Is It Ok To Run Your Air Conditioner During A Thunderstorm?

Why Is It Important To Turn Off Your Air Conditioner During A Thunderstorm?

Lightning Strikes: While lightning strikes to the home are rare, they are an undeniable possibility during a storm. The electrical service drop, where your utility lines connect to the house on the roof, is a very vulnerable point for lightning strikes. If lightning strikes at this point, it can cause a significant power surge through your home’s electrical system. As much as five billion joules of energy can be sent through your home’s wiring before the breakers are triggered to trip — in this fraction of a second, the surge can cause serious damage to your air conditioner if it is in operation.
Air Conditioner Damage: The damage caused by a lightning strike can render your air conditioner unusable. It can melt the plug to your unit. The air conditioner’s control panel is full of sensitive electrical circuitry which can be damaged, requiring an extensive repair or even replacement of the entire unit. The system’s controls can be corrupted to the entire heating and cooling system if a lighting strike occurs when the system is operating.

Can Lightning Strike A Window Air Conditioner?

Yes, lightning can strike a window air conditioner, particularly if you live in an apartment building or high rise and are further from the ground. However, this is highly unlikely. Lightning strikes are statistically very rare and it is generally safe to leave your window ac unit plugged in. Air conditioners are electrically insulated to remain safe in the event of a surge and the refrigerant inside the unit is nonflammable, so you aren’t in danger of an explosion.

What can happen is a power surge could melt the plug and power port on your unit, and damage the circuitry in your control panel. That can be a costly repair, and you may end up needing an entirely new window unit which can cost anywhere from $300-$600 to purchase and install.

So lightning can strike a window air conditioner – and if you want to take extra precautions you can unplug your window unit during the storm and plug it back in once it passes.
‍

How Do I Protect My Air Conditioner?‍

Unfortunately, surge protectors don’t provide the level of protection needed against a surge caused by a lightning strike, so plugging your AC into one won’t have the benefits you expect. If you happen to live in an area with a high occurrence of lightning strikes, you can protect your air conditioner by installing a protection system. Using lightning rods, conductors and ground rods, you’ll be creating an alternate path for lightning to reach the ground so lightning won’t travel through the home’s electrical system. These systems aren’t 100 percent effective at preventing surges, so it is best to still keep your air conditioner off when storms pop up.
‍

Now you may be wondering:‍

‍

Can I Use My AC In A Rainstorm?‍

It is perfectly safe to run your AC during a rainstorm. Rain will not interfere with the outdoor unit’s ability to function correctly. In fact, using your AC on warm, rainy days can keep your home more comfortable — your indoor evaporator coils extract moisture and lower humidity levels, which improves comfort levels indoors. Now if rain storms result in flooding and you have standing water around your unit, you should stop using the system, and turn off power at your home’s electrical panel to prevent damage. Have your unit inspected by an HVAC professional before using it after flooding.
‍

If you’re ready to have an HVAC system in your home or for any further information, it’s time to set a schedule with us - Lifestyle Energy. Our experts will warmly address every question and concern you may have.

‍

What You Need to Know Before Adding New Solar Panels to an Existing System

Sometimes, you’ll outgrow the original solar system installed on your roof, and you might need to add some more panels to meet your additional electricity needs. Some common reasons to expand your solar panels are getting an electric vehicle, installing a battery, electrifying your home, or making home upgrades like an addition or a new pool.You may not know where to begin if you think you need more solar. Don’t worry - we cover everything you need to know about adding more solar panels to your existing solar system and if it’s always the right choice.

Why You Should Clean Solar Panels and the Best Ways to Keep Them Spotless

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your rooftop solar panels is crucial to maximize their energy production and prolong their lifespan. Dirty solar panels can significantly reduce efficiency and potentially damage the panels over time. By understanding why solar panels get dirty, recognizing the consequences of neglecting their cleanliness, and employing the best cleaning practices, you can ensure optimal performance and reap the full benefits of your solar investment.

Solar Panel Repairs and Servicing: Keeping Your System Working and What to Do When it Doesn't

If you own or lease a solar system, you no doubt did the math and figured that the energy generated by the solar panel system would reduce your electric bill enough to provide you with a good return on investment. This makes sense. In most states, solar panels can produce an ROI that outpaces long-term returns from other investments such as property or shares. According to Zillow, solar panels can also add about 4% to the value of your home over and above the monthly electric bill savings they generate.However, like any technology, solar panels require regular servicing and occasional repairs to maintain optimal performance. Without that, your solar system may not operate at its full potential, and all that nice math goes out the window. This can leave you in an infuriating position of having to pay both a monthly solar lease or loan payment and also a full electric bill until the system is fixed. When it comes to getting your system fixed, for most people, this will mean a simple call to their solar installer. However, things can be a little more challenging for those whose solar company is either out of business or is not responding to their calls. This is where many solar system owners have been left in the lurch, and their systems are referred to as “solar orphans”.If you have found yourself in that position, the good news is that there are now specialist solar repairs and servicing companies that have explicitly started to service the needs of solar orphans at a relatively low cost. In this article, we will explore the importance of solar panel servicing and repairs, the common issues that can arise, how often you should be servicing your solar system, how to tell if you have a fault, and how much solar repairs and servicing costs.