Designed to Resist Weather Damage Are you concerned about weather damage to your outdoor A/C unit? Are you worried about how the rain, sun, or harsh climates will affect your air conditioning unit or whether your A/C unit will continue to function under harsh conditions? Here are some things you need to think about: Even with excessive downpours, your air conditioner is designed and constructed to resist rain damage and continue operating as normal. Heavy Rainfall Shouldn’t Affect Your Unit Most of the parts incorporated in the outdoor compressor/condenser unit are aluminum, copper or metal and engineered to withstand the harshest weather. Electrical connections and components are sealed to resist the indirect moisture posed by rainfall. As long as everything is properly sealed, heavy rain alone should have no effect on the reliability and performance of your air conditioning unit. Here’s What You Need to Look For However, there are other potential problems that should be avoided.

Storm Damage from high winds, falling tree branches or debris and Hail can affect your outdoor unit by crushing the outside coil surrounding your unit. In addition, long exposure to direct sunlight, tall weeds and/or shrubbery growing in and around the unit, and some fencing can also have adverse conditions on your system.ac unit in sliding window What You Can Do to Ensure Peak Efficiency2 ton window air conditioner Much like your indoor unit requires a filter to keep your indoor coil and air clean, your outside unit removes the heat from inside your home and releases it out the top of the unit. why is my ac unit making noiseThe outdoor air surrounding the unit comes in through the condenser coil and rejects it away from the system.

If shrubs, weeds, or a fence/awning block this natural flow of air, your coil is blocked and the system will not operate efficiently. You should cut back and remove any obstructions or barriers within 24” around your unit. This entry was posted in Main Blog and tagged A/C, Air Conditioning, climate, Cool, damage, extended warranty, harsh, questions, Rain, Repair, Replace, Tips, Upgrade, warranty, weather. Mold is all around us and in every breath we take. It plays an important role in the natural process of decay and is used to make everything from cheese to penicillin. If allowed to grow unchecked inside your home, however, mold can result in damage to both the structure and your health. Exposure to most mold usually only causes minor allergic reactions—such as sniffling, watery eyes, and sneezing—that subside a few hours after leaving the infected area. Some people are more sensitive than others and may experience a stronger reaction that can include difficulty breathing and asthma attacks.

Several types of mold release toxic substances called mycotoxins. Exposure to high concentrations of mycotoxins from Stachybotrys (a greenish-black green mold that grows on cellulose material such as wallpaper, cardboard, and wallboard) or Chaetomium (a white to gray colored mold found on decaying wood and water damaged drywall) may lead to more severe health issues including chronic bronchitis, heart problems, and bleeding lungs. There is still an ongoing debate in the scientific and medical community about the health effects of this so called “toxic” mold. Mold feeds off organic matter and requires a moist environment to grow. Typical areas where mold can accumulate in the home include: If the mold is limited to an area of less than 10 square feet, then you might be able to clean it up yourself. Areas larger than that should be handled by a professional. If you decide to enlist a professional, make sure they are trained and experienced in mold cleanup. It is also a good idea to request and check references from past jobs to determine the quality of their work.

If you suspect mold in porous surfaces or carpets, it is best to throw them out. It is virtually impossible to get mold out of these materials. Since mold loves moisture, it’s important to remove the source of water to prevent it from returning. Potential problem areas to address to keep mold at bay include: When replacing your central air conditioning unit, be sure it is sized properly for the house and climate. While an oversized unit will cool the house down faster, it won’t remove as much moisture from the air. You might also consider adding a dehumidifier to the central system if you live in a climate with high humidity or use a portable model for problem areas. If your home still smells moldy or members of your family are having health issues, there could be a hidden mold problem. Mold can grow unseen under wallpaper, dry wall, ceiling tiles, and in heating and air conditioner vents. If hidden mold is suspected, have the house inspected by a professional.

If you think there might be mold in your HVAC system, do not run the unit until the problem has been solved. Though mold will always be with us, a little diligence on your part can help keep it in check. Prevention and early detection are important, so catch it early and you’ll breathe easier.Severe storms and natural disasters can cause a variety of electrical safety hazards in and around our homes. Lightning, downed power lines, and floods are just a few of the serious safety concerns associated with storms. Unfortunately, many of these electrical safety hazards remain long after the storm itself has passed. To help protect you from storm-related electrical hazards, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and Rutherford EMC are providing answers to common storm safety questions about: Not necessarily, but sometimes. If you feel a tingling sensation or your hair stands on end, lightning may be about to strike. Do not lie down. Instead, crouch down, tuck your head, and cover your ears.

