If submitting a service request after hours or on the weekend, please note it is best to call.
Baton Rouge(225) 217-6224 Port Allen(225) 960-2565 Request Service

Storm Damage to HVAC Systems

September 1, 2021 | Blog

Hurricanes and other major storms cause major damage to HVAC systems. When a home is demolished or blown off its foundation by a storm, the HVAC system is usually totally destroyed as well. Lesser damage to the home may mean lesser damage to the HVAC system.

The condensing unit is typically located outside your home and it is the component of your HVAC system that takes the brunt of abuse from storms. The first thing you should do for your air conditioner just before the storm hits, is to turn off the switches and breakers to your outside condensing unit. There may be a power failure and you do not want your system to start up immediately when the power comes back on. You want to make sure the system is safe and secure to operate before you turn it back on when the power does come back. Your best option is to call Southern Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing and arrange for a technician to make an overall safety and operational check before you resume normal usage.

Storms can damage HVAC systems in many ways. Floodwaters can cause serious corrosion damage to condenser coils. Water in ductwork can lead to residual moisture that results in mold growth and circulation through the air conditioning ventilation system.

Hurricane winds blow a great deal of dirt, dust, and debris into the air that can clog up condenser coils on air conditioners. Clogged condenser coils hamper an air conditioner from adequately cooling, causing condenser motors to work harder and consume more power. Using just a garden hose, a service technician can clean condenser coils and restore the unit to normal operation. A homeowner can easily see if the coils are clogged and could wash away the dirt and debris that needs to be removed, but you should have a service technician examine your entire system to make sure everything is operating properly before turning it on. The thin aluminum fins on the outside of the condenser could have hidden damage from flying debris that might not be apparent.

Trees, building materials, and other large objects can damage the outdoor unit. Depending on the amount of damage, it may be necessary to replace the entire unit. You will want to make sure that any replacement unit is sized correctly to match up with your inside unit.

A typical condensing unit weighs between 150 and 200 pounds. When the wind speeds are up to 160 miles per hour, it is not uncommon that units simply blow over or blow off of their ground pad. If the refrigerant line was broken when the unit was blown over, there is a real risk that the refrigerant has been contaminated and significant additional damage will be caused if the unit is turned back on. If you did not have your HVAC system power turned off before the storm hit, get it turned off before the power comes back on to avoid additional damage.

Major storm damage is an upsetting experience for homeowners. Southern Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing is here to help you and our community recover and rebuild in these difficult times.

Why Choose Us?

We stand by our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee

Learn More
shaking hands icon
BBB Accredited Business
We have been fully Accredited by the BBB for over a decade.
ribbon icon
Award Winning Service
We're humbled to be considered one of the top home service companies in the Baton Rouge area.
people icon
Professional Staff
Our highly trained and certified ac technicians are dedicated to offer 5 star service every time.
thumbs up icon
Hassle-Free
We worry so that you don't have to. We offer stress-free service calls and installations.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Courteous and Knowledgeable

I would recommend Southern Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing all everyone. The team was courteous and knowledgeable, and did not waste time in setting up my new Unit. The installation team was excellent and had time to answer all of my questions and explained everything to me. A+++++

Melba

Highly Recommended

Highly recommend Buddy’s!! Great customer service from a nice lady named Arielle. They came out same day and fixed my AC at a very reasonable price. I haven’t had any issues since. I’m so happy I found a reliable repairman. Thank you Buddy!

Jennifer L.

Excellent Service!!!

Excellent service!!! We had to replace our entire unit and Jake Sherman had the new unit installed and running in one day!!! Call and ask for Jake he is just the best!! Thank you Buddy’s A-1 Air Conditioning!!

Erin S.