During summer, you’ll probably want to leave your cooling system running all day to keep you comfortable. But afternoons are when thunderstorms and lightning strikes occur most frequently. A-1 Comfort Care Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a team of knowledgeable HVAC installation contractors, explains how to protect your AC system during extreme weather and the damage that could happen when you neglect your cooling system.
Your Air Conditioner Should Be Turned Off
Cases of residential properties hit by lightning are rare, but a lightning strike is always possible during a storm. One of the serious problems that can occur as a result is electrical service drop. If lightning strikes at the point where the utility lines connect, it could cause a power surge through your home’s electrical system. This could seriously damage your air conditioner if it is in operation.
If your air conditioner is struck by lightning while running, the plug to your unit can melt and render the entire system unusable. The control panel also has sensitive electrical circuitry which can be damaged seriously. In this case, you will want to contact a professional who can provide emergency residential HVAC services.
Protecting Your Air Conditioner
Even if surge protectors are installed on your AC unit, they don’t provide the level of protection needed against a lightning strike. If you live in an area that is more vulnerable to lightning, you can keep your air conditioner safer by using lightning rods, conductors and ground rods. These create an alternate path for lightning so it won’t travel through your home’s electrical system. However, they aren’t 100 percent effective at preventing surges, so it is best to still switch your air conditioner off when storms occur.
A-1 Comfort Care Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is your best choice for exceptional HVAC and plumbing solutions. To request our air conditioning repair services, call us at (732) 578-0379 or fill out our contact form. We serve residential and commercial clients in Wall and Freehold, NJ.
