When you want to be well-prepared for severe weather, there are a lot of things that you can do for your home. One of these is to get your HVAC system prepared. Many people don’t think a lot about their HVAC unit when bad weather is coming, but there are ways you can make it safer for your unit. It’s a good idea to perform a few preparatory steps before the weather hits to save yourself from expensive problems later. Severe weather can be highly damaging to everything in the area, and that certainly includes your HVAC.
Cover Your HVAC
During many types of severe weather, high winds are a big problem. Strong wind gusts can cause debris from around the area to fly through the air and crash into your HVAC unit. Tree limbs, dirt, debris, rocks, trampolines, and more can all cause damage to the system. Before bad weather, it’s a good idea to prepare your HVAC by covering it with something sturdy such as a thick tarp. This can prevent damage while the storm rages on. Even if the severe weather is snow or ice, a sturdy covering around your HVAC unit will keep those materials from getting inside the system and causing expensive damage.
Clear Out the Area
Because things can fly into your HVAC unit during severe weather, it’s a smart idea to clear the area around it before the storm hits. The wind can pick things up, so why not make sure there’s less that it can pick up? There may be yard decor, toys, plant pots, patio furniture, and other items in the area around your HVAC. Clear all of that away when you know a big storm is coming. This can prevent damage to the unit.
Install a Surge Protector
Because power surges are such a big problem during storms, they commonly cause problems for HVAC units as well as the other electronics that you have running in your home. Some power surges are minor and won’t destroy an HVAC system’s inner workings. However, small power surges over time add up to a lot of damage to the unit. Precautions should be taken to avoid this scenario. When you have a surge protector protecting your home from the damage these surges can do, it will shield the unit from surges by taking extra voltage that comes in and rerouting it elsewhere. This keeps it from frying electronics or causing small amounts of damage that build up over time.
Get Regular System Inspections
You need regular inspections of your HVAC system to make sure that there isn’t damage that can get worse during a storm. Our HVAC contractors in Chester County, PA provide system inspections on a regular schedule so that you know your system is in good condition. Inspections can find small problems and get them fixed before they grow into larger problems. This can extend the lifespan of your system.
It’s important to have a working HVAC unit throughout the year to keep the temperatures indoors from getting uncomfortable or even dangerous. You can keep your system in better condition by following these preparation steps. For repairs or inspections of your HVAC in Downingtown, PA, get in touch with Taylor Home Comfort!