Hurricane season runs June through November. If you live in Garden City, Savannah, or anywhere in Chatham County, you know what that means.
Most people prep their windows, stock up on water, and charge their phones. But your HVAC system needs attention too.
A direct hit from a major storm can total your outdoor unit. Even a near miss can cause damage that shows up weeks later. Here's how to protect your system before the wind picks up.
Secure Your Outdoor Unit
Your condenser sits outside. It's heavy, but it's not bolted down in most homes. High winds can knock it loose, flip it over, or send debris straight into the coils.
Check the mounting. If it's sitting on a pad with no anchor straps, that's a problem. We install hurricane straps on outdoor units throughout the area. Takes an hour, costs a couple hundred bucks, and could save you thousands in replacement costs.
If a storm is 48 hours out and you haven't secured it, at minimum clear the area around the unit. Move patio furniture, grills, potted plants. Anything that could blow into it.
Turn Off Power at the Breaker
When you evacuate or batten down, kill power to your HVAC at the breaker panel. Not just the thermostat. The breaker.
Power surges during and after storms can fry your compressor, control board, and other expensive components. A $3,000 repair bill from a surge is common.
If you have a whole-house surge protector, great. If not, flipping the breaker is your best defense.
Protect Against Flooding
Low-lying areas near the Port of Savannah and parts of Garden City flood during heavy rain even without a hurricane. Storm surge makes it worse.
If your outdoor unit sits at ground level and your yard floods, you're at risk. Water submerges the unit, corrodes the electrical, and ruins the compressor.
We've installed units on elevated platforms for dozens of homeowners in flood-prone zones. It's not cheap, but neither is replacing a drowned AC after every major storm.
Inspect After the Storm
Once it's safe to go outside, check your unit before you turn power back on.
Look for obvious damage. Dents in the cabinet. Bent fins. Debris inside the unit. If you see standing water around the base, let it drain completely before powering up.
Even if it looks fine, don't just flip the breaker and walk away. Internal damage isn't always visible. Compressor oil can get displaced if the unit tipped. Refrigerant lines can develop leaks from impact.
We recommend a post-storm inspection before you restart your system. We check refrigerant levels, test electrical connections, and make sure nothing shifted or cracked.
What to Do If It Got Hit
If your unit took a direct hit from a tree branch, flying debris, or floodwater, call your insurance company first. Document everything with photos.
Then call us. We'll assess the damage and give you a written estimate for repairs or replacement. Insurance usually covers storm damage to HVAC systems, but you need documentation.
After a major storm, we get slammed with calls. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can get to you. We serve all of Chatham County and prioritize customers with no cooling in extreme heat.
Start Early
Don't wait until a storm is in the Gulf to think about this. Early season is the time to secure your unit, install surge protection, and schedule a tune-up.
We're based in Garden City and serve Savannah, Pooler, Port Wentworth, and the surrounding area. Call (912) 921-9936 to schedule a hurricane prep inspection or get your outdoor unit secured before the next storm.