Spring Storm & Hail Season AC Checklist for Wichita Falls

Every spring, the dryline lights up west of town and Wichita Falls takes its turn under the watches and warnings. Hail that dents car hoods does worse to condenser fins, and lightning surges kill more control boards in April and May than heat kills all summer. Your AC unit sits outside through all of it — a five-figure appliance in the storm path. A little preparation and a post-storm habit pay off enormously.

Your Pre-Storm AC Checklist

• Install surge protection: a whole-home surge protector plus a compressor protector at the condenser — lightning and grid switching are the top board-killers in storm season
• Consider hail guards: protective wraps or screens for exposed condensers take the hit so your coil fins don't
• Clear the area: patio furniture, trampolines, and sheet metal become condenser-seeking missiles in 70-mph outflow winds
• Document the system: photograph the condenser, model/serial plate, and thermostat before storm season for any future insurance claim
• Know your breaker: after an outage or surge, a tripped breaker is the first thing to check — and it costs nothing to look

After the Storm Passes

Walk the unit before you restart it. Hail-flattened fins restrict airflow and strain the compressor; debris in the fan can bend blades on startup; a unit that shifted or took a direct limb hit needs a look before power. If the system runs but cools poorly after a hailstorm, damaged fins are the likely cause — often repairable, and usually an insurance conversation. We do post-storm inspections across Wichita and the surrounding counties and document damage properly for claims.

Surges: The Damage You Can't See

The sneakiest storm damage is electrical. A lightning strike blocks away can send a spike through the grid that weakens a capacitor or scars a control board without killing it outright — the system dies "mysteriously" two weeks later. If your AC acts up in the days after a big storm, mention the storm when you call; it changes what we test first.

Storm season prep takes one visit. Schedule yours before the sirens start or call us at (888) 217-1674.