Thunderstorms are an unfortunate reality during the summer months in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. These storms can get pretty violent, with the high winds, driving rain, and hail causing substantial damage to HVAC systems, as well as HVAC emergencies, on a regular basis. Thankfully, there are a few things you, as a homeowner, can do to protect your HVAC system from such damage.

Secure your AC unit with hurricane straps.

In areas where hurricanes are common, HVAC technicians use metal straps to attach outdoor AC units to the concrete pads they sit on. These straps are also useful during thunderstorms, as they keep the unit from blowing around or getting tipped over in high winds. Take a look at your unit, and if it is not already fastened to the concrete slab with big, metal straps, contact your HVAC contractor and have them come secure it in this way.

Turn the AC off and cover your unit during big storms.

Make sure you have a suitable cover for your AC unit. Usually, a cover made specifically for the style of unit that you have is best, since it will be padded in all of the right places and will fit the unit snugly. When you know a big storm is about to roll in, turn off your air conditioning, and put the cover on the unit. This will keep debris like sticks and small rocks from blowing into your AC unit and causing damage.

Test out your generator beforehand.

You don't want to be in the middle of a power outage caused by a thunderstorm and find out that your generator has bit the dust. Test run your generator at the beginning of the summer so you not only know that it's working, but can also be confident that you know just how to hook it up. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure you always put a portable generator at least 20 feet from any windows, vets or doors. If the exhaust blows into your home, you may suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly. Also, make sure you have plenty of fuel on hand (and stored in a safe place away from any flames or heat sources) so you can power up the generator as needed.

If your generator does not seem to be running properly, contact your HVAC technician to inspect and adjust it so that it's ready to go when the power does go out. To learn more, contact a company like A -1 Cooling & Refrigeration Inc.