Recently, Hurricane Irma ripped through the state of Florida, causing all manners of damage. From roofs to windows, to trees falling in the middle of a house, Hurricane Irma certainly left her mark on Florida.
Here in Gainesville, FL, while the damage wasn’t as severe here as it was for residents on the coast, we still experienced a significant amount of rain and wind. We are still in the midst of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and the damage is still being felt in many homes.
At Stellar Services, our specialty is air conditioning repair, maintenance, and installation and we’re here to help you determine if you might have hidden AC damage to your unit after the hurricane. We’ve compiled a list of four hidden signs that your AC unit may have been damaged by the storm, and we’re here to help you determine if your AC unit is in need of a repair or replacement.
4 Hidden Signs of AC Damage After a Hurricane
Power Surge AC Damage
During a major storm like Hurricane Irma, there is the possibility that the electricity surge right before power failure can cause hidden AC damage to your unit. A power surge is a spike in voltage and varies in both duration and magnitude. While many homes use 120-volt, 60 Hz, single phase electric power, during a power surge the voltage spikes to 169 volts, causing damage to appliances and electronics that rely on that power to work.
A power surge can cause a host of problems for your AC unit including a damaged capacitor, blown fuses, burned wires, compressor damage, and more. It’s important to have your AC unit inspected by a professional HVAC technician if you believe your unit was damaged by a power surge because operating it afterward could be dangerous and might cause a fire.
Debris AC Damage
The wind in a hurricane causes debris to fly all around, and it’s likely that some of that debris ended up in the outdoor AC compressor. If the outdoor coil gets too dirty, the heat generated in the unit cannot effectively dissipate.
If a piece of debris interferes with the motor, the system cannot run. If you notice AC unit is making strange noises, it’s likely that there is something stuck inside the outdoor AC compressor. During a maintenance check, a qualified HVAC technician will clean and adjust the coils and look for any other issues that may affect the compressor.
Flooding AC Damage
Hurricanes are famous for their flooding, and even here in Gainesville, there were several problems caused by excessive rain. The torrential rain caused several areas of town to be flooded, and several homes were affected as well.
While it’s been a few days since the storm and the flooding might have dried up, if your outdoor AC compressor was under water for any period of time, you need to have your AC unit inspected for damage. Prolonged exposure to water can damage the electrical components of the outdoor unit, and a professional HVAC technician can safely inspect the unit and determine if the unit is safe to run or not.
Refrigerant AC Damage
Wind or rain can disrupt the refrigerant lines in your outdoor AC compressor. If you notice that your unit is not cooling as well as it did before the storm, it may be a result of a damaged or leaking refrigerant line. A trained HVAC technician is qualified to inspect the unit, fix the leak, test the repair, and then recharge the refrigerant.
It’s important to get this problem addressed as quickly as possible because leaking refrigerant is harmful to the environment and can quickly cause your electric bills to skyrocket. Not only that but if the refrigerant has completely dried up in the system it can cause major AC damage.
Contact Stellar Services for AC Repair or Replacement
If you think that your air conditioner has been damaged as a result of Hurricane Irma, we can inspect the unit and recommend any repairs. There are some things that only a professional HVAC technician can spot that might be damaged in your unit, and we are committed to getting your air conditioner up and running as quickly and safely as possible.
