Before the storm: pre-cool the house to about 72 degrees, then shut the system off at the breaker, not just the thermostat. Clear loose debris and patio items away from the outdoor unit. Photograph the equipment and record the model and serial numbers. Change the filter and check the drain line.
During the storm: leave it off while lightning and high wind are overhead. On a generator, size for the compressor’s starting load, keep it at least 20 feet from the house with exhaust pointed away, and never run it indoors or on a porch.
After the storm: if the unit was submerged or stood in water, do not restore power. Call a licensed contractor, photograph everything before cleanup or repair, and get on a service list early. Reputable shops fill up within hours.
Where the 2026 season stands
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. NOAA’s August 6, 2026 update kept its below-normal call: 7 to 13 named storms, 2 to 6 hurricanes, 0 to 2 major hurricanes, and a 75 percent chance of below-normal activity, driven by El Niño. Seasonal totals say nothing about where a storm lands.
Before the storm
Shut it down at the breaker, not the thermostat
On an older system with a standard contactor, shutting the thermostat off drops the contactor and de-energizes the compressor circuit. Systems with inverter-driven compressors or ECM motors have no contactor, so the control board stays live to the grid whether the thermostat reads off or not. Only the breaker isolates the equipment.
Surges are the reason. Capacitors swell, melt or rupture. Control boards run on microprocessors that voltage spikes wipe out. Worst case is burnt compressor windings and a new compressor. Kill the breakers for both the air handler and the condenser.
Pre-cool, then clear the area
Run the house down to about 72 degrees for a few hours before you cut power. Then clear the yard, because coil fins get shredded by flying debris. Move furniture, planters and tools away from the condenser, and trim overhanging branches.
Anchoring and covering
Florida Building Code (FBCM 301.15) requires exterior mechanical equipment to be anchored to a rated pad, stand or approved base that resists the wind loads for your location. If yours sits loose, raise it with your contractor before the season.
Contractors disagree on covering. Some recommend a rigid top cover against falling debris. Others advise against any cover, because a tarp traps moisture on the coil and a cover left on when power returns causes overheating. Top only, never the sides, never with the system running.
Document it, then service it
Photograph both units from every angle, including the data plate with model and serial numbers. Save them off your phone with install and service receipts. Adjusters want proof of pre-storm condition.
Install a fresh filter. Flush the condensate drain and confirm it flows, because a clogged line in heavy rain backs up into the air handler pan and finds your drywall. Book pre-season AC maintenance in April or May, not when a storm is on the cone.
During the storm
Leave it off while heavy lightning is overhead. Running your AC through a thunderstorm is not worth a compressor.
Generators
Central AC is a demanding load. A 2 to 5 ton system typically needs 3,500 to 7,500 watts just to start, well above its running draw, and that surge stalls undersized generators.
A soft starter ramps the compressor up instead of slamming it on, and manufacturers report peak starting current reductions of roughly 50 to 70 percent, often bringing a central system within reach of a mid-size portable. Never backfeed the panel through a dryer outlet. Use a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician to code.
Carbon monoxide
CPSC guidance is specific. Run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust pointed away from the home and other buildings. Never run one in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or on a porch, even with the door open. Install battery-operated CO alarms outside sleeping areas and on every floor.
After the storm
If it was underwater, leave it off
Do not restore power to HVAC equipment that was submerged or stood in water, not even to see whether it works.
Floodwater carries silt, sewage and debris that pack into the coil and blower. Saltwater and storm surge are worse, because chloride attacks aluminum fins and copper tubing and keeps corroding after the unit looks dry. Contactors, capacitors, boards and motor windings that got wet are compromised even when they look fine. Energizing them can short the system, start a fire, or kill a salvageable compressor. Trane says the same: do not run it until a specialist inspects it.
What insurance typically does and does not do
Homeowners policies generally cover HVAC damage from wind, falling limbs, lightning and the surge that follows. Flood is not covered without a separate policy, and wear and tear and neglected maintenance are excluded.
In Florida, a hurricane deductible applies once the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for any part of the state, and holds 72 hours past the last warning. Carriers must offer $500, 2, 5 or 10 percent of dwelling coverage, and no other deductible applies alongside it. On a $400,000 dwelling limit, 5 percent is $20,000, more than most replacements.
Do not repair, replace or haul away damaged equipment until the adjuster has seen it or the carrier releases you in writing. A missing condenser is a denied claim.
What a post-storm inspection covers
More than a look and a restart. A technician should check for impact and fin damage, confirm the unit is level and anchored, look for refrigerant leaks from movement or debris strikes, megohm test the compressor windings for insulation breakdown, check the capacitor and contactor, inspect the disconnect and low-voltage wiring for corrosion, and verify the drain line and pan.
After a landfall, licensed HVAC companies run days behind within hours. Call as soon as it is safe and get scheduled.
Storm-damage scams and unlicensed operators
Every hurricane brings door knockers offering to fix your AC with leftover equipment from another job. Some are legitimate. Many take a deposit and vanish.
- Verify the license at myfloridalicense.com before you sign. Florida HVAC contractors hold a CAC, CAR or CMC license. Airborne Tech Service holds Florida license CAC1822084, Certified Air Conditioning Contractor.
- Get three written bids and confirm the work will be permitted.
- Do not pay in full up front. Florida law requires a contractor taking more than 10 percent down to apply for a permit within 30 days and start work within 90 days.
- Be wary of uninvited crews, same-day pressure and cash-only demands.
- Report fraud or price gouging to the Florida Attorney General at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM, and unlicensed contracting to DBPR at 1-866-532-1440.
FAQ
Should I turn my AC off before a hurricane?
Yes, at the circuit breaker rather than the thermostat. On systems with inverter-driven compressors or ECM motors, the control board stays energized when the thermostat is off, so only the breaker isolates it from grid surges. Pre-cool the house first, then kill the breaker.
Can I run my central AC on a generator?
Only with enough capacity. A 2 to 5 ton system generally needs 3,500 to 7,500 starting watts. A professionally installed soft starter cuts peak starting current by roughly 50 to 70 percent, which often puts a central system within reach of a smaller generator.
Will homeowners insurance cover my AC after a hurricane?
Usually for wind, falling limbs, lightning and surge, subject to your Florida hurricane deductible of $500 or 2, 5 or 10 percent of dwelling coverage. Flood is not covered without a separate policy, and wear and tear is excluded. Photograph everything and wait for the adjuster.
Should I cover my outdoor AC unit before a storm?
Contractors disagree on this. A rigid top cover can stop falling debris, but a wrapped tarp traps moisture against the coil and causes overheating if the system runs with it on. Cover the top only, never the sides, and remove it before restoring power.
My condenser was underwater. Can I dry it out and turn it on?
No. Do not restore power. Floodwater leaves silt, bacteria and corrosive salts inside the coil, wiring and motor windings, and energizing wet electrical parts can short the system or start a fire. Have a licensed technician inspect and test it.
Get ahead of it
Airborne Tech Service is a family owned HVAC and commercial refrigeration company serving Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Longwood, Oviedo, Lake Mary, Sanford, Apopka, Kissimmee and Deltona.
Book a maintenance plan before the peak of the season, or call for AC repair in Central Florida, AC installation, mini-splits, commercial HVAC and refrigeration. We run 24/7 emergency service. See our HVAC service in Orlando page or contact Airborne Tech Service.
Call (321) 240-9346. Florida license CAC1822084.