With the internet making us more aware of events worldwide, it seems natural disasters are happening all the time, everywhere. The truth of the matter is, these catastrophic events are still somewhat rare, and it does not necessarily follow that every city and town will eventually be impacted. What does make sense, however, is being prepared for what could happen here. That means protecting your home as well as you can — and also, HVAC protection.
Your HVAC system is an expensive piece of equipment. And though it’s sturdily built and designed to withstand the elements to a degree, it can be damaged. Here are some of the events that might necessitate HVAC protection in our area:
Hail, Falling Limbs and Flying Debris
When we talk about HVAC protection, we mostly mean the outdoor air conditioner unit, which includes the condenser and compressor. It is protected by strong metal housing, but this housing can be damaged by falling limbs and debris in a storm. It’s recommended to trim away all limbs that might hang over your unit. Also, think about some kind of removable covering, such as a metal cage, to protect against hail and flying debris during storms.
Ice and Snow
On rare occasions, the melting and refreezing of ice and snow inside the condenser could lead to damaged parts. Cover the unit with a commercial vented cover, or secure a plywood board to the top to keep out snow.
Flooding
Two types of flooding could impact your HVAC system. In winter, your pipes could freeze and burst, which could in turn damage your HVAC system indoors. This event would likely be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. However, outdoor flooding that damaged your condenser would likely not be covered. If your condenser lies in an area where it might be impacted by more than a couple of inches of water for more than a few hours, you might want to move it or raise it. Also, you should get a separate flood insurance policy to cover damages.
For more on HVAC protection, contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing of Indianapolis.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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