Every hurricane season brings more than high winds and heavy rain. It also brings power outages, lightning, and electrical surges that can damage your home's air conditioning system. Most homeowners don't think about protecting their AC until after a storm, when the system won't turn on, and they're facing an expensive repair bill. Fortunately, there's a simple way to help reduce that risk.

An HVAC surge protector is a device installed directly on your outdoor air conditioning unit. Its purpose is to help protect your system's sensitive electrical components from damaging voltage spikes caused by lightning, power outages, and utility grid fluctuations. Think of it as the same type of protection you use for your television or computer, but specifically designed for your air conditioner.

Here in Florida, power surges are common during hurricane season. Some of the most common causes include:

• Lightning strikes nearby 
• Utility power outages 
• Power being restored after an outage 
• Hurricane-related electrical grid fluctuations 
• Utility switching and transformer issues 

A direct lightning strike can destroy almost anything in its path. However, many air conditioning repairs are caused by electrical surges traveling through power lines after nearby storms or when electricity is restored.

Today's air conditioners contain sophisticated electronics that make them more efficient than ever before, but also more vulnerable to electrical damage. A power surge may affect components such as:

• Electronic control boards 
• Variable-speed motors 
• Compressors 
• Capacitors 
• Sensors 
• Communication boards 

Repairs to these components can range from several hundred dollars to much more depending on your system.

For many homeowners, yes, an HVAC system is one of the largest investments in your home. A surge protector is a relatively inexpensive addition that helps reduce the risk of costly electrical damage. While no surge protector can guarantee protection from every event, especially a direct lightning strike, it can provide an extra layer of defense against many of the electrical surges Florida homeowners experience every year.

Sometimes. Coverage depends on your insurance policy, deductible, and the cause of the damage. Even when damage is covered, your deductible may exceed the cost of the repair. Many homeowners choose to install surge protection to help reduce the chance of needing to file a claim in the first place.

The best time to protect your system is before the first major storm arrives. Waiting until after your neighborhood loses power is a little like buying flood insurance after your street is underwater.  Preparing ahead of time gives you greater peace of mind throughout hurricane season.

At Air & Heat, we recommend surge protection as part of a proactive approach to protecting your home's comfort system. Our technicians can professionally install an HVAC surge protector during your maintenance visit or service call, giving your system another layer of protection before Florida's storm season reaches its peak. If you'd like to learn more about surge protection or schedule an installation, give Air & Heat a call today. Our team is always happy to answer your questions and help you choose the best protection for your system.