in standing water, there are a few things we suggest doing to avoid more damage or dangerous conditions:
- Deactivate all the electrical switches to your AC system. If you are not comfortable doing this, you can call your AC maintenance expert to help guide you through the process.
- Allow your AC system to dry out. Get rid of any standing water if possible and cautiously clear any debris from the immediate area.
- Leave your AC system off until a professional air conditioner inspection has been performed. Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning and ensure your equipment will operate safely and effectively with a full air conditioning system safety inspection.
CAUTION: Do not cover your outdoor heating and cooling systems with a tarp. This may actually cause more issues, including not allowing the system to air out properly and remove moisture, potentially causing rust or other damage.
In addition to April showers, spring also brings hail storms, as well. Every year thousands of commercial and residential AC units are harmed by hail. While you can usually see obvious damage from the outside, you may not notice that the damage inside the air conditioner may be causing restricted air flow, hindering the performance of the system. Sometimes you can fix the air conditioning system more easily, by combing the fins or replacing the coil, but an insurance company’s claim breakdown showed that around a tenth of air conditioners damaged by hail had to be fully replaced.
Strong winds tend to accompany storms and while your air conditioning unit probably won’t get wind damage, other items picked up by the wind, like bushes, grills, or children’s outdoor toys, can be thrown, damaging your system.
For a full air conditioner inspection and safety check, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning today and we’ll make sure your air conditioning unit is operating safely and efficiently. Help keep your loved ones safe during storm season and make sure to follow these guidelines if your city is under a serious storm warning.