Slow down and use extra caution. If possible, pull off the road into a safe area. Do not leave your vehicle during a thunderstorm. A vehicle is considered safe during a thunderstorm if it is fully enclosed with a metal top such as a hard-topped car, minivan, bus, truck, etc. While inside a safe vehicle do not use electronic devices, such as radio communications. Follow these indoor lightning tips to help keep your family safe inside while it's storming outside: Use corded telephones only for emergencies. You can use cordless or cellular phones. Doghouses are not lightning-safe, and chained animals can easily become victims of lightning strikes. You should bring your pets inside to protect them. If you see a downed power line, move at least 10 feet away from the line and anything touching it. The human body is a ready conductor of electricity. The proper way to move away from the line is to shuffle away with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground at all times.

This will minimize the potential for a strong electric shock. Electricity wants to move from a high voltage zone to a low voltage zone—and it could do that through your body. If you see someone who is in direct or indirect contact with the downed line, do not touch the person. You could become the next victim. Do not attempt to move a downed power line or anything in contact with the line by using another object such as a broom or stick. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth, if slightly wet, can conduct electricity and then electrocute you. Do not drive over downed power lines. If you are in your car and it is in contact with the downed line, stay in your car. Tell others to stay away from your vehicle. If you must leave your car because it’s on fire, jump out of the vehicle with both feet together and avoid contact with the live car and the ground at the same time. This way you avoid being the path of electricity from the car to the earth. Shuffle away from the car.

Water is a good conductor of electricity. Any amount of water—even a puddle—could become energized. Be careful not to touch water—or anything in contact with the water—near where there is a downed power line. Use extreme care when stepping into flooded areas. Submerged outlets or electrical cords can energize water, posing a lethal trap. Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been examined by a qualified service repair dealer. Electrical equipment exposed to water can be extremely dangerous if re-energized without proper reconditioning or replacement. Electrical items, such as circuit breakers, fuses, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), receptacles, plugs, and switches, can malfunction when water and silt get inside. Discard them if they have been submerged. Have a licensed, qualified professional replace them. Ocean water and salt spray can be particularly damaging to electrical equipment due to the corrosive and conductive nature of the salt water residue.

Damage to electrical equipment can also result from exposure to flood waters contaminated with chemicals, sewage, oil, and other debris. No matter what caused the flood, electrical appliances should be examined by a qualified service repair dealer before being re-energized, and electrical items that were submerged should be discarded and replaced by a licensed, qualified professional. Yes—downed power lines or submerged outlets from adjacent homes could energize the water. Use extreme caution when entering any flooded area.Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been examined by a qualified service repair dealer. Water can damage the motors in electrical appliances, such as furnaces, freezers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has produced a brochure, Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment, for use by suppliers, installers, inspectors, and users of electrical products to provide advice on the safe handling of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water.

ESFI strongly recommends that a licensed electrician install home generators to ensure they meet all local electrical codes. Also, make sure your generator is properly grounded in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not connect generators directly to the household wiring unless an appropriate transfer switch has been installed by a licensed, qualified electrician. Without the proper transfer switch, power provided by the generator can “backfeed” along the power lines, creating a significant electrocution hazard for anyone coming in contact with the lines, including lineworkers making necessary repairs. Never operate a generator inside your home or in any other enclosed—or even partially enclosed—area. Generators very quickly produce carbon monoxide, which can easily enter your home. Place the generator on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure. Do not operate the generator in wet conditions or where there is standing water.

Opening windows or doors or using fans does not provide adequate ventilation to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide. Generators must be located outside a safe distance away from your home’s windows, doors, and vents, through which carbon monoxide can enter your home. Preliminary research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicates that even 15 feet from the home is too close to operate a generator safely. Remember your neighbors, too. Keep your generator a safe distance away from their homes as well. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is created when common fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, or coal burn incompletely. This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is often called the “silent killer” because it is virtually undetectable without the use of detection technology like a CO alarm. Extremely high levels of carbon monoxide can be fatal within minutes. From 1999-2009, 542 carbon monoxide deaths associated with portable generators were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

More than 80 percent of carbon monoxide deaths related to portable generators occurred in the home, often resulting from operation of a portable generator within the living space of the home, including the basement, closets, and doorways. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include fatigue, shortness of breath, drowsiness, headache, and nausea. Get to fresh air right away if you feel dizzy or weak while running your generator. Make sure that there is at least one battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarm in your home. Test it before using your generator.Keep children away from portable generators at all times. Also be sure to store generator fuel out of reach of children. The capacity of generators varies. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction carefully. Do not overload the generator. Unplug all appliances from the generator before shutting it down. Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Refueling the generator while it is running is a significant fire hazard.