Here in Wilmington NC, we have a lot going for us and one of those is the beach! Locals and tourists alike flock to the sand and water to layout, build sandcastles, and enjoy the soothing sound of the waves. BUT coastal weather can get a little rough at times.
Reasons Your Power May Be Out
The number one reason why your power may be out is a storm came through. The effects of damaging winds, rain, lightning, and debris can cut power to your home. Especially living by the coast, we see thunderstorms pop up especially in the summer months, and even those can be strong enough to cut power to your home.
Living by the coast, we have to be wary of hurricane season. Hurricane season spans June 1st to November 30th. This time of year is when power and HVAC units are especially vulnerable.
Other common causes of a power outage are fallen trees, car crashes into a utility pole, and animals. A power outage can last from a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks. In that time, the temperature in your home will rise. When power is restored, it is a HUGE relief. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to your HVAC unit after a power outage.
Your AC Is Not Cooling
When power is restored to your HVAC unit, do not expect it to cool your home right away. For every degree your unit has to cool, it will take about an hour per degree.
For example, during the summer months, it’s recommended to keep your thermostat set to 75. So, if the temperature registers at 85 degrees when the power comes back, it will take about 10 hours to cool down to 75.
How To Reset Your AC Unit
If your unit seems to have an issue when it comes back on, try turning it off and then back on. To reset your unit:
- For your safety, turn off your unit(s) (refer to your owner’s manual)
- Turn off all circuit breakers to your system
- Wait 60 seconds
- Turn the breakers back on
- Don’t forget to turn your unit on too! (refer to owner’s manual)
- Set your thermostat to cool and make sure the temperature is at least 5 degrees cooler than the temperature of the room
- Enjoy the cool air!
After resetting your ac unit, you notice your room is not getting cooler, or something isn’t right, give us a call!
Contact O’Brien Service Company!
Losing power is a hassle for everyone. If anything goes wrong with your heating, ventilation, or AC *call O’Brien Service Company! We have been serving the Wilmington and surrounding areas since 1981!
*When calling during or after a big storm, we ask you to please leave only one message with your name, contact info, and your reason for calling. After bad weather, we have a higher incoming and outgoing call rate. Leaving multiple messages will slow down our response time and in turn, it will take longer to get back to you. You, our customer, and your comfort are our number one priority and we PROMISE to call you back!
If you have to leave a message, you can check out our website obrienservice.com while you are waiting to hear back from us! It is stock full of information from HVAC maintenance, financing, a list of our products, and information on our blog! O’Brien Service Company is here for all your HVAC needs!
