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. 
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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.
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Now you may be wondering:‍

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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.
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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.  

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