Not only are the seasons of Spring and Summer notorious for hot and humid weather, but they are also a perfect time for thunderstorms.
But, you should think twice before turning on your AC system the next time the weather becomes severe to prevent serious damage being caused.
Even though lightning striking a home is rare, if it does happen it can really damage your AC system. When lightning strikes, it can send as much as 5 billion joules of energy through your home’s electrical system. Lightning can also melt the plug to your unit and damage the control panel and corrupt the entire system as well. The control panel is filled with sensitive electrical circuitry, so it’s best to turn it off to be safe when a storm hits. Rain alone won’t harm your air conditioner. The only time you would need to be concerned is if the rain was severe enough to leave standing water around the unit. In that case, it would be smart to power down your system. A stuffy home during a storm can be uncomfortable, and turning off the system can be a hassle. However, a brief period of discomfort is much easier to deal with than having to replace your entire system because of storm damage. As soon as lightning has stopped, you can turn your system back on. During a thunderstorm, the air temperature drops considerably. If you can, consider opening the windows and turning on any ceiling fans to help pull cooled air in and around your home until the storm passes. If you think your system has damage to it caused by a severe storm, you should contact an HVAC professional to properly examine and determine if any damage has occurred.