How A Tornado Can Cause Damage To Your HVAC System
If you live in a tornado-prone area, you might have a lot of concerns about these storms. For example, you could be worried that they could cause your roof to become seriously damaged, or you might be worried about a tree falling on your home. However, you should know that your concerns don't just stop there. Additionally, you have to worry about a tornado possibly causing damage to your HVAC system. These are some of the problems that a tornado or other serious storm could cause for your heating and air conditioning system.
Water or Debris Can Get Into Your Outdoor Unit
If your central unit or your air conditioning unit are located outside, you have to worry about a tornado causing water or debris to get inside the unit itself. Even though an outdoor unit is designed to withstand the water that can go along with a typical rainstorm, tornadoes can cause flooding inside these units. You also have to worry about sticks, leaves and other debris making its way from your yard into your unit, which can hinder the movement of moving parts and can cause other problems. You may be able to remove minor debris from your outdoor unit yourself, once the storm has passed and after you have disconnected all power from your unit. For more serious clogs or water damage, however, you may want to work with a professional.
Hail Can Dent Your Outdoor Unit
Another thing that you have to worry about is the hail that can come along with a tornado. Not only can it pummel your home and your car, but it can hit your outdoor unit, causing dents and other damage. Minor dents might just have cosmetic effects, but more serious dents can make it harder for the fan and other moving parts inside your unit to work like they are supposed to.
Lighting Strikes Can Cause Electrical Issues
Lastly, you should be concerned about lightning striking your unit and causing electrical issues. In fact, a lightning strike can even "fry" your unit. It is smart to talk to your HVAC professional about installing a surge protector or other equipment that can help protect your unit from lightning that could be caused by tornadoes or other storms that might affect your area.
As you can see, you do have a few things to be concerned about when it comes to tornadoes affecting your HVAC unit. If you live in a tornado-prone area, working with an HVAC professional, like one from Doctor Fix-It, can help you protect your unit and have any necessary repairs done after a serious storm.