Guides / Updated 2026-10-16
Hurricane season checklist for your HVAC
The condenser is outside in the weather on purpose. It is not built to run underwater or to be buried in debris. A short checklist before the season, and a shorter one after the lights come back.
Before the season
Clear two feet around the condenser. Tie down or store loose yard items that can become projectiles. Confirm the drain is flowing so a multi-day power outage does not greet you with a full pan. If the system is already weak, repair it before the first named storm, not during the parts shortage afterward.
During the storm
If water is rising around the pad, shut the system off at the thermostat and the disconnect if you can do that without going outside into the weather. Do not run the air conditioner while the house is open to wind-driven rain.
After the power returns
Look at the condenser before you turn it on. If it was flooded, tipped, or packed with debris, leave it off and call. A flooded compressor that is forced to start often becomes a replacement. If it only looks dirty and dry, clear the fins gently and let it run.
Late season and the first cold nights
Hurricane season runs through November. A storm in October is still a storm: clear the condenser, check the drain, and do not force a flooded unit to start. The same week the first cool front shows up, heat strips and heat pumps get their first real load since spring. If the panel tripped all summer when the AC started, fix that before the heat strips pull harder. If the outdoor unit only needs a rinse and a clear pad, do that on a calm day and leave the big repairs for a scheduled visit.