Can Rain Damage my Outdoor Unit?

Biloxi gets a lot of rain: an average of 58 inches of rain per year. People often worry about if rain can damage their outdoor AC units. This is understandable since your air conditioning unit is electronic and it’s outside, which seems like a bad combination. Have you ever wondered if it’s necessary to cover or otherwise protect your outdoor unit from rain damage?

Will Rain Hurt My AC Unit?

No, the good news is that your outdoor AC unit is built to last and to withstand normal weather conditions. That includes the heavy rains, heat and winds we have in Biloxi. You can continue to run your AC unit even during the heaviest of rains with no worries. However, there are a few common problems to be on the lookout for regarding your outdoor unit.

Abnormal Biloxi weather conditions you should watch out for include:

• Flooding
• Hail
• Tornadoes
• Tropical Storms

What Can I Do To Protect My AC Unit?

Outdoor air conditioning units are built on a raised platform, such as a concrete slab. This helps protect the unit from being damaged by flooding. Your AC unit should remain free from rain damage unless the floodwaters reach 15 inches or more.

If your unit has been submerged in a flood, you will need to turn it off and keep it off until it can get checked out by repair technicians after the storm. At Ball Heating and Air Conditioning, our technicians can easily check it out for you to ensure your safety and the endurance of your unit. We’ll get your AC running safely again in no time.

Prolonged or large pieces of hail can damage the thin metal slats on the outside of your air conditioning unit. If hail is in the forecast, you can help protect your unit by covering it with a tarp. It’s important to keep your AC turned off for as long as the tarp remains in place. There’s also a hail guard made for air conditioner units that can permanently be installed to protect the unit’s delicate slats while allowing safe airflow.

Just like most of the South, in Biloxi, we often have tornadoes and tropical storms. You’ll get lots of advance notice in the weather forecast, so you can make sure your unit is turned off if floodwaters are getting high.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Make My AC Unit Last Longer?

The good news is, yes, there is something you can do to extend your outdoor unit’s life. The best thing you can do for your AC unit is to provide the proper maintenance. Just as with humans, regular checkups and “healthcare” will extend life in an air conditioning unit.

Maintenance or AC tune-ups, include changing out the air filters regularly. Every 4-6 weeks is the best timeframe for new filters. This will help increase the lifespan of your unit’s air handler fan.

Twice a year maintenance may seem like an unnecessary cost but it pays off in the end with a smooth-running and long-lived AC unit. At Ball Heating and Air Conditioning, we will check out your system thoroughly, from the refrigerant levels to the coil integrity and any required system lubrication. Professional maintenance will allow for any problems to be caught before they become a real issue.

Get Your AC Unit Checked For Long Life And Good Health!

When was the last time your AC unit had a good checkup? Contact Ball Heating and Air Conditioning today to get your unit scheduled for annual maintenance!