Static crackled on the radio, as the obliterating voice of the newscaster was shouting “Check your battery and flashlight supply and gather candles. Make sure you have plenty of canned goods and water. Board-up all of your windows, get fuel, and get out of here!”
It was only 2:00 in the afternoon, but this hair-raising storm decided it was going to cast an ominous and threatening blanket of darkness over us all. The howling wind outside intensifies the unnatural quietness of the room. The branches of our beautiful Florida Palm trees fall vigorously against the homes brand new HVAC unit installed by the professionals at Wentzel’s Health & Air in Sarasota Florida! The wind is growing stronger and the storm angrier by the minute.
Suddenly, a piercing strike of lightning crashed and a deafening crack of thunder rattled. So, powerful the whole house quivered from the force. The storm seemed to be collecting more and more energy as the minutes passed by.
Sounds a little spine-chilling and unnerving, Right? Our stunning home of Florida holds an unprecedented 11-year hurricane drought record after Hurricane Wilma in 2005, during which no hurricane made landfall in the Sunshine State. But Hurricane Hermine ended all of that when it made landfall in Apalachee Bay as a category 1 storm in 2016.
Weeks later, Hurricane Matthew decided he wanted to visit and churned his way through the Caribbean and zeroed in on the Florida coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing winds up to 165 mph. Matthew thankfully never made landfall in Florida but wreaked havoc off the coast.
Although the chances of a hurricane striking the Atlantic coastline – from Texas to Maine is 75%, according to Hurricane News. That shouldn’t mean much to local Floridian’s as it is important to prepare the same way every year.
Wentzel’s Heating and Air Conditioning recommends these three steps to prepare for hurricane season.
- Do your research. Do you live in a flood zone? Storm surge zone? Evacuation zone? These are things you should know, especially if you are new to the area.
- Prepare a hurricane survival kit whether you are hunkering down for the storm in your home or evacuating to a shelter. You should always have a survival kit packed with necessary clothing, prescriptions and irreplaceable items like valuables, paperwork, photos and jewelry with you. Your family will need enough food and water to last at least 5 days until help or more supplies arrive at your area. Board up windows and turn off all gas and water valves especially if you are hunkering down in your home.
- Pay careful attention to any evacuation order and seek shelter. Steps 1 and 2 will prepare you for that.
Bonus Tip. Just make sure you have a solid plan of action.
Awoken once again but this time it was by the beaming bright light shining through the blinds. It was morning and we were alive! Jumping out from the safety and warmth of the blankets, I made a mad dash for the bedroom window.
YES! That really was the sun, the calm after the storm. Its rays were shimmering off the dewy grass and inviting so I stepped outside to survey our yard. I could definitely tell the storm that hit last night was in fact not a dream! It had left a generous amount of evidence; proof of just how powerful storms can be. My yard was disarrayed and littered with tree branches, leaves and I think the mangled piece of metal by the shed of our neighbor’s trampoline?! As I sloshed through the soaking wet lawn, still in my bare feet I made my way to our HVAC unit. It was covered in debris from the storm; leaves, grass, small tree limbs, mud, and trash. While you took special precaution to keep your family safe during the storm it is also crucial to protect your HVAC unit. Rain, wind, branches, debris, hail and lightning are all factors that can damage your unit.
Here are five tips to keep your HVAC working through the harshest of storms.
- Cover your outdoor unit (the compressor). Two of your unit’s biggest enemies are going to be hail and debris. Place a thick canvas over your system. This will provide protection during the storm and allow you to rest assured knowing your unit won’t be packed full of debris. If hail is predicted, also consider using hail guards on the most fragile parts of the unit. If you do use a cover for your air conditioning, do not use the unit until the storm has passed and you have uncovered the unit.
- Avoid using your HVAC during the storm. If you covered your unit turn off your cooling an put a note on your thermostat to remind you that it is covered. Power surges caused by electricity might cause damage to electronics, such as your HVAC unit. Consider disconnecting your unit to prevent any excess currents from going into your home in case your unit gets hit by lightning. Typically every unit has an outdoor switch to disable the power.
- Install your HVAC in an elevated area. In Florida, with storms comes the danger of flooding. Wentzel’s technicians place your unit in an elevated area reducing the likelihood of it being damaged by water. Consult with a Wentzel’s Pro for more information.
- Keep your yard free of debris. Anything that could blow into your HVAC unit and cause damage should be removed from your yard. Ensure any trees and bushes are trimmed and dead branches are removed. Trimming your trees and bushes prevents the loose or damaged branches from falling during a storm and causing unnecessary damage. Consider moving all your patio furniture or anything that can be blown by the wind inside, to avoid any unwanted problems.
- After the storm, inspect your unit before turning it on. Now that you survived the storm, it’s going to be sweltering hot conditions and you might be tempted to turn on your unit right away. DON’T! Take a few minutes to inspect your unit and ensure that no damage occurred. Inspect the surrounding area for any debris that could still pose a threat to the unit and remove right away.
Crippled by the storm?
Was your AC unit mutilated by the storm? No worries! Contact Wentzel’s Heating and Air Conditioning for help getting your HVAC unit back up and running with our AC maintenance and repair services or a new air conditioning unit installation. You’ll be arctic cool in no time!
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