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Author: Kevin

Preparing Your HVAC System for Tornado Season

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Tips, Air Conditioning, Heating. No Comments on Preparing Your HVAC System for Tornado Season

Since the tornado in December 2021, many homeowners have taken action to prepare their homes and themselves in case of another emergency. Thousands of homes were without power and over 500 homes were reported damaged. Within the damage, many outdoor HVAC components required repair and replacement from the flying debris and destruction caused by the strong winds. Your HVAC system is an important and costly component of your home, which is why it should be properly prepared for tornado season in Bowling Green, KY and surrounding areas. In this article, we discuss tips to get your home and HVAC system ready for potential tornadoes in the future.

Preparing Your HVAC For A Tornado

In the unfortunate event of a tornado, Chilly Ben’s wants our community to be safe and prepared. Before ensuring your HVAC system is ready for the winds, the most important step is preparing a safe place for you and other residents within your home. The lowest floor, preferably a basement, is the safest place to be in your home before a tornado. If your home does not have a basement or tornado shelter, we recommend a centered room in your home with no windows. Many homeowners choose to find safety in center hallways, bathrooms, or closets.

Once you have mapped out where you and other residents can find safety from an upcoming tornado, we recommend preparing other aspects of your home. Below are ways to prepare your HVAC system for a tornado in Franklin, KY and surrounding areas.

  • Turn Off System
  • Secure & Cover HVAC Unit
  • Elevate HVAC Unit
  • Remove Loose Debris

Turn Off System

Depending on the severity of the storm, we recommend turning off your HVAC system completely. Tornadoes are often accompanied by lightning and thunder, and can cause a power surge throughout your home if struck. This can result in severe damage to your HVAC system and internal components.

Secure & Cover HVAC Unit

According to Bowling Green Daily News, 120 mile wind speeds were estimated in the December 2021 tornado. Strong winds can easily damage, flip, and lift components of your HVAC system, which is why it is important to secure it beforehand. All screws holding the system in place should be tightened and free of rust. Additionally, it is helpful to invest in a cover for your HVAC system for tornadoes and other bad weather storms. A cover can protect from damage and keep out rodents, leaves, and dirt. Many homeowners utilize covers for storms and when the unit is unused in the winter season to protect from ice and snow.

Elevate HVAC Unit

Many outdoor HVAC units are located on the sides of houses, and some where water builds up and creates a constant damp area. If the space around your HVAC unit typically floods, we recommend elevating the unit before a tornado. If rain is accompanied with the tornado, flooding can cause electrical issues along with the wind damage.

Remove Loose Debris

Removing loose debris is not only important to protect your HVAC system, but your home and other’s homes as well! We encourage homeowners to gather large sticks or other debris that can damage outdoor components of your home. Additionally, remove leaves and smaller debris lodged inside your HVAC unit to keep it working efficiently and effectively after the tornado has passed.

HVAC Steps After A Tornado

When it is safe to leave your home, there may be many or few home tasks to complete depending on the severity of damage in your area. It is important for your home comfort to ensure aspects such as electrical and HVAC remained in good condition after the storm. Below are steps to take for your HVAC system after a tornado.

  • Check For Damage
  • Ensure No Water Damage
  • Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Check For Damage

Debris and objects picked up by the strong winds can end up in trees, on roofs, and within your HVAC system. Before turning back on your HVAC, we recommend identifying any damage or lodged debris inside your unit.

Ensure No Water Damage

If you were unable to elevate your HVAC system, check for noticeable water damage to your HVAC system. Flooding can affect electrical components and be a hazard for your safety. Do not turn on your HVAC system after a tornado if you suspect water has flooded or damaged internal components. Give the Chilly Ben’s team a call to inspect the safety of the situation!

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Once you have confirmed no flooding or damage is harming your system, the next step would be to power it back on. The best way to ensure your HVAC unit suffered no internal damage is to schedule HVAC maintenance in Bowling Green, KY or surrounding areas with a trained Chilly Ben’s technician! We can thoroughly inspect your unit and identify any underlying malfunctions. HVAC maintenance is helpful to avoid future repairs and breakdowns to keep you comfortable throughout each storm and life event!

Tornadoes can cause enough damage as is, and the last thing you want is to replace your HVAC system! Before tornado season begins, we recommend implementing these few steps to prepare your HVAC system for the winds and damage tornadoes can present. To properly prepare your HVAC system, give a Chilly Ben’s technician a call to schedule AC maintenance in Warren County! From December 2021 to now, we are Bowling Green strong and will continue to help our wonderful community one step at a time.

AC maintenance

Why Your Home Needs AC Maintenance

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Air Conditioning. No Comments on Why Your Home Needs AC Maintenance

As you begin to dust your air conditioner off for the warmer months, it’s a good time to stop and consider scheduling an AC maintenance appointment. Air conditioning maintenance or a tune-up ensures nothing is wrong with your system before its peak season of usage. An expert technician can run tests, lubricate parts, replace worn components, and improve the stability and function of your air conditioning system.

