Here in Indiana, once spring arrives, so does the season of tornadoes and other strong storms. While you're probably familiar with the first rule of protecting you and your family from a bad storm (get inside fast!), other rules and guidelines should be followed as well. Some of them are intended to protect your home's HVAC system. Following are some tried-and-true tips for spring storm preparation.
- If you know a storm is coming, turn off your home's cooling (or heating) system at the circuit box. If you have a window A/C unit, unplug it and remove it from the window, along with any ducts and other accessories. Seal the window. Shut down the electrical breakers connected to the A/C unit to prevent damage. With enough warning, you can over-cool your home before the storm hits so it will stay cool all the longer after you dismantle or turn off the system.
- Cover your central HVAC system's outside unit with a tarp or plywood. This way various storm debris won't blow into the unit and damage it. It's important to secure any covering tightly, however, so it doesn't blow away and endanger people or property.
- Protect your HVAC system and other home appliances, including computers and TVs, from power surges and lightning strikes. You can use individual power strips for equipment and systems, or else invest in a point-of-entry surge protector to protect your whole home. If you know a powerful electrical storm is coming, go ahead and unplug valuable appliances and electronics.
- As for non-HVAC related tips, most of them are fairly obvious. Make sure you have an emergency kit, plenty of drinking water, coolers for food storage, fully charged cell phones, battery-operated radio, emergency blankets, and a full tank of gas in the car. Having a phone charger in the car is a good idea as well. Before the storm, go outside and pick up or secure any loose items in the yard that may become projectiles in high winds.
For more spring storm preparation tips your Fort Wayne area home, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about storm season preparation tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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