If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Weather Channel recently, you’ve probably seen the impact of major storms and extreme weather on power grids and individual homes. Power outages are no fun – especially when temperatures outside are uncomfortable. Whether the cause of your outage is severe weather, animal damage, downed trees, or something else, here’s how to safely and effectively get your AC unit up and running again once the power is back on.
Safely Turning Your AC System Back On
A power outage is a hassle, but the real risk can come when the power turns back on. A power “surge” can run through your electrical system, potentially damaging electronic devices or even large systems such as your HVAC. When turning your AC system back on, avoid surge damage by doing the following:
- Turn off your system at the thermostat. Think of this a bit like restarting a frozen laptop. You’ll need to power it down before you can power it up again. Look for the on/off switch on your system device and make sure it’s in the “off” position.
- Turn off your system at the circuit breaker. The same principle applies, but this time at your circuit breaker. Your breaker is probably in your basement, laundry room, or possibly outside. Find the AC switch on the panel – it should be labeled – and toggle it to “off.”
- After 5 minutes, turn both back on. Allow about 5 minutes for your AC system to reset its own internal circuit breaker. Once five minutes have passed, turn the AC circuit breaker back on again. You can now also turn the thermostat switch on your AC system back on.
If your AC system doesn’t come back on, a few things might have happened. Your thermostat might be battery-powered and may simply require new batteries. A second option is a blown fuse – this will require replacement before your system can get up and running again. Your technician can assist you with this.
Protect Your AC System with These Preventive Steps
Power surges happen – but they don’t need to be destructive. There are ways you can protect your home against damage to your AC or other systems or electronic products. These include:
- Surge protectors. These divert excess power to the ground, rather than allowing it to run into your systems. There are different types of surge protectors, including power strips, outlet-based protectors, and whole-system surge protectors mounted into your electrical panel.
- Hard start kits. These help your AC compressor start up quickly and efficiently, reducing strain on your system and protecting your compressor (which is one of the more expensive components of your AC.) Your technician can advise about the best options for your system.
- Bonded CSST. Corrugated natural gas tubing is vulnerable to lightning strikes that may cause surge damage in your home. In Virginia, it’s typically identifiable by its “yellow” jacket. Ensuring that CCST is electrically bonded can reduce the risk of damage from lightning strikes. If you’re not sure whether you have CCST or whether it’s properly bonded, ask your Shaw technician.
Get Ahead of Power Surges with Shaw
Whether you’re dealing with an AC system that won’t turn back on after a power outage, or you want to make sure that your system is protected from future surges, contact the team at Shaw. We can assess your system and make sure that it’s running as it should be.