Summer storms can cause trouble for your air conditioning system, and you need to be aware of what could happen so you can prepare. Always get your HVAC system inspected before storm season starts to ensure there are no weak points that could give out unexpectedly as a storm rages around you. Read on to learn about the impacts a storm can have on your system.
Electrical Surges and Lightning Strikes
Summer storms bring with them a lot of lightning, and that lightning can wreak havoc on your home’s electrical system. If there’s a power surge that travels into your home’s wiring, anything plugged in and running could suffer. The surge itself could damage the wiring, the heat from the strike could cause components in the wiring to melt, and if you’re somehow unlucky enough to have a direct strike on the unit, you face replacing the entire outdoor unit. If this happens, Energy-Star Services offers emergency HVAC repair in Bucks County to solve the problem as quickly as possible.
The good news is that this whole scenario is rather uncommon; you’ve likely run your air conditioner during storms for years now without issue, right? However, the scenario is very real and very possible. “Uncommon” doesn’t mean it will never happen. So when you can, you might want to cut off the power to your air conditioner until the storm has passed.
Debris Everywhere, Including in the Outdoor Unit
Summer storms also bring wind and debris. Leaves, twigs, litter, and other loose objects in yards can all go flying into your air conditioner unit. Covering the outdoor unit is the easiest way to stop storm-driven debris from clogging the unit, but remember that if you do cover then, then you do have to turn off your air conditioner for the duration of the storm until you can remove the cover. And remember that leaves and twigs can naturally fall into the unit even when there’s no storm, so periodic cleaning is necessary.
Too Much Humidity and Too Much Struggle
If you live in a region with summer storms, you likely live in a humid region. And that humidity can build during and after the storm passes through. The humidity outside can seep inside and make your home feel more humid, and your air conditioner then has to try to pull this extra moisture out of the air. Air conditioning cools by removing moisture, so having excess moisture on top of what the unit normally deals with leads the unit to struggle. Too much humidity puts a strain on the air conditioner condenser, leading the appliance’s motor to fail earlier than it should.
If you need an inspection or repair, call our HVAC company in Buckingham, PA. Energy-Star Service is here to help you stay cool and safe!
