天美传媒

When summer听hits听its peak, your听air conditioner听may work听extremely hard听to keep your听the U.S.听home cool and comfortable. While听many听summer days are warm and beautiful,听most areas of the country are听no stranger to听dangerous听weather. Stormy conditions, and even days with听significant听heat and humidity, can听affect听your air conditioner’s performance, efficiency and听life span.听Discover听the many ways weather can听affect听your听AC听and how to protect it.

Impact of Weather on Your Air Conditioner

Performance

Various听weather conditions听can alter听how well your air conditioning unit听works. On听particularly听hot days, the AC听has to听work harder to听attain and hold听the set temperature. The听larger听workload听could听lead to an听overburdened听system, causing a breakdown.

Extreme听humidity also听poses听a听potentially tricky situation.听While听air conditioners are听supposed听to dehumidify the air as they cool it, excessive humidity can听strain听the system. This听can听result in听decreased听performance and a听less comfortable home.

Efficiency

Heat waves听force your air conditioner to run听constantly,听resulting in听a spike in energy bills. If听the听system is not designed or听installed听correctly, it may听not be able听to meet the cooling demand under these conditions.

In contrast, the condensing unit is听in jeopardy听if听used听in subfreezing conditions. Attempting to听use听the听air conditioner听when the outdoor unit is covered in ice听can听damage the compressor,听limiting听efficiency and possibly听causing a total breakdown of听your cooling system.

Weather-Induced Damage

Significant听rain, wind, hail or snow can听inflict damage on听a home's听outdoor AC unit. Debris from storms can听prevent听airflow,听decrease听system efficiency or听dent听the metal.听Should water flood听the system, corrosion or short-circuiting听could听occur, shortening the听life听of your听unit.

Protecting Your Air Conditioner from Severe Weather

The outdoor AC unit is听vulnerable听to听dangerous听weather, but you can take听steps听to听secure听it. Here’s how to听save听your air conditioner from听severe听incoming weather:

• Install your air conditioner in the shade: A shaded outdoor unit doesn’t have to听operate听as听vigorously,听improving听efficiency and听lengthening听the unit’s life span. If possible,听place听the听air conditioning听on the north or east side of your home or听somewhere else听shaded during the hot afternoon.
• Invest in an air conditioner cover: AC covers听provide听a protective shield. During the听off-season听or when severe weather is听forecast, consider covering your air conditioner to protect it from flying debris, falling ice and听deep听snowfall.听Don't forget, though, to听make sure you don’t attempt to听turn on听the air conditioner while the outdoor unit is covered.
• Maintain your HVAC system regularly:听Performing regular听maintenance is a听cost-effective听measure to enhance your AC unit’s听operating efficiency. After all,听a regularly serviced听air conditioner is less likely to听break听under the stress of听extreme听temperatures or humidity. Regular cleaning, filter replacement and听detailed听inspections ensure your system听continues to be听in top-notch condition and is ready to听face听any weather.
• Install a surge protector: Power surges are a common听consequence听of storms that can听harm听your AC unit’s electrical听elements. Installing a surge protector adds听an additional听layer听of defense.听On the other hand, you听could听power听off your听air conditioning听during severe weather by flipping the circuit breaker.
• Secure and elevate your outdoor unit:听Heavy听winds can cause the outdoor听cooling听unit to听topple听or move.听Also, rising water can听flow through听the internal听parts.听Make sure听your outdoor unit is听correctly听secured and听elevated听on bricks or platforms designed to protect it from wind and water damage.
• Clear your yard of debris:听Keep听the space around your air conditioner clear of loose听items听that could become听dangerous听projectiles. This helps听protect against听denting and other physical damage听from听severe weather.

Checking on Your AC After a Storm

In the aftermath of听severe听weather, follow these steps to听make sure听your air conditioner is able to continue to听operate听safety:

• Conduct a visual inspection: When the sky clears, go听outdoors听and听examine听your unit.听Check听for听damage听such as dents, exposed wires or an off-kilter base.
• Clear debris:听Clean off听any leaves,听branches听and other debris to听increase听airflow and efficiency.
• Inspect听for water damage: If your听area听suffered听flooding,听examine your HVAC equipment听for water damage. If you听think听water听entered听the unit, it’s听a very good idea听not to turn it on until you have it professionally听serviced.
• Schedule a听prompt听repair: In the case of storm damage, don’t听postpone听air conditioning repair, or you risk听higher听energy听expenses, a reduced life span or total system听disaster.

Contact 天美传媒 Total Home Comfort

No one wants to听feel the impact of听severe weather, but it’s听critical听to be prepared and听recognize听how to recover. At 天美传媒 Total Home Comfort, we offer post-storm inspections and repairs to ensure your听air conditioning system听works听safely and efficiently. Our听staff听can handle all your听AC service听needs in听the U.S., including maintenance, repair and replacement. Don’t let severe weather听influence听your听home's听comfort—contact听a听天美传媒听office near you听for more information or to schedule a visit today.