How to Prepare Your AC for a Hurricane

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Prepare for Hurricanes

Hurricane season is here! First thing’s first: protect yourself and your loved ones. Here is some information on creating an effective hurricane plan. Once your family is safe, it’s time to protect your home and the investment that you made in your air conditioning system.

Step 1: Lower Your Home Temperature

Looking ahead to step number 2, you will be turning your AC off before the storm hits. Before you do that, be sure to lower the temperature on your thermostat for at least a few hours prior to the storm’s arrival. This will allow your home to stay cooler longer during the storm or in the event of a power outage.

Leaving your AC on during a hurricane could lead to major damage, repairs, or even a replacement.

Step 2: Turn Off Your Air Conditioner

The biggest risk to your air conditioner are surges and constant power outages. We cover surges later on in this article, but, for now, be sure to turn your air conditioner off before the storm hits. During hurricanes or large storms, weather has a tendency to bring about multiple power outages. Having your AC click on and off can be very damaging to your compressor and other integral parts to your system. Leaving your AC on during a hurricane could lead to major damage, repairs, or even a full replacement.

Once the storm has passed, check your air conditioner for any visible damage before turning it back on. If there is damage, DO NOT TURN your air conditioner back on.

Step 3: Secure Your Air Conditioner

A Category 3 hurricane produces winds of over 120 miles per hour. Your outside unit is properly strapped to a hurricane pad that is typically rated for winds up to 150 miles per hour. It is highly unlikely that your condenser will be moved, even by hurricane force winds, but it’s always a good idea to walk your property prior to the storm and inspect your outdoor unit to ensure it’s secured properly. It would also be smart to install a surge protector for your HVAC system to counteract any direct lightning strikes to your unit.

Step 4: Turn On AC Immediately After

Once the storm has passed, check your air conditioner for any visible damage before turning it back on. If there is damage, DO NOT TURN IT ON. You could make the damage much worse. Instead, set up an inspection by your local AC professionals at Scott’s Air.

If you don’t see any damage, you can turn your air conditioner back on. Depending on how long your AC was off during the storm, give your home 24 hours with the AC running for it to return to the cool, comfortable environment you’re used to. Remember, your air conditioner acts as a giant dehumidifier, so it needs time to remove the moisture from the air in your home after a wet and humid event such as a hurricane.

Trust in Scott’s Air

Hurricanes aren’t the only storms that can damage your air conditioning system. Every day storms can do significant damage. Follow the steps in this article to keep your air conditioning system safe and secure.

If you are worried that your air conditioner may have sustained damage after a storm or hurricane, call Scott’s Air Heating & Air Conditioning to come take a look. We have been serving the Central Florida community for over 15 years and we know all about the damage that storms can do to your system.

  
 

Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!

