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Sarasota AC guide

Power Outages and Restarting Your AC

Summer thunderstorms knock out power for minutes; hurricanes can knock it out for days. Either way, the AC is usually the first thing people want back. Here is how to protect it and restart it safely.

Reviewed October 13, 2026 · General information only; not engineering or legal advice

Who supplies the power

Most homes in Sarasota and Manatee counties buy electricity from Florida Power & Light (Florida Power & Light, energy-saving tips). Parts of eastern Sarasota and Manatee counties are served by Peace River Electric Cooperative (Peace River Electric Cooperative). Both post outage information during storms.

During an outage

  • Turn the AC off at the thermostat. That way it does not try to start the instant power returns, when voltage can be unstable.
  • Keep doors and windows closed to hold in what cool air remains.
  • Ready.gov's outage guidance covers food safety, medical devices and staying cool (Ready.gov, power outages). The National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area office issues heat advisories when outages and heat combine (National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area).

When the power comes back

  1. Wait several minutes after power returns. Many outages flicker on and off before staying on.
  2. Check the outdoor unit for storm damage or debris before switching it on.
  3. Turn the thermostat back to cool. Many systems have a built-in delay of a few minutes before the compressor starts.
  4. Listen and watch: the outdoor fan should spin and cool air should come from the vents within several minutes.

If it does not come back

  • Breakers. Check both the indoor and outdoor AC breakers and the outdoor disconnect.
  • Thermostat. Some thermostats lose settings or need new batteries.
  • Float switch. If the drain backed up while the system sat, the float switch may hold it off.
  • Surge damage. Control boards and capacitors are vulnerable to surges. A system that hums but will not start may need a part. See AC repair.

Surge protection

Whole-home surge protectors at the electrical panel and dedicated surge devices for the outdoor unit are available. They reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk from lightning and grid surges.

Generators

Portable generators must run outdoors, well away from doors, windows and vents, because of carbon monoxide; Ready.gov stresses this point (Ready.gov, power outages). Most portable generators cannot start a central AC. A whole-home standby generator can, if it is sized for the AC's starting load. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet to back-feed the house.

After a long outage

A house that sat closed up and warm for days will be humid. Expect the AC to run for a long stretch to dry things out, and check for musty smells or mold afterward. See humidity control.

Related pages: ac repair, ac maintenance & tune-ups, humidity control & dehumidifiers, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: Ready.gov, power outages; Florida Power & Light, energy-saving tips; Peace River Electric Cooperative; National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area.

Asked and answered

Short answers

  1. Should I turn off my AC during a power outage?

    Yes. Turn it off at the thermostat so it does not start during unstable voltage when power returns.

  2. Why won't my AC start after the power came back?

    Check breakers, the disconnect and the thermostat. A float switch or surge damage to a capacitor or control board are other causes.

  3. Can a portable generator run my central AC?

    Usually not. A standby generator sized for the AC's starting load can.

  4. How long should I wait to restart the AC?

    Several minutes after power is stable. Many systems also have a short built-in delay.

  5. Where is it safe to run a generator?

    Outdoors, far from doors, windows and vents, because of carbon monoxide.

  1. AC Repair

    Warm air, no air, frozen coils, leaking drain lines, noisy fans and tripped breakers, diagnosed on Gulf Coast systems.

  2. AC Maintenance & Tune-Ups

    Spring and mid-season tune-ups: drain lines, coils, electrical parts, refrigerant readings and filters for long Florida seasons.

  3. Humidity Control & Dehumidifiers

    Clammy rooms, musty smells and condensation: settings, airflow, system sizing and whole-home dehumidifiers.

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