Hail Damage to Your Central Air Unit

Severe Weather Risk

We are all familiar with the damage caused to roofs and cars from large hail. Did you know that hail can cause serious damage to your central air conditioner?

I am not talking about cosmetic damage to the condenser housing, rather I am referring to damage to components that can have a negative impact on the performance of your central air. If left without being repaired damaged components are likely to cause your equipment to work harder to cool your home or business. This will increase your energy use and shorten the life of the unit as a whole.

Most Vulnerable to Hail are Your Condenser Coils

Naturally the central air components located inside your home are protected from hail damage. However, sitting outside your home is the condenser unit that consists of many key components.

They are protected by a metal housing and screens, however this does not mean that the unit is completely impenetrable from storm damage. The condenser coils are critical to the operation of your central air unit and are highly vulnerable to damage.

The condenser coil facilitates the transfer of heat from the refrigerant to the outside air. It accomplishes this by blowing air across thin fins made from aluminum, the heat is extracted from the coolant by the air as it blows across the aluminum fins.

There are thousands of these fins placed tightly together to form the condenser coil. When damaged by hail the fins are crushed together reducing the amount of surface exposed to the passing air. This greatly reduces the efficiency of your central air unit, reducing the cooling effect for your business or home and increasing the cost of operation.

How Do I Know if My System has been Damaged?

The best way to determine if your system has sustained hail damage is to visually examine the unit. Damaged cooling fins are easily identifiable, please refer to the image posted with this article.  Immediately following a hail event, you may notice your home is more difficult to cool or that your central air is running more frequently than usual. This is an indication that something is wrong, naturally hail damage is only one possibility.

No matter the cause, if you suspect your central air system is not working properly,  you should have your central air system checked by a professional and have the appropriate repairs made. The bottom line is this, if your system is working harder it will strain the rest of the components shortening the life of your HVAC equipment.

What Are My Repair Options for Hail Damage?

The most often recommended solution is to simply replace the damaged coil. This will restore full functionality and efficiency caused by the damaged coil.

If the damage is minor a technician may suggest straightening the fins with a special tool. The process is referred to as combing. An important thing to keep in mind with this option is that combing the fins will never restore the system completely to 100% efficiency. This may also void any warranty should the compressor or other component fail down the road. 

If your central air system is old and reaching the end of its expected life, it may make more sense to simply replace the entire system.

Call AEM Mechanical Services, Inc.  at 320-587-0991 for help in determining if your central air conditioner has been damaged by hail.