A/C Hurricane Preparedness

When it comes to your air conditioning system there is not much to prepare for in the event of a hurricane.  The concern is if you loose power what can you do.  If you have a generator and want to run your air conditioner be very careful to make sure the generator has enough power to handle the start-up load of your air conditioner.  It is typically about 50% more than the standard running load of the A/C.  If you don’t have a generator then the main thing to concern yourself with is when the power comes back on.  It is advisable to turn the system off while the power is off and make sure the power is back on solid before starting your air conditioner again.  If the power blinks on and off and your air conditioner is trying to start with low power or blinks off and on this can damage your unit and could even cause it to fail.  The other thing to check is to make sure there are no loose objects around or large tree limbs that could come crashing down into your outside unit. If the area around your outside unit is prone to flooding, make sure the water has receded below the bottom of the unit before you turn it back on to minimize the possibility of electrical shorts.  When in doubt be safe.