Warmer weather is fast approaching and as we quickly move into summer in the Tampa Bay area, our thoughts often turn to hurricane season, which begins on June 1 and lasts through November 30.
While this area has been happily spared over the last several years, complacency doesn’t protect you and your home from the elements. Experts are telling us to expect an upswing in hurricane activity in our area over the next several years. Here are a few things you can do to help you and your family ride out the storm:
General AC Maintenance Before the Storm
Clear the Debris
This is practical advice for all homeowners. One of the most common reasons people call in AC repair is because something is affecting the unit’s efficiency. Often that something is a foreign object. If you maintain the area around the air conditioner -- trimming the shrubs, weeding, removing loose objects in the yard, and keeping the area clear, you are less likely to have something kicked up in a storm as well.
Maintain Your Trees
The hurricane winds come howling but often it’s not the wind that does the damage. It’s projectile items such as broken tree branches that cause the property damage. Bring in a tree specialist to take a look at the health and vitality of all of your trees. Those beautiful old oaks won’t seem so grand when you pull a majestic branch off of your crushed air conditioner.
Arrange for AC Repair and Maintenance
Proper AC repair and maintenance is essential to maintaining the efficiency of your unit. Before storm season, have your air conditioning unit checked out by a professional. Have it cleaned and serviced so you know it’s running well for the upcoming summer.
During the Storm
Thankfully hurricanes give us advanced warning so here’s what you can do to protect your AC unit when you know a storm is approaching.
Tie it Down
Your local hardware store has hurricane straps or you can cage the unit in. This helps keep it secure and minimizes the amount of debris the unit takes on. Some homeowners wrap their system in a tarp and continue to use it. This may cause the unit to overheat.
Turn it Off
Power surges and shortages are common during storms. Turning your unit off will ensure it’s not exposed to them and their damaging effects.
After the Storm
Check it Out
If you’re lucky enough to have power, take a look at your air conditioner before trying to operate it. Look for visible damage and debris. Don’t try and fix the unit yourself, particularly if there are exposed wires. Call a 24 Hour emergency A/C repair company to take a look first.
Prepare yourself and your family for the upcoming hurricane season by calling out the experts in AC repair. Tampa’s past luck is no indicator that this year will be equally quiet so do what you can now to prepare for the season. Call Easy A/C today to schedule your pre-hurricane season inspection.