How Could A Tornado Damage Your HVAC System?

Posted on: 1 November 2015

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Your HVAC system may be the last thing on your mind after a tornado has damaged your home, but it definitely needs to be inspected by a professional. Some damage may not be visible and you may not realize until later that anything is wrong. Not realizing the problem until later could mean the difference between whether or not your insurance company foots the bill. For this reason, it is a good idea to have an understanding of how a tornado could damage your HVAC system.

Damage From Heavy Waters

There is usually heavy rain either before or during a tornado, and when you combine that with the high winds a tornado produces, it can quickly cause issues for your HVAC system. Flooding and debris means huge issues for your unit and you will want it cleaned and inspected promptly after a substantial storm. Unfortunately, water damaged parts on your HVAC system will need to be replaced as repairing them is not safe.

Damage From Lightning

Lightning also accompanies intense storms such as tornadoes and they can wreak havoc on your HVAC system as well as other parts of your home. Lightning causes an oversupply of electricity to your circuit breaker which can damage anything tied to it, such as your HVAC system. If your area is prone to damage from storms or tornadoes, then it's a good idea to get a surge protector for your breaker box or for your HVAC unit.

Damage From Hail

Tornadoes can also bring hail, which can be detrimental to your house and HVAC system. Hail can damage the delicate sections of your condenser coil and other parts of your unit. You can try to attach a hail guard on top of your HVAC, but it may not completely protect the system because hail can still be blown into the unit because of strong winds.

Other Damage

As mentioned previously, other parts of your unit can be damaged that you may not even notice until a later date. For instance, your heating components can be damaged, but you may not realize this until the weather turns cold and you try to use your heating system. This is why you really need to have an expert take a look at the unit after a tornado.

As you can see, tornadoes and other storms can cause a lot of damage to your HVAC system, making it just as important to have it inspected along with your house. The destruction from heavy rain, lightning, hail, and other damage that tornadoes can cause to your HVAC system are substantial and costly, so it is best to be aware of this when bad weather comes your way. Contact a company like Jim's Burner Service Inc for more information.