Should I cover my AC unit during a hurricane?

Only if it is switched off. Covering a running unit restricts the airflow it needs to reject heat and can cause it to overheat. Clearing loose debris from around the unit matters more than covering it.

Can I turn my AC on after a flood?

Not before it is inspected. If the outdoor unit or its electrical components have been submerged, switching it on is what causes the damage — water in the electrics and the compressor turns a survivable flood into a replacement.

Should I turn off my AC during a hurricane?

If flooding or a direct hit is likely, yes — shut it off at the breaker. That also protects it from the surge when grid power returns, which causes more equipment damage than the storm itself often does.

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Commercial

Hurricane season: protecting HVAC and refrigeration

July 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Outdoor equipment is built to live outside, so a storm is not automatically a problem for it. The damage tends to come from three directions instead: debris driven into the coil, water where the electrics are, and the surge when the grid comes back up.

Before the storm

Clear loose items from around the outdoor unit. Anything the wind can pick up becomes something that hits the coil.
Check the unit is properly secured to its pad or its roof curb. Restraint requirements vary, and this is worth confirming rather than assuming.
Shut the system off at the breaker if flooding or a direct hit is likely. A unit that is off when the water arrives fares far better than one that is running.
For refrigeration, take temperatures and note them before the power goes. Knowing where a box started is what lets you judge the product afterwards.
Consider surge protection. The damage often comes not from losing power but from getting it back.

Do not cover an outdoor unit that is still running. Covers restrict the airflow the system needs to reject heat, and a covered running unit can overheat. Cover it only once it is switched off.

After the storm

The important rule: if the outdoor unit or any electrical component has been under water, do not switch it back on to see whether it works. Water in electrical components and in the compressor is exactly the situation where powering up causes the damage the flood had not yet done. Have it inspected first.

Otherwise, look for debris in the coil, a unit that has shifted on its pad, damaged refrigerant lines, and standing water at the base. Any of those is a reason to have it looked at before it carries a full season's load again.

Refrigeration and the product question

After an extended outage, the question is not only whether the equipment survived but whether the product did. Food safety guidance is the authority on that, not the equipment — and the temperature readings taken before the outage are what make the judgement possible rather than a guess.

Common questions

Should I cover my AC unit during a hurricane?: Only if it is switched off. Covering a running unit restricts the airflow it needs to reject heat and can cause it to overheat. Clearing loose debris from around the unit matters more than covering it.
Can I turn my AC on after a flood?: Not before it is inspected. If the outdoor unit or its electrical components have been submerged, switching it on is what causes the damage — water in the electrics and the compressor turns a survivable flood into a replacement.
Should I turn off my AC during a hurricane?: If flooding or a direct hit is likely, yes — shut it off at the breaker. That also protects it from the surge when grid power returns, which causes more equipment damage than the storm itself often does.