5 Ways Floridians Can Protect Their Air Conditioner During A Flood

Flooding is one of the most prevalent natural threats in the Sunshine State outside of fire. This is a coast to coast hazard that can occur any time of the year, causing billion-dollar damages. Even minor flooding forces Floridians to shell out thousands of dollars in repairs and losses. So, it’s not surprising for homeowners to avail flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Unfortunately, not everybody is covered by such a policy. When their property is affected, they have no choice but to pay the repair and replacement costs out of their own pockets. This extends to air conditioners as well. Sure, modern ACs are designed to withstand inclement weather, but if the AC is submerged underwater for too long, it will not last. To avoid expensive air conditioning repair, residents of South Florida cities like Spring Hill or Miami must make the necessary arrangements for protecting their cooling equipment and preventing additional damage.

  1. Increase the Height of the Concrete Base

AC condenser units normally weigh a lot, and their upright position should be maintained at all times. For this reason, the outdoor component must be placed on a footer or concrete base. Most footers stay flat with your property’s surface or are elevated by just a couple of inches. However, that’s not enough to protect your sensitive electrical appliance. The only way to guarantee the safety of your AC is raising the concrete base level. Depending on local safety codes and flood level, the base may be several feet tall. Hire a contractor to analyze the area. He will be the best person for determining the ideal functional height for the base and building the form using concrete.

  1. Use sandbags

If flooding is a normal occurrence in your neighborhood, keep several sandbags handy. The moment the weather takes a turn for the worse, stack them around your AC unit to prevent the flood water levels from rising to the system level.

  1. Cut the Power

Power surges are capable of harming any electrical device, and the AC is no exception. So, never run the air conditioner during floods if you don’t want the AC capacitor to burn up and cause a power outage. Your unit is especially vulnerable to power surges while running, so be sure to turn off the machine immediately when the storm hits.

  1. Change the AC Placement in Your Home

Homeowners prefer to set up the large condenser units on the ground floor, or even the basement. However, removing the components and reinstalling them in your attic space or second floor will protect them against flood damage. However, the process is a lot more difficult than it sounds because relocation necessitates redesign and movement of the AC ductwork, electrical wiring, and drainage pipes. In fact, you might have to call different contractors to come up with an AC setup for the upper-floor level that is the right combination of functionality and safety.

  1. Raise a Wall

Does your home lack the space to re-allocate the AC unit? Then the sole option available at your disposal is building a wall. Request a contractor to design an enclosed wall surrounding the air conditioning system. This will prevent floodwater from seeping into the cooling system. A good contractor must evaluate the local 100-year flood level to determine the suitable height of the wall. Make sure there is sufficient space inside the enclosure for repairs and servicing, and an access point for entering the space.

Considering how capricious the weather in Florida is, homeowners must take the necessary precautions to shield their ACs against flooding. Call for air conditioning repair services in Spring Hill, Tampa, and other places between May and October when maximum rainfall occurs. By spending some money on AC services right at the beginning, you save money on flood damages later.

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