Unless you’re new to the Windsor area, you probably already know that we can get some pretty impressive lightning storms—especially during the summer months. In fact, Windsor endures more storms than any other city in Canada, averaging 33 days of thunder and lightning a year! But did you know that running your air conditioner during a lightning storm puts your system at risk?

Homeowners usually have surge protectors to help protect delicate electronics from power surges. But unless you’ve had it happen before, you may not think to protect your air conditioner from a lightning strike.

At Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists, our technicians have been providing HVAC services throughout the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent regions for years, and we’ve seen our share of AC units fried from power surges due to lightning strikes. That’s why we’ve outlined a few tips on how to protect your AC unit and what to do if it’s been damaged.

Turn Your AC Unit Off – One of the best ways to protect your air conditioner from power surges during lightning storms is to simply shut off your system at the thermostat.

Have A Technician Inspect Your Unit – If other appliances or electronics were affected by lightning, then chances are that there may have been damage to your AC as well. A damaged air conditioner compressor may not show immediate signs, so if you’ve noticed a decline in your AC’s performance, make sure to schedule an AC inspection. It could help avoid a more expensive AC replacement down the road.

Document The Event – Some insurance companies will cover the cost of your air conditioner repair/replacement if it can be proven that the damage was caused by a power surge. While documentation may require a professional to inspect your system for damage, it could help with filing the claim to the insurance company.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to have your air conditioning unit inspected following a lightning strike!
Schedule a service call and let one of our professional cooling technicians diagnose the problem.

Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists are fully trained, certified and prepared to meet all of your air conditioning service needs.