Due to more humidity in the air and warmer temperatures, summertime and thunderstorms go hand in hand. While listening to the sounds of rainfall and rolling thunder can be soothing for some people, lightning strikes during the storms can be dangerous. Not only can lightning strikes be deadly if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, but they can also cause power surges in homes.

A power surge can fry any electronic device or appliance in your home, even air conditioning motors in Hennepin County, MN! The lightning could do anything from frying the delicate electrical circuits to melting the plug. Any damage caused by a lightning strike will require extensive repairs, and possibly even replacement. The good news is that a power surge large enough to harm an air conditioner is rare. It’s better to be safe than sorry, though, which is why we don’t recommend running your AC during a thunderstorm.

Other ways to protect your AC

Turning your AC off during a storm is far from the only thing you can do to protect your unit. Follow these tips to ensure your system runs reliably for as long as possible:

Schedule yearly maintenance: The best way to keep your air conditioner in tip-top shape is by scheduling summer AC maintenance in Hennepin County, MN. During the routine maintenance visit, your HVAC technician will pore over every aspect of your system to ensure everything looks as it should. The technician will then clean the unit inside and out, ensuring maximum efficiency throughout the summer. This service should be performed every spring or early summer for best results.
Change the filters: In between your annual maintenance appointments, you’ll need to change out the air filters. The frequency at which they need to be replaced depends on the types of filters you have and how often you use the AC. Typically, however, filters should be replaced once every month or so. Swapping out the filters helps keep the unit clean and can help save on your energy bills.
Keep it clean: Speaking of keeping a clean AC, don’t neglect the exterior unit. Part of your summer AC maintenance in Hennepin County, MN should include sweeping up debris surrounding the outdoor unit. Things like leaves, dirt and twigs can get sucked up into the unit, damaging the fans and delicate coils. Just be sure the power is off whenever you’re cleaning around the system.
Look out for signs of damage: Banging noises, bad smells and poor performance are just a few of the indicators that your AC may be on its way out. Knowing what to look for and knowing when to call a technician could be the difference between making a quick repair and having to replace the whole unit.

Whether your system was hit with lightning or is failing for another reason, you can trust Air Climate Control, Inc. to fix it. Give us a call today to inspect, repair or replace your air conditioning motor in Hennepin County, MN.