We know how hot the summers can get in Kentucky, so preparing for the season ahead can’t hurt. In fact, you’ll feel better about turning your air conditioning on for the first use of the year if you’ve had maintenance. Fortunately, Chilly Ben’s Heating & A/C can help with that task!

Why Does AC Maintenance In Bowling Green, KY Matter?

Air conditioning maintenance is perhaps the most essential service you can schedule for your cooling system. If you’ve invested the time and effort into the installation process but don’t maintain your air conditioner, then the work is for nothing. Air conditioners work hard to keep your home cool and comfortable during rising temperatures, so you should expect some normal wear and tear and common concerns from time to time.

It’s easy to overlook an unavoidable task like maintenance, but you’ll be dealing with the consequences when your air conditioner stops working. There’s nothing quite as helpful as having a local AC technician in Bowling Green to address all areas of your unit and make them run even better. Just like you would get a tune-up for your vehicle to continue driving around, you need to schedule maintenance to keep using your air conditioner in hot weather.

What Is Involved In AC Maintenance Service?

During an AC maintenance job, we will check airflow quality and the stability of electrical connections. We also inspect the thermostat and air conditioner’s ability to maintain your desired temperatures. Other steps in this service include:

  • Checking refrigerant levels and signs of leaks
  • Replacing or cleaning air filters
  • Lubricating internal parts
  • Clearing the drain lines

Benefits of AC Maintenance With Chilly Ben’s

When homeowners avoid maintenance, and something goes wrong, they often regret not taking time for the service. Air conditioners experience heavy use night and day during the hotter months, so it’s natural that it needs a tune-up to keep it operating well. Some of the main reasons you should call our team for air conditioner maintenance, perhaps in the early springtime, are as follows:

  • Extend your air conditioner’s lifespan
  • Experience better indoor air quality
  • Have a more energy-efficient property
  • Enjoy comfortable temperatures and safety
  • Save money on repairs and replacement

Extend Your Air Conditioner’s Lifespan

Since air conditioners are such significant investments, everyone wants to squeeze as much time out of them as possible. AC maintenance helps your air conditioner last as long or longer than its extended lifespan. You might need an early replacement if you never schedule maintenance.

Imagine getting several extra years out of your air conditioning system simply because you scheduled one or two maintenance appointments a year. You’ll also preserve the manufacturer’s warranty by following through with expected maintenance.

Experience Better Indoor Air Quality

From dirt and dust mites to pet dander and smoke, numerous contaminants are circulating around your home harming indoor air quality. When all these particles build up on your air conditioning filter, you’re not getting the temperatures and air quality you want. Your coils are also wearing down.

Every time you put off routine maintenance, more dirt and debris builds up on your coils and air filter. The inside and outside of your units also have a layer of dust on them, preventing warm air from entering the system and changing to cool air. You breathe better air with AC maintenance in Franklin, KY.

Have A More Energy-Efficient Property

An energy-efficient home is one that spends less on their monthly bills. Your air conditioner is less likely to strain itself trying to achieve your desired temperatures when it has maximum energy efficiency. During your maintenance service, your technician can update your system and find ways to make it run even better.

Simple tasks like cleaning clogged and dirty air filters and fixing refrigerant problems can make a significant difference in how your air conditioner runs. AC maintenance takes no more than a few hours but makes your unit last longer than its proposed lifespan. It also creates the most comfortable space. Simply put – the less energy your air conditioner uses, the more you will save!

Enjoy Comfortable Temperatures And Safety

A properly-maintained AC system is much safer than one that never gets tune-ups. HVAC problems that grow into major problems have the potential to do serious damage to your home. You could have unsafe or uncomfortable conditions and a frustrating situation to resolve, but maintenance prevents these issues before they get that far.

You decrease the likelihood of experiencing extremely humid temperatures or high temperatures indoors. Allow our technicians to see what could be causing problems with your air conditioner. We don’t miss a beat with our AC maintenance and can get to the bottom of any issue.

Save Money On Repairs And Replacement

By keeping up with maintenance as necessary, it’s unlikely you’ll experience the unexpected need for costly AC repairs or an early replacement. Lack of maintenance can lead to numerous repairs throughout the summer, which can add up and become expensive. Since your system will also be more efficient, your monthly energy bills will drop. Finally, you’ll save more money by keeping your air conditioner’s warranty intact.

Contact Chilly Ben’s To Book AC Maintenance In Bowling Green, KY

Experience peace of mind knowing you do everything you can for your air conditioning system in Kentucky by scheduling routine maintenance. You’ll have a healthier, happier home that is more energy-efficient, consistent with temperatures, and you won’t be spending big bucks on repair services. Although you may keep your air conditioning unit out of sight and out of mind, consider making it a priority for the health, well-being, and happiness of your family.

At Chilly Ben’s Heating and A/C, we proudly offer detailed and thorough AC maintenance in Bowling Green, KY. We’ll examine all parts of your system and verify everything is operating harmoniously. Call us at 270-776-3691 to speak with our staff and book a maintenance appointment today!

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