Summer storms in our area can get very large and intense. While they offer relief from the heat, they’re also dangerous at times. Lightning strikes and high winds can damage transformers, power lines, and other electrical infrastructure. This damage can lead to power surges in your home. When the electricity fluctuates and rushes back through your electrical system, it can be harmful. Your AC is one of your most vulnerable appliances, especially if it's running when the surge happens.

At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®, we want to help you prepare for these potential summer surges. There are steps you can take to better protect your air conditioner. From damaging your control board to shorting the compressor, a surge can wreak havoc. It’s vital to keep your equipment and your home safer from sudden, powerful surges.

Understanding How Summer Storms Damage Your Air Conditioner

A power surge is a sudden voltage increase that travels through your electrical lines and your system. Lightning strikes are one possible cause, and power surges can also happen when high winds knock lines against one another. Another cause is when the grid itself incurs damage and fluctuates. A quick blackout or power restoration can send a sudden rush of electricity through the lines. The end result can be significant damage to your appliances.

The issue with your AC is that it’s a complex electrical appliance. Your AC uses capacitors, electronic control boards, sensors, and other delicate components. Even a smaller power surge could overload a capacitor or damage a circuit board.

That is, assuming it’s a minor surge. A major surge could damage the compressor or cause significant problems that a quick repair will not fix. So, it’s far safer to protect your AC than allow it to develop a problem that requires repairs.

Signs That Your AC Suffered Power Surge Damage

Smaller surges, sometimes called “micro surges,” can cause damage over time, too. Your AC may be suffering now after enduring many surges over the years. These surges are subtle, and the effects can come on slowly.

Common signs of AC surge damage include:

  • An outdoor unit that won’t turn on
  • A persistent burning odor
  • A circuit breaker that trips repeatedly
  • Strange clicking noises when starting
  • The air conditioner blowing warm air instead of cold
  • Weaker performance overall

The Top Ways to Protect Your Cooling System

Waiting until the storm has passed is too late for your AC if a surge hits. You need a proactive defense to help keep your appliances safer. This isn’t limited to your AC. You can help protect many appliances in your home with the right surge protection. A multi-tiered approach can reduce the risk of damage to equipment connected to your home’s electrical system.

Install a Dedicated HVAC Surge Protector

The first step we recommend is installing a dedicated HVAC surge protector. We can install this protector directly to offer added protection for your heating and cooling system. With this level of protection, that specific circuit has additional defense against many surge events. Our technicians have experience with HVAC-specific protection.

Invest in Whole-House Surge Protection

For stronger protection, we recommend a whole-home surge protector that connects directly to your main electrical panel. Standard surge strips protect only the appliances you plug into them. HVAC-circuit-specific models protect specific appliances only. With a whole-home protector, you can reduce the impact of many surges before they spread through your home’s electrical system.

Using whole-house protection in tandem with a dedicated equipment protector gives you added peace of mind. This layered setup can help reduce the risk of damage if one level of protection does not stop the full surge. However, no surge protector can guarantee complete protection from every electrical event, especially a direct lightning strike.

Turn Off Your System During Severe Storms

The simplest way to provide extra protection is to ensure your appliance is not drawing power during a storm. It may be uncomfortable, but your AC is less likely to be damaged if it isn’t running when a surge occurs. This is just another step you can take to reduce the risk of damage. For increased protection, shut the specific AC breaker off entirely. This helps isolate the circuit, although severe lightning events can still be unpredictable.

What to Do if a Power Surge Impacts Your System

If you haven’t set up protection yet, your AC is at risk during a summer storm. If you end up with damage, do not panic. Instead, check your electrical devices and your circuit panel for damage after the storm passes and it is safe to do so. Test any appliances and electronics you missed once the storm is over.

After ensuring the safety of your home, we recommend giving us a call. If it’s an urgent issue, we offer 24/7 emergency services, 365 days a year. We strive to arrive promptly to help you get your AC back up and running.

Keep Up With Regular Maintenance for Better Climate Resilience

An air conditioning system that is running optimally is better prepared for heavy summer use, but maintenance should not be viewed as a substitute for surge protection. Surges can damage healthy systems and worn systems alike. However, existing electrical issues, aging capacitors, loose connections, or stressed components may make your system more vulnerable when electrical problems occur. Keeping your air conditioner running in optimal condition is another important part of protecting your comfort. We recommend yearly AC tune-ups along with surge protection.

During a maintenance visit, our certified technician will perform an all-points inspection on your system. They will look at key working parts, including contactors, capacitors, connections, circuit boards, and more. They will also inspect your drainage lines and thermostat and tune your system to help it run efficiently.

By scheduling maintenance at least once a year, we can catch small issues before they become big problems. If your capacitor is showing signs of failure, we can fix it. The same goes for a questionable circuit board, stressed compressor, or other issue. Before we leave, we test your AC to make sure we did the job correctly.

Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® for Reliable AC Protection in Herrin, IL

Never wait to protect your AC system. Modern air conditioners are quite expensive. Whether you have a central unit, a heat pump, or an AC-specific mini-split, it’s a big investment. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® can help you protect your cooling system and maintain it.

As a leading contractor with over two decades in the area, we have become a top choice for residents. We offer clients an On-Time guarantee. “Always on time, or you don’t pay a dime” is our motto. We also offer a two-year satisfaction guarantee on our materials, labor, and craftsmanship. Our model focuses on up-front pricing without any hidden fees. We’re the right choice for your AC needs.

Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® today to learn more about our AC services in Herrin.