This spring and summer has been a little rough on the Midwest when it comes to thunderstorms, straight-line winds, tornadic activity, and HAIL! According to the Insurance Information Institute, Nebraska is the third-ranked state for major hail events. Last year, there were over 5,600 major hail storms nationwide.
After each storm, homeowners survey the damage to their roofs, windows, siding, cars, and other property, but not too many think to check their air conditioning units.
Hail can cause serious damage to your air conditioning unit, especially if it’s mounted on the roof of your home or business. Air conditioning units mounted on the ground can also be damaged by hail.
Here’s what you need to know about hail damage to your air conditioner:
What Parts Of Your Air Conditioner Are Vulnerable To Hail Damage?
The housing on an air conditioning unit is built to be tough, but it’s not indestructible. The most common issue that can affect an air conditioner due to hail is the flattening of the air fins on the outside of the unit. While a few deformed fins won’t lead to much of a difference, more than a few can make the AC unit no longer operate efficiently. This flattening of the fins leads to a restriction of airflow across the condenser coil.
In extreme cases of hail and severe weather, there can be additional internal damage to your system. If hail is small enough, it can go through the fan shroud and hit the fan blades, damaging the inside of the coil.
Other parts of the air conditioning unit that can be affected include the electrical lines connecting to the unit, the copper refrigerant lines and connections, and the duct shields and connections.
What Kind Of Problems Can Hail Damage To Your AC Unit Cause?
Hail damage of your air conditioning unit may result in:
- Reduced airflow through the coils
- Higher refrigerant temperature
- Refrigerant leaks
- Lost performance
- Lost reliability
- Lost efficiency
- Complete loss of the cooling system, in extreme cases
What Can You Do If Your Air Conditioning Unit Has Been Damaged By Hail?
Give us a call to come out and take a look at your air conditioning unit. We can assess the damage and make recommendations for what repairs are needed.