Power surges can have a lasting impact on the systems inside your Mount Holly home, especially your air conditioning unit. These unpredictable electrical spikes can happen in an instant but may leave behind expensive damage that affects how well your AC works or whether it works at all. Many homeowners do not realize just how vulnerable their home’s cooling system is until it stops running the way it should during extreme heat.
The impact of a power surge does not always show up right away. Some damage can appear later on, slowly affecting your system without you even noticing until major repairs are needed. If your home has experienced electrical issues, it is important to understand the potential risks these surges pose to your AC system and what signs to watch for in case it has already been affected.
What Causes Power Surges?
Power surges can come from inside your home or from external sources like shifts in power grid activity. In Mount Holly neighborhoods, flickering lights or suddenly lost power after a storm is not unusual, and these disruptions are often behind short or strong bursts of extra current being pushed through your electrical lines. These bursts can easily damage electronic devices and HVAC equipment.
Common causes of power surges include:
1. Lightning strikes: These are rare but extremely powerful. A bolt hitting near your utility line can send a surge through wiring and damage connected equipment instantly.
2. Utility grid switching: Repairs or changes to electrical lines outside your home can cause temporary increases in voltage.
3. Major appliances cycling on and off: Large appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, or clothes dryers create short power draws that can add stress to your home’s electrical flow.
4. Faulty wiring or overloaded circuits: If your home’s wiring is aging or damaged, or too many high-use items are plugged into a single circuit, it can increase the likelihood that small, repeated surges will occur.
5. Downed power lines: After storms or accidents, nearby downed lines can cause backflow problems.
In a city like Mount Holly, where storms and utility repairs are not uncommon, homes are especially at risk for these types of electrical problems. Even small surges repeated over time can cause wear that adds up quickly.
How Power Surges Affect Your AC System
Your AC system relies on several sensitive components that help control how it cools and circulates air. When a surge hits, these internal parts receive higher-than-normal voltage levels, which can result in parts burning out or failing completely.
Here are the parts of your system most at risk:
1. Compressor: One of the most expensive parts of your AC unit, the compressor helps move refrigerant throughout the system. A surge can cause it to seize up or stop running.
2. Circuit boards: These control when your system turns on, the fan speed, and how long a cycle lasts. A power surge can fry the board, leaving the entire system unresponsive.
3. Capacitors: These store and release energy to start the motors within your AC. Power surges often damage these components, leading to problems like the unit not starting or stopping mid-cycle.
You might notice signs like warm air blowing from your vents, the unit turning on and off randomly, or it simply not responding at all. These signs often point to surge-related damage. If you have experienced any kind of electrical disruption in Mount Holly recently and your AC is not acting right, these components should be checked by our professionals. AC repair in Mount Holly is not something you want to delay when temperatures are high and your system is already under stress.
Preventive Measures to Protect Your AC System
Preventing surge-related AC damage starts with protecting your entire electrical system, not just the AC unit itself. Power surges can reach your AC through your home’s main electrical panel or through individual circuits. Making the right investments early on can help avoid costly repairs later.
Here are some steps homeowners in Mount Holly can take:
1. Install a whole-home surge protector: This device connects to your main service panel and helps block excess voltage before it reaches your appliances, including the AC unit.
2. Consider individual plug-in surge protectors: While these are more commonly used for electronics, they can be helpful for window units and other smaller systems.
3. Schedule regular electrical checks: Homes with older wiring may be at higher risk for surges and short circuits. Inspections can catch outdated breaker panels, damaged wires, or grounding issues before they cause real problems.
4. Keep the area around your exterior unit clear: Trim back bushes, move equipment, and protect the AC from weather-related hazards that could deter airflow or create hazards.
5. Stay on top of AC maintenance: A surge protector will not help if your system is already weakened by neglect. Consistent tune-ups can make your unit more resistant to electrical stress and help our technicians catch damage early.
It also helps to unplug small high-energy items like computers or televisions when storms roll in. While you cannot unplug your central AC, knowing where the cutoff switch is located allows you to quickly power off the unit when needed, which can reduce surge-related damage.
Steps to Take After a Power Surge
When a power surge strikes, it is important to respond quickly, especially if your AC starts acting differently. Waiting too long to address issues can lead to more damage down the line and bigger repair bills.
Start by checking your thermostat and circuit breaker. If the breaker has tripped or the thermostat blanked out, these are early signs something went wrong. If resetting the breaker does not bring the system back online or causes it to trip again, there is likely internal damage that needs evaluation.
If your AC is making odd noises, pushing warm air, or not starting at all after a surge, turn it off completely to avoid compounding the problem. Call our technicians to inspect the system. It helps to let them know if you experienced a lightning storm or electrical outage right before the issues began. Our professionals will check internal components, test capacitors and boards, and recommend next steps to get your system operating safely and efficiently again.
Ignoring electrical-related problems can cause your compressor to wear down or let wiring faults get worse. That could turn a basic repair into the need for a much more expensive system replacement.
Keeping Your Mount Holly Home Protected
Keeping your AC system protected from power surges is just as important as locking your doors or checking smoke alarms. An unexpected jolt can do more than shut off your comfort. It can create long-term issues for your home and your budget.
The good news is most of the steps to reduce damage risk are fairly simple. Surge protection, regular inspections, and quick action after any electrical event can go a long way. Homeowners in Mount Holly who understand the stress power surges place on cooling systems are better prepared to spot trouble early and get the right help when they need it.
If your home has had power fluctuations lately and your AC is not working how it used to, do not wait. Surge damage does not undo itself, and it rarely stays contained. Spot it early, treat it quickly, and lean on local professionals who know how to handle repairs in Mount Holly homes the right way.
When power surges compromise your AC system, acting quickly can prevent further damage and restore comfort in your home. Experience reliable support with AC repair in Mount Holly and let our professionals at Morris Mechanical Inc help bring your system back to peak performance. For a quick estimate or to schedule a service visit, please contact us today.
