Hurricane Season and Your AC in Sarasota

Recent storms around Sarasota

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida in late September 2022 as a powerful hurricane, bringing damaging wind and flooding to parts of Sarasota County, especially North Port and the Myakka River area (Wikipedia: Hurricane Ian). Two years later, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on the night of October 9, 2024, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene pushed storm surge along the coast (Wikipedia: Hurricane Milton). Between them, those storms caused widespread power outages and damaged many outdoor AC units.

Before the season

• Check the anchoring. The Florida Building Code addresses how outdoor mechanical equipment is secured against wind (Florida Building Commission (Florida Building Code)). Look for straps or brackets tying the condenser to its pad or stand.
• Know the disconnect. The outdoor unit has a disconnect box on the wall nearby. Know where it is and how to switch it off.
• Clear the area. Loose items near the condenser become debris in high wind.
• Have the system serviced. A spring tune-up catches weak parts before the busiest season. See maintenance.
• Photograph the equipment. Photos of the units and their labels help with insurance claims later.

When a storm is coming

Follow Sarasota County Emergency Management and National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area guidance for your evacuation zone (Sarasota County Government (permits and emergency management); National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area). Cool the house down ahead of the storm while power is on. Many people turn the AC off at the thermostat and the outdoor disconnect before the worst weather to protect it from power surges. Do not cover the unit with a tarp while it could be running.

The National Hurricane Center's preparedness pages walk through building a household plan, supplies and evacuation decisions (NOAA National Hurricane Center, hurricane preparedness).

After the storm: check before you restart

• Look before you switch on. Debris in the fan, a bent or shifted unit, damaged refrigerant lines or a torn electrical conduit all mean leave it off.
• Floodwater. If water reached the outdoor unit or an indoor air handler in a garage, do not run it until it has been inspected. Floodwater can damage electrical parts and controls.
• Power restoration. When power comes back, wait a few minutes before turning the AC back on so the system and the grid can settle. See the outage guide.
• Clear the coil. Leaves and sand packed into the coil fins cut cooling. A gentle rinse with a garden hose (power off) helps.

Surge and salt

Storm surge pushes salt water inland. Salt residue left on coils and electrical parts speeds corrosion even after the water recedes. Units that sat in salt water often need replacement rather than repair. See the salt-air guide.

Replacing a storm-damaged system

A replacement after a storm still needs a permit, and in flood-prone areas it is a chance to raise the condenser on a stand and improve the anchoring. See AC replacement.

Related pages: ac repair, ac replacement & new systems, ac maintenance & tune-ups, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: NOAA National Hurricane Center, hurricane preparedness; Wikipedia: Hurricane Milton; Wikipedia: Hurricane Ian; Sarasota County Government (permits and emergency management); Florida Building Commission (Florida Building Code); National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area.