Expertly Curious
You’ve experienced enough storms in North Texas to know how unstable they can get. A little preparation before intense weather hits can minimize the damage to your home. Whether it’s a winter storm, tornado, or thunderstorm, Willard AC has you covered.
All homes should have a plan to take care of their HVAC system so they can avoid recreating the scene in The Wizard of Oz with an air conditioning unit! Plus, there are other ways you can benefit from storm preparedness. Here’s how to keep your home as an asset during a Texas storm.
Clear the area.
Homes with patio furniture, landscape décor, or tree limbs nearby their AC unit should remove them or anchor them to the ground. A single strong gust of wind could be all it takes to send a stone statue into the condenser coil. Moving furniture inside the home might be the safest option for your house and appliance.
Keep it covered.
Some newer AC systems are built to withstand harsh weather, but older units can benefit from a cover. A thick top cover will keep out debris like dirt, leaves, twigs, and hail. The most important thing to note about covering your appliance is the chance that moisture will be trapped inside, resulting in mold and severe damage.
Your cover should only come down the side about 6 inches to allow ventilation. You should also cut off the unit’s power so you don’t exacerbate the moisture levels with the cover on it.
Cool your home in advance.
With a crazy Texas storm, there’s always a chance your home could lose power. In the winter, that means hours or days without heat. The summer heat is no joke either. In planning for a power outage, heat or cool your home based on the temperature that will follow the storm.
For summer storms, you will most likely experience a heatwave afterward, so the best thing to do is cool your home to 68 degrees before the storm hits. If you do lose power, keep your curtains and windows closed so you can retain the cool air.
Damage control in case of flooding.
If you can help it, install your outdoor unit on an elevated slab. The flat land around North Texas leads to constant flood warnings whenever it rains. An elevated system puts your air conditioning unit out of the way of floodwaters and a water-logged disaster.
Inspect the unit before you turn it on.
With flooding, power outages, and blown debris, your system might not be in the best shape after a storm. If you turn it on before it’s cleaned out, you could make any damage to the unit worse. Plus, cracked components could lead to refrigerant leaks, which put you and your family in danger.
Inspect the exterior of the unit itself and call in backup for an internal check of your appliance. At Willard, we’ve seen it all, so you can always let us know when you’ve got an HVAC issue.
