Hurricane season and your AC: before, during and after the storm

Before the season

• Tie-downs. Check the outdoor unit is strapped or bolted to its pad. Current Florida code requires anchoring on new installs; older units are sometimes loose.
• Surge protection. A whole-home or AC surge protector is cheap insurance against the surges that follow storms and outages.
• A tune-up, so you're not discovering a weak capacitor during a post-storm heat wave.
• Clear the area. Know what around the unit could become a projectile.

When a storm is coming

1. Bring in patio furniture, pots and anything loose near the unit.
2. Turn the AC off at the thermostat and breaker before the storm arrives, so surges and flickering power can't hit it.
3. Don't wrap the unit in a tarp and rope. It can act like a sail. If you cover it at all, use a purpose-made cover, and remove it before running the system.

After the storm: before you switch it back on

1. Look first. Is the unit on its pad and level? Debris in the fan? Bent fins, damaged lines, a damaged disconnect box?
2. Flooding: if water reached the unit's electrical parts, don't turn it on. Have it inspected.
3. Power: once utility power is back and stable, turn the breaker on, wait a few minutes, then start cooling.
4. Listen and feel. Humming without the fan starting, buzzing at the disconnect, or no cold air: turn it off and call.
5. Check the air handler closet for water or a musty smell.

Generators

If you run a portable generator, it must be outside and well away from windows and doors because of carbon monoxide, and most portable generators can't start a central AC. Whole-home standby generators need to be sized for the AC's starting load; ask before assuming yours can run it.

Insurance

Wind and debris damage are often covered by homeowners policies; flood damage usually needs flood insurance, and surge damage depends on the policy. Take photos before cleanup. We can write up the damage for your adjuster.