Reading about natural disasters can make us anxious, as we compare our circumstances and ask, "Could that happen here?" Certainly, Oklahoma has gotten a lot of publicity for our frequent, deadly and disastrous tornadoes. Such weather keeps us on our toes in terms of emergency planning.As you think about emergency planning for a tornado -- although it could also easily be a flood, an earthquake or wildfire -- have you ever thought about protecting your HVAC system? Once the power's on and things are returning to normal, you'll want to be sure your air conditioning and heating are back on as soon as possible. So here are some valuable tips on HVAC protection:
Protecting the HVAC
Depending on the kind of disaster that strikes, you may be able to protect your HVAC system to a degree. If it's in a flood-prone area, you could raise it or move it. If you're worried about hail or flying debris from a storm, you could build a temporary protective structure to put in place, bolting it down to the ground. Also, remove tree limbs that might fall on it, as well as any garden structures that might be hurled into the fins.While your homeowner's policy probably covers storm or fire damage, it might also be a good idea to look into separate policies for flood or earthquake insurance, as your homeowner's policy may cover neither.Your A/C condenser can likely survive brief periods in a few inches of flood water, but if the water rises too high, you will probably need to replace the HVAC system. Regardless, do not turn it back on after the storm until you can get a technician to inspect it.
Survival Tips
Survival after a storm requires some common sense. Think carefully about what you would need to survive at least three days to a week: water for drinking and washing, bleach for disinfecting, medications, non-perishable food and possibly a generator to power appliances till the power comes back on.
To learn more about HVAC protection, contact Air Assurance. We serve Broken Arrow and the surrounding area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC protection and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.