Occasional, unpredictable and sometimes violent weather is a fact of life here in the Chicagoland area. While it’s not common, it happens and homeowners need to be prepared for it.
We at American Weathermakers know all too well the damage that hail, gale force winds, severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes can do to homes and their HVAC systems – that’s why it’s so important that we caution our customers about what could happen before the unexpected does happen!
While it’s rare that significant damage occurs, since outdoor air cooling units are built to withstand harsh elements, it’s always good to be safe than sorry. Usually, it’s the small things that nature brings that brings the most common problems. The biggest issue that we run into is a lack of maintenance for weeds and outdoor debris that have taken over the immediate area or leaves from year after year accumulation that closes off and restricts the AC’s performance.
This is one of the many reasons why we recommend our Comfort Club.
Back to the consequences of heavy storms, one of the most common types of damage to an AC unit is caused by lightning strikes. A lightning strike or a brownout are the worst things that could happen to your AC or furnace. Solutions for that would be the surge protector and in addition, manufacturers also they make a replacement component called an usher switch that can protect a unit and low voltage situation or an abrupt power outage.
Even with all the best preparedness, Mother Nature still makes herself known, and when that happens, it’s good to know what to do. If your AC unit is significantly damaged, it’s best to have us come out right away and evaluate the situation and lay out what happened so, if you can, you can get your homeowner’s insurance involved if it was caused by something that was covered under your policy.
In the long run, the best way to prevent a catastrophic occurrence from happening is having a solid AC unit at the start of any season. That means getting regular maintenance, having concerns fixed before they’re problems and not letting the area around your unit to fall into disrepair.
Shopping for options: Here’s a popular item we invite you to check out and if you’d like it installed – reach out to us! We’re always happy to talk about brands and products we recommend!
Intermatic – 1 Phase, Types 1 & 2 SPD Protection AC Surge Protector (120/240V)
When you are caring for the long-term needs of your AC unit or require any repairs of maintenance, call us at (847) 503-9497 and we’ll send a well-trained and knowledgeable technician out to your Chicagoland home as soon as possible!
