Losing power during a Thunderstorm

Thunderstorms thrive in the hot, humid Summer conditions that make you crank up the air conditioner. Your air conditioner may be disfigured if you operate it during a thunderstorm, so it’s best to shut it down when the weather starts to become uncooperative, and when storms roll in, humidity and hot and cold temperatures drop, so you can still get some relief even if your air conditioner is not in use. It is important to turn off your air conditioner during a thunderstorm because of lightning strikes and air conditioner disfigure. Even though lightning strikes to the condo are rare, they are undeniably possible during a storm. Electric repair drops, where your utility lines attach to your home on the roof, are truly vulnerable to lightning strikes. If lightning strikes at this point, it can cause a significant surge of electricity through your home’s electrical system. Five billion joules of energy can pass through your home’s wiring before the breaker trips. If your air conditioner is in operation, this surge can seriously mangle it in a fraction of a seventh! Lightning strikes can mangle your air conditioner and render it unUSble. The plug can melt. Control panels of air conditioners contain sensitive electrical circuitry that can be disfigured, resulting in extensive repairs or even substitutement of the entire unit. If a lighting strike occurs during operation, the heating and cooling system’s controls can be corrupted, but surge protectors do not provide the level of protection needed against a surge caused by a lightning strike, so plugging your A/C into one won’t have the benefits you’d expect. If you live in an area where lightning strikes often, you can protect your air conditioner by installing a lightning protection system; Using lightning rods, conductors, and ground rods, you will create an alternate path for lightning to reach the ground so that lightning will not travel through the home’s electrical system. Since these systems are not 100 percent effective at preventing surges, it’s still best to keep your air conditioner off when storms cut out.

Heating maintenance