Is It Okay to Run Your A/C During a Thunderstorm?
Let’s face it, those scorching hot and humid days come quicker than we think and last longer than we expect. All that moisture hanging in the air along with the sun’s UV rays creates a perfect mix for soupy, uncomfortable weather, which is an ideal job for your air conditioning unit!
However, sweltering and humid weather is usually a precursor to rainstorms, thunderstorms, or even tornadoes. You may want to run your A/C during severe weather, but do you know if it’s safe or not? Let’s find out below!
Can I Run My AC During a Thunderstorm?
The short answer is: no, you shouldn’t. Unlike dry heat, which you can escape in the shade, humidity is quite intrusive to your home’s air quality. It can seep into every crevice and crack and still exists under shade.
The tricky thing about thunderstorms is the humidity reaches its highest point right as the storm hits, which might instill your desire to keep your AC running. The truth is, you should shut it off as soon as you know a thunderstorm is rolling in.
Other than safety reasons, which we’ll discuss below, it will be far less humid after the thunderstorm. That’s because rain and storms initiate from the high humidity reaching its breaking point, making precipitation drop fall.
Now, let’s go over safety reasons not to run your AC during a storm:
Lightning Strikes
Lighting strikes to a home are extremely rare; however, they are still possible. Suppose lightning hits the electrical service drop where your utility lines connect. In that case, that surge of electricity may ravish the electronic components in your home, especially your AC if it’s running at the time.
What Kind of Damage Would Lightning Do?
A lightning strike to your home will most likely result in your AC unit breaking down completely. An electrical surge of that magnitude will melt the plug to your unit or possibly fry sensitive electrical components.
Can I Run My AC During a Rainstorm?
Yes, running your AC when it simply rains is in the question! It will keep future humidity out of your home by extracting moisture from the interior.
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Get a free quote online or give us a call at 952-226-2685 today!