Hurricane season officially runs from June 1st to November 30th, with the peak typically running from mid-August to mid-October. With Hurricane Debby having recently made landfall in the Big Bend and brought rain to a good chunk of the state, now is as good a time as any to talk about hurricane safety in Central Florida.
Since the early 20th century, hurricanes have caused $450 billion in damage in Florida. Hurricane Ian in 2022 was responsible for just under $110 billion and was the costliest natural disaster in Florida history. Many homes have been destroyed due to wind damage and flooding brought by hurricanes and tropical storms. Power outages and surges are also issues many Floridians face during tropical cyclones. Your outdoor HVAC unit is especially prone to damage because of its location and reliance on electricity.
However, you can reduce the risk of damage and come out the other side of a hurricane without needing to call a contractor to make repairs! Here are some tips to help you protect your HVAC unit and handle hurricane season like a pro:
1. Make sure your outdoor HVAC unit is secured
Tropical storms and hurricanes bring a lot of wind. You don’t want to underestimate the strength of the wind; it can blow fences down and destroy homes, and your outdoor A/C unit might also be ripe for the picking if it isn’t tied down.
At Kalos, we use L brackets that drill into the concrete pad and the condensing unit. We also ensure that the concrete pad meets code requirements whenever we install a new outdoor unit.
Local codes vary, but the ones in our service area require outdoor condensing units to have at least four tie-downs—one on each side of the unit—drilled into a concrete pad that also meets code requirements. Lightweight concrete pads may not meet code standards and increase the chances of your outdoor HVAC unit being damaged.
2. Clear all debris from your yard before the storm
The high winds of tropical storms and hurricanes can turn backyard staples into projectiles. Grills, sports equipment, potted plants, lawn chairs, trash bins, and yard ornaments can all damage cars, windows, and even your HVAC unit if they become airborne.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If you see reports of a tropical storm or hurricane that might affect your area, then put all of those items away and secure them indoors well before the storm arrives. Have a plan for your playsets and outdoor trampolines as well.
3. Trim trees and shrubs during hurricane season
While trees and shrubs are far less likely to be picked up and thrown around than sports equipment or lawn chairs, we also need to think about them. Storms can also damage trees and shrubs, which can then harm property or people.
Loose tree branches can fall and pose a threat to roofing, cars, and human life. While smaller bushes don’t have anywhere near the same risk that trees have, it may still be a good idea to trim bushes near your A/C unit and dispose of the clippings. The leaves can get inside the unit and make it harder for the unit to transfer heat.
We recommend trimming nearby bushes anyway to make sure your unit can discharge air most effectively. This practice will also reduce the likelihood (or at least the amount) of leaves getting into your outdoor unit. Leaves and other debris make it harder for the outdoor unit to give off heat, and your A/C unit may not cool as well as it should, even when we don’t have to worry about extreme weather.
4. If you are in a flood zone or other low-lying area, ask your contractor about raising your A/C unit
Most of our Central Florida service area is not located in a flood zone. The same can’t be said for the rest of Florida, though.
HVAC systems have a lot of electrical parts and are supposed to have waterproof conduits to protect things like wires. Because of that, HVAC units can usually withstand Florida’s heavy summer rains without a problem. Being submerged in standing water is another story.
Flood damage to HVAC units is very common in low-lying coastal areas. This type of damage to the outdoor HVAC unit can cause electrical parts to fail and even pose a fire hazard.
The best way to prevent flood damage to your HVAC unit is to have the unit above the water. Some contractors can install outdoor units on elevated platforms. Coastal areas and homes near bodies of water that may overflow are especially prone to flood damage, and raising the outdoor unit can be a smart move in those areas.
This option isn’t something most homeowners can do on their own. HVAC units have copper tubes that connect the indoor and outdoor units, and a contractor will need to reroute these using special tools and techniques.
5. Get a surge protector
Power outages are extremely common in hurricanes, as the wind can knock down power lines or trees that interfere with electrical service. Restoring power may cause a surge at first, which can damage electrical appliances.
Many ductless A/C units use control boards that are very sensitive to high voltage. Most people think of lightning strikes frying the electrical parts, but even constant slightly high voltage from the power company can cause parts to fail.
We usually recommend installing a surge protector any time you have one of those systems. However, protecting your unit is even more important during hurricane season, when power surges are likely to occur. While all HVAC systems can benefit from surge suppression, it’s especially helpful for ductless systems and high-efficiency systems with multiple fan speeds.
Even outside of hurricane season, you might consider getting a constant overvoltage monitor and a buck-boost transformer. Constant overvoltage monitors look at the voltage coming into your system from the power plant and can shut the unit down when the voltage is too high. We usually offer to install an ICM493, which also comes with surge protection, for this purpose.
When we can confirm that overvoltage from the power company is the cause, we can install a buck-boost transformer to reduce the voltage. Buck-boost transformers can either decrease or increase the line voltage (buck = decrease, boost = increase). We can install one of these and set it to “buck” the voltage and prevent higher line voltages from causing failures. However, these transformers will not work against power surges.
Hurricane season is all about forethought. Just as you need to stock up on clean drinking water, non-perishables, and flashlights for hurricane season, you need to protect your outdoor HVAC unit to reduce the risk of damage.
Also, as a final general tip, know where your main water and gas shutoffs are, as well as your main breaker. Hurricanes can cause water main breaks, gas line breaks, or brownouts where lights dim and flicker a lot. Make sure you can shut these off safely; do not try to access them if there are hazards present.
While weather can be hard to predict, your efforts will reduce the likelihood of needing to call someone out to repair your unit (or any of your other utilities) later.
