Queensland experiences beautiful but violent lightning storms each summer. Lightning can carry up to one billion volts of electricity within it, and a strike can be fatal to both humans and household items. As a homeowner who is about to arrange the installation of a new split system air conditioner to keep your family cool this summer, it is important you know how to protect your unit from lightning damage. Keep these pointers in mind when the storm clouds arrive and lightning starts to light up the sky.
Unplug the Outdoor Unit
Your split system air conditioner is made up of two parts. Outside the home is the outdoor unit which contains the compressor and the condenser. This is housed inside a metal box which sits on a concrete slab close to your home's exterior wall.
The metal housing of the outdoor unit makes it attractive to lightning. However, if the box takes a hit by lightning while the unit is running, the high volts fry the internal components, and they will need replacing before they will work again.
There are two ways to make sure your outdoor unit is not working when lightning storms roll in. Firstly, turn off the air conditioner unit at the thermostat wall switch inside your home. All thermostats have an 'off' setting, so when the unit is being installed, make sure you find out where this is. Secondly, if the storm has not yet started, head outside and disconnect the power cord connecting the outdoor unit to your home. This makes sure that, if your outdoor unit does take a direct lightning hit, the electricity cannot surge through the cord into the home. Do not go outside to do this if lightning has already arrived as it is not safe for you to do so.
Surge Protect the Indoor Unit
The indoor part of your air conditioner unit plugs into an electrical outlet on your wall. To protect this from an electrical surge, purchase a surge protector which is plugged in between the unit and your electrical outlet. A surge protector acts as a stop guard measure to prevent excess electricity cooking the electrical circuit of your new air conditioner. Surge protectors can be purchased from a hardware store or an electronics store. Until you buy a surge protector, unplug your indoor unit at the wall when lightning storms are in your area.
Ask a company like ACSIS Airconditioning Warehouse about other ways to protect your system from storm damage, and talk to your insurance company about what type of cover you have for your belongings in the event a lightning strike damages the appliances and electronics in your home. You don't want to find out after the event you are not covered for these strong displays from Mother Nature.
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