Hurricane-ready HVAC — the checklist nobody hands you at closing.

Yes — and have since the 2010 Florida Building Code revision, which is itself a post-Andrew response. Condensers installed in the high-velocity hurricane zone (Miami-Dade and Broward) must meet HVHZ wind-load standards; condensers elsewhere in the state still require approved tie-downs rated for the county's wind-speed category. Most Florida counties are Category II (150 mph design wind), coastal counties go to Category III (170 mph+). If your condenser is on a plain concrete pad with no straps, it was either installed pre-2010 or installed out of code. Either way, it's the single cheapest fix on this page — $250–$400 retrofit.

Surge. A lightning strike within half a mile of your home, or a grid-wide switching event as power is restored, can push 6,000+ volts through the lineset for a few microseconds. That kills the compressor's electronics, the control board in the air handler, or both. A unit with no exterior damage whose capacitor buzzes but compressor won't start is 80% of the time a surge victim. Homeowners insurance covers this under 'sudden and accidental damage from a named peril' if you have documentation — which is why the photo checklist at the bottom of this guide matters.

Yes. Two reasons. First, if the power cuts while the compressor is mid-cycle, the pressure imbalance stresses the scroll/reciprocating components — not catastrophic but measurable on service life. Second, if the grid comes back up with voltage instability (common during restoration after a hurricane) the compressor can try to start against back-pressure that isn't fully equalized, which is hard on the start capacitor and compressor windings. Best practice: 6 hours before landfall, set thermostat to 'off' at the breaker level (not just the wall). Turn back on 24 hours after power is stable and utility has confirmed normal operation.

If your condenser is less than 5 years old and worth $4,000+ to replace, yes — unambiguously. A type-2 whole-house surge protective device (SPD) costs $450–$800 installed at the main panel, meets NEC 2020 Article 230.67 (required on new homes in Florida since 2023), and protects every appliance in the house, not just the AC. The math is: one surge event that kills a compressor is a $2,500 repair; one surge event that kills a full system is a $12,000–$30,000 replacement. A $650 SPD pays back on the first near-miss. We include a type-2 SPD as standard on every Deluxe-tier install and above.

It depends entirely on the water level. If the water line stayed below the service valves (the top of the compressor shroud — roughly 18 inches above the pad), a dry-out, electrical-component replacement, and a full refrigerant recovery and recharge can bring it back for $1,200–$1,800. If water covered the valves or got into the compressor oil sump, the system is totaled — saltwater especially is game-over even if the unit starts. Never start a flooded condenser under any circumstance — you'll destroy a compressor that might've been salvageable. Document with photos, then call us.

'Off.' The compressor should not run during the storm itself — not even in Low Cool. If power fluctuates, the compressor will try to restart against unbalanced system pressure and potentially compromise itself. If you're sheltering in place and heat is the concern, the best strategy is to close every interior door, close blinds on the sun-facing side, and rely on the insulation mass of a closed Florida home to stay comfortable for 6–8 hours. The AC is a recovery tool, not a ride-through tool.

Photo everything before cleanup, from four angles: close-up of the data plate (serial + model), wide shot of the condenser pad showing debris and water line, photo of any tie-down or strap damage, photo of the air handler and electrical disconnect. Include a time-stamped weather record (the NWS has per-zipcode gust-speed archives). If power is out, use a flashlight and the camera flash together. Store the photos in cloud storage — not just on the phone — in case the phone is lost before the adjuster arrives. Save any contractor diagnostic report you get in the same folder.

After any flooding event where water reached the condenser's electrical panel or the air handler's evaporator coil, a wet-startup test is required before the system runs. A technician electrically isolates the compressor, bakes out the evaporator coil with low-voltage heat for 4–6 hours to evaporate trapped moisture, re-tests insulation resistance on every winding, and only then attempts a supervised start under controlled load. Skipping this step and starting the unit yourself can short out the compressor within minutes and void the warranty. Most manufacturer warranties explicitly exclude flood damage, so the technician's documentation is also your insurance paper trail.

The premium is smaller than most contractors imply. HVHZ-rated cabinets, heavier coil guards, and factory-installed tie-down hardware add $300–$600 to equipment cost vs a standard lineup — not thousands. Where you feel the price is in the surge protection package (whole-house SPD + condenser-level SPD + compressor hard-start kit) which runs $900–$1,400. Together, roughly $1,200–$2,000 on a $15,000 install — call it an 8–12% premium. For coastal or storm-surge-prone properties, that's the cheapest form of insurance you can buy. Our Premier and Optimum tiers include the full storm package as standard.

Three possibilities, in order of likelihood. One: refrigerant charge is low because the storm shifted the condenser even a half-inch and micro-cracked a brazed joint — a $150 diagnosis visit confirms it. Two: the outdoor coil is packed with landscaping debris, reducing heat rejection; free fix with a garden hose from the inside out (power off first). Three: the compressor took a surge hit and is running but operating below spec — this one is a replacement conversation, not a repair. A Florida-licensed technician can tell you which in a single visit; don't keep running the system if it's struggling because a weakened compressor can catastrophically fail within weeks.