Air conditioners are built to endure precipitation, like rain and snow. However, if your outdoor air conditioner is drenched in standing water from a torrential downpour, this might severely damage the electrical components within. Your cooling is most likely to suffer damage if the floodwater rises above a foot deep. Still, if the system has flooded at all, contact Climate Control Service Experts at 251-202-7503 for an air conditioning inspection.
If extreme flooding has occurred or is likely to happen, follow these directions to avoid hurting your HVAC system or generating dangerous operating conditions.
Before Flooding
Don’t cover your air conditioner with anything. A plastic sheet won’t protect it from water. Instead, it will draw moisture inside, encourage rust, hasten mold growth and give animals an area to hide.
If you reside in a flood-prone location, consider placing your air conditioner on a high platform. This elevates the unit above potential floodwaters and can save you hassle and expense when you have to deal with the next downpour.
Another way to protect your air conditioning system is to build a retaining wall around it. This structure can help you avoid air conditioner flooding, even as water rises around it. Similarly, you can pile sandbags around the unit when you know a storm is coming.
If hail is in the forecast, you can secure pieces of plywood across the top of the air conditioner to shield it from hail damage. Weigh the plywood down firmly with stones or bricks in case the wind picks up.
During Flooding
Don’t run your system while it’s submerged in water. Doing so may result in an electrical shock hazard or potentially destroy the internal system components.
To avoid these issues, switch off the power to the air conditioning and thermostat. The quickest method for doing this is to find the HVAC and thermostat breakers in your junction box and turn them to the “off” position. If you want help, contact an air conditioning service company like Climate Control Service Experts.
After Flooding
Once the rain moves on, you want your AC to dry out quickly. Remove standing water, if possible, and pick up any debris from the immediate area.
Don’t turn on the air conditioner until it has been evaluated by an HVAC technician. Even after it has dried out, using flood-damaged equipment can pose the same hazards as using the air conditioning while it’s still under the water. Some problems need days or weeks to begin revealing symptoms, so it’s ideal to keep your unit turned off until you get the okay from an HVAC tech.
While you wait for your technician to arrive, review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if flood damage covers your outdoor air conditioning system. If so, take photos of the damage and present your claim as soon as possible. If you don’t have flood insurance, you may still be covered if the unit has experienced wind or hail damage.
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