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AC Service Testimonials

Wonderful team of professionals. Everything was first rate, the installers were excellent .
Scott's Heating & Air Conditioning is one of the very best companies that I have ever dealt with. Each and every employee is very knowledgeable, polite, effecient, and responds quickly to each task. The products and prices are reasonable, and quality is excellent. I highly recommend Scott's Heating & Air Conditioning!
Caca B
Caca B
1694554459
Great crew; on time, knowledgeable and professional. Excellent installation of new system.
Linda Baker
Linda Baker
1694146382
Very happy with their work
Eric Garms
Eric Garms
1693329572
Oh my god what an amazing company! I literally called one hour ago and said that my thermostat wasn’t working and there was a knock on my door within the hour! They told us what to do to fix it therefore saving us a $600 bill. They came right away, none of that we can see you in 48 hour junk. Amazing.
V Js
V Js
1693328507
They were able to provide me with same day service, friendly and very responsive. Also, I got 2 other quotes and the pricing was the most competitive.
So thankful and impressed! My dad returned home after having open heart surgery to a completely dead HVAC system in the middle of summer. Definitely not ideal. The repair was going to be pricey so he opted for a new unit. A crew came out on a Saturday and did a very clean and efficient install. Highly recommend this company!!!
Brooke Riley
Brooke Riley
1692362381
Very professional, work very neat and cleaned up and removed stuff. Very impressed with all of the staff and the company.
Our AC decided to quit during one of the hottest heatwaves in years. We called Scott's and someone was at the house to give us a quote in 30 min. From the moment they answered our first phone call through the install everyone was amazing, professional and provided a quality product and excellent service. Craig, Jose, Dexter were awesome! One of the new guys brought us a portable unit at 9:30 PM on a Friday so we could sleep. We missed his name, but shout out to him as well (he likes to give high fives). Thanks Scott and team for everything. We highly recommend!!!
K Harper
K Harper
1692132893
For the past week I've worked with Craig on getting estimates for a new A/C unit, and he has been great at answering my questions and addressing any concerns. Very responsive and knowledgeable, straight shooter and direct! I didn't have to deal with any up-selling like working with a used car salesman (I experienced that with other bigger local A/C companies providing quotes). For these qualities alone I would recommend Scott's A/C, even though I will disclose that we ultimately went with another quote from a family referral of an A/C company. Had that family referral not been apart of our consideration, we would definitely choose and recommend Scott's for new A/C installs and service!
rwoodunder
rwoodunder
1691677447
Dan in sales, outstanding jobgoing over equipment and helping us make what was the best decisions for us on purchasing new a/cinstall, plus scheduling the next day!Boris and Justin were excellent with communications while install and after! very clean, professional taking old out and installing new!ty
T F
T F
1690829348
We can't thank Scott's enough. We came home to a air conditioner barely limping along. I called Scott's first thing in the morning and they had a technician out that day. Unfortunately our system could not be saved. The salesman Craig came out that day as well and quoted a new system. Since it was a Friday we could not get the system installed until Tuesday. Scott's provided us with a portable system which definitely helped during the grueling heat wave in Central Florida. Tuesday came, the installers showed up on time and did an awesome installation job. Cleaned everything up and went on their way. Everyone was pleasant, professional and great to work with! Thank You Scott's Heating & Cooling!
Rodger Marty
Rodger Marty
1689943584
Always happy with their response time. Issue started last night causing our A/C unit to shut down. Made a call to Scott's Heating and Air in the morning and a tech was here by 10:45am. Tyrie, the tech, is awesome. He quickly took care of the problem and had us up and running in no time at all. He is knowledgeable and professional and did a great job.
Perfect company to do business with. Professional and courteous in all phases of project.
Ron Brenton
Ron Brenton
1689684296
Excellent response and service. After 25 years of being serviced by a competitor I decided to change companies. AC was out and in need of replacement. Within 24 hours we had the sales rep here and new unit going in for a reasonable expense. No upselling, phony money savings, or timeshare presentations- just a new system without being targeted and pressured into pricey newer technology that will also become obsolete and non reparable every system cycle. I’m recommending to everyone looking for a new provider
Bill Sumner
Bill Sumner
1688123609
Excellent job getting my new system installed. Friendly and professional staff. Would recommend this company to anyone who needs ac work done.
Michael Imlay
Michael Imlay
1686157131
My a/c went out on a Sunday during a holiday weekend. I called and they had someone out there within a couple of hours to repair it! Great service
Susan
Susan
1685582464
All are very responsive and professional! Great job!
Diane Layton
Diane Layton
1682546738
Scott’s saved the day for us this evening. Our A/C stopped working and it got hot inside quickly, which was more complicated because I’m 36 weeks pregnant. Scott’s was responsive to our call and within two hours someone had come and fixed our unit!
Kaley Gilford
Kaley Gilford
1681601593
20 out of 10 this place is amazing. The techs are always awesome. Super knowledgeable, friendly, polite and quick. They are prompt about appointments and always show up within the time frame. They always keep me cool and I cannot appreciate you guys enough!
Emily Koller
Emily Koller
1680904342
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