With Florida’s storm season ramping up during National Preparedness Month, the experts at United Refrigeration, Heating and Air have some stormproof tips to protect your HVAC systems.
For this year’s National Preparedness Month, Ready.gov is urging Americans to: “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” Well, during hot temperatures and stormy weather in North Central Florida, we can attest that air conditioning is essential for staying cool and protected inside the safety of our homes and businesses.
Important ways to protect your Florida homes, businesses, and HVAC systems:
- Know the location of your electrical boxes and shutoff valves. In Florida, homeowners and business owners need to know how to take vital safety steps, such as shutting off electric, gas, or water during an emergency.
- Take action to protect systems from power surges. It is a no-brainer to unplug your TV or computer during a lightning storm, but major appliances and HVAC systems are also at risk. Consider shutting down power to certain systems during severe weather warnings.
- Monitor exterior areas for water pooling, flooding, or drainage issues. Floridians must take measures to protect their property from water damage. If needed, United’s technicians can elevate AC units or design platforms to raise and protect HVAC systems at risk.
- Regularly check indoors for leaking pipes, seepage, or corrosion. Water issues can damage indoor air systems and other parts of your homes and businesses. Make every effort to remove water and call in the professionals if you spot a leak or water damage.
- Protect outdoor AC units from high-force winds. Ocala, the Villages, and surrounding areas can experience brutal winds during hurricane season. United can help ensure your AC units are covered, protected, and secured with bolts, hooks, and straps where needed.
- Remove projectile objects and clean-up outdoor debris. It is obvious to store furniture and potted plants in a sheltered location to protect windows. Debris and small projectile objects, however, are also able to damage your outdoor AC unit or block air flow.
- After a storm or outage, schedule a maintenance check. United’s professionals can help you determine if there was any damage done during a storm. Wind, lightening, and rain can leave behind obvious signs of damage as well as hard-to-detect issues.
- Make repairs quickly when necessary. If you see a leak or notice a malfunction, be sure to act quick before other parts are damaged. In addition to repairing any mechanical issues, United’s technicians can offer solutions to protect systems and prevent future damage.
- Plan ahead for system repairs or upgrades. With preparedness in mind, it is important to budget for potential costs associated with disasters, emergencies, or system breakdowns.
- Benefit from a preventative maintenance program. Control costs and protect the longevity of your system by starting a maintenance program for cleanings, inspections, and services to prevent a costly disaster before it strikes.
United Refrigeration, Heating and Air’s team provides emergency service as well as preventative maintenance to keep Florida homes and businesses running efficiently. Call 352-629-1187 to schedule your system maintenance, repair services, or new installations.
