Air conditioners are built to withstand elements, such as rain and snow. However, if your outdoor air conditioner is immersed in standing water from a long downpour, this might seriously damage the electrical components in it. Your cooling is most likely to be damaged if the floodwater reaches a foot deep. Still, if the equipment has flooded at all, reach out to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning at 925-364-5427 for an air conditioning inspection.
If severe flooding has happened or is likely to occur, follow these steps to avoid harming your air conditioner or creating dangerous operating conditions.
Before Flooding
Don’t cover your air conditioner with a heavy cloth. A plastic sheet won’t repel water. Instead, it will bring moisture inside, promote rust, encourage mold growth and give critters an area to hide.
If you are in a flood-prone area, consider placing your air conditioner on a raised stand. This elevates the system above possible floodwaters and can save you trouble and expense following the next downpour.
Another way to protect your air conditioning system is to place a retaining wall around it. This option can stop air conditioner flooding, even as water flows around it. Similarly, you can pile sandbags around the system when you realize a storm is on the way.
If hail is predicted, you can lay sections of plywood across the top of the air conditioner to shield it from hail damage. Weigh the plywood down safely with stones or bricks in case the wind begins gusting.
During Flooding
Don’t run your AC while it’s submerged in water. Doing so may result in an electrical shock hazard or even damage the internal system components.
To skip these issues, switch off the power to the air conditioning and thermostat. The quickest method for completing this is to find the HVAC and thermostat breakers in your junction box and switch them to the “off” position. If you need help, contact an air conditioning service company like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
After Flooding
Once the rain moves on, you want your AC to dry out as soon as possible. Remove standing water, if possible, and clean any debris from the surrounding area.
Don’t turn on the air conditioner until it has been evaluated by an HVAC expert. Even after it has dried out, utilizing flood-damaged equipment might pose the same hazards as turning on the air conditioning while it’s still under the water. Some issues take days or weeks to begin revealing symptoms, so it’s wise to keep your unit turned off until you receive the go-ahead from an HVAC pro.
While you wait for your technician to arrive, check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if flood damage covers your outdoor AC system. If so, take pictures of the damage and process your claim as soon as possible. If you don’t have flood insurance, you may still be covered if the air conditioner has sustained wind or hail damage.
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