Hurricane Season AC Prep: A Lafayette Homeowner’s Checklist

Lafayette sits far enough inland to dodge the worst of most Gulf landfalls — and close enough that every Acadiana homeowner remembers exactly where they were for the big ones. Your AC condenser is one of the most expensive appliances exposed to storm weather, and a little preparation goes a long way.

Before the Season (Do This in May)

• Check the pad and anchors. Your condenser should sit level on a solid pad, properly secured. Units on soft parish soils — common in Maurice, Milton, and out toward the rice country — can settle and shift.
• Trim vegetation. Branches overhanging the unit become battering rams in tropical-storm winds.
• Service the system now. A pre-season tune-up documents condition before any storm claim and catches weaknesses wind will exploit.
• Consider surge protection. Lightning and grid fluctuations during storms kill capacitors, boards, and compressors every season. A condenser surge protector is cheap insurance.

When a Storm Is Approaching

Turn the system off at the thermostat before the worst weather arrives — power fluctuations during storms are brutal on compressors. If you cover the unit, use a proper breathable cover or plywood over the top only; never wrap it airtight, and never run it covered. Move anything in the yard that could become a projectile near the condenser.

After the Storm Passes

• Inspect before restarting: look for debris impact, a tilted pad, disconnected lines, or floodwater marks on the cabinet.
• If the unit was submerged — even partially — do not restart it. Floodwater contaminates electrical components and refrigerant circuits; it needs professional evaluation first. Homes near the Vermilion River and Bayou Teche know this drill.
• Clear debris from around the cabinet and check that the fan spins freely.
• If the system trips the breaker or won’t start after power returns, call before resetting repeatedly — surge damage worsens with every attempt.