I have to be honest with you, this author did not believe any opinions about climate change and global warming. Hot and cold weather alternate as usual year after year, sometimes it’s warmer and sometimes it’s colder. We are not in control of the weather, nor can we manipulate earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes by using too much fossil fuel or driving too many cars.

However, I am quite taken aback by the recent drought that is taking place in the Northeastern United States as well as most of the other states of the union. There has not been such a devastating drought for twenty-two years in our region and every day the danger increases. With winds gusting and fires being spread by them we are in peril of replicating those catastrophic fires taking place annually in California.

The beautiful weather we have been having this fall (and it is already late November) is reminiscent of the climate of California. There is an old song called, “It Never Rains in Sunny California” might be in praise of the climate out west but in our vicinity this California-like weather is just plain dangerous.

Most of us here in the east have shut off our sprinkling systems and are waiting to close our central air conditioners as well. But, with temperatures staying warm those air conditioners are certainly working overtime. This causes a strain on the various components of the HVAC system such as condensers, compressors and fans. With breakdowns increasing, frustration by homeowners is at a high when their HVAC technicians fail to return their calls. Since this is the case more technicians are necessary, and this could be a potential career choice for those.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change devotees state that greenhouse gas emissions are the cause of extreme weather all over the world. Included in these threats are floods, hurricanes, heatwaves. and the present worry, droughts. These weather conditions cannot be controlled and often are unexpected. The experienced weathermen in our country’s newsrooms will advise us about hurricanes but we never really know exactly where they will hit and how hard and hazardous they will end up. The expression, “any way the wind blows” is quite appropriate for the topic of hurricanes which have devastated southern states this summer although sometimes the wind direction changes, and the prediction of devastation (thank G-D) does not come to fruition. Because of this unpredictability citizens in endangered communities do not always listen to evacuation warnings, which is what happened this summer when folks were trapped in their homes as the hurricanes hit their communities.

What are Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

There are several gases responsible for dangerous emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide but the most highly focused is carbon dioxide which is produced by factories and burning fossil fuels. The term, warming potential is used to explain which gasses are the most significant in causing climate change. Although most folks identify carbon dioxide as the culprit it is actually methane that has twenty-eight times the warming potential compared to carbon dioxide. However, what is worse about carbon dioxide is that it stays in the atmosphere much longer than methane, with methane lasting about twelve years and carbon dioxide lasting for centuries! Methane although short lived causes more global warming than carbon dioxide so by reducing methane emissions warming will lessen.

How is Methane Produced?

1: By decomposition of waste in landfills.

2: Wet rice paddy fields produce microbes in a process called methanogenesis.

3: Cattle produce methane through enteric fermentation. (As the animal digests its food microbes in their digestive tract break up, fermenting the food. Methane is then produced as a by-product.)

4: When oil and gas are retrieved methane is produced.

5: When agricultural waste is burned incompletely.

How Does a Drought Affect the Workings of the HVAC System?

When warm weather doesn’t stop when it’s supposed to, how is your HVAC going to react? It’s easy to accommodate the house the HVAC is servicing when the weather is normal for a November day. You usually would not even have to turn on your central air conditioner nor your heating system so this time of the year would be a time for a system to take a deep breath anticipating the cold weather yet to come. It’s also a good time to have it checked before you put it to sleep for the winter. This is the story in normal weather but in a drought and extreme weather conditions all the variables are not normal.

Since gusty winds are blowing on the trees, most have shed their leaves onto your lawn. But is that the only place those dry leaves find themselves? Absolutely not! Some of them inevitably get blown into your air conditioner in your backyard or the side of the house. If you are fortunate enough to have a regular gardener, he is busy raking the leaves and putting them on his truck to dispose of. But who is keeping track of those stray leaves finding their way into the openings of your air conditioner? Sometimes they get so deeply embedded you can’t remove them.

During a heatwave your AC is on more often and there is a chance that it will overheat. Motors and other parts will wear out faster when they are overloaded. Even if you have a relatively new unit, extreme weather can cause havoc. Indoor air quality can decrease because high temperatures outdoors may make it difficult to maintain comfortable humidity levels causing health concerns to sensitive individuals.

The best scenario is to anticipate such a moment as stated above. Make sure your leaves are removed from your property often and that means not only when the gardener comes once a week or month. If there were regular rainfall, gravity from the water would saturate the leaves keeping them on the ground. But with no rain coming the leaves are dry and easy for a gentle wind to blow them into your compressor. Then, when the winter finally arrives (and it will) those leaves are hidden away until the spring when you notice your AC is not working optimally.

Crispy autumn leaves are fun for kids to jump and roll on and their teacher will be happy with the variety that your child has chosen to bring to school for arts and crafts. However, those squishy leaves are not only fire hazards but HVAC hazards as well.

How Does Heavy Rain Affect the HVAC System?

A good HVAC system is built to accept brash weather conditions but when there is serious flooding from heavy rainfall damage to your HVAC is likely. Areas such as California where the air is salty can cause corrosion to the components made from metal. Humidity is detrimental to your HVAC system so it can be a problem when moisture gets impaled inside. If you discover that a lot of water is present in your outdoor HVAC unit the first thing to do is to turn it off immediately. So many bad things can happen if you neglect to turn it off such as electrical problems and mold formation. The sad truth is that you may not realize there is an electrical problem until the spring when you attempt to turn your AC on, and it is dead. A good idea would be to install surge protectors for times of lightning during storms.

Covering your unit when it is off may be a good choice for some climates but if there is rain and humidity in your area then wetness can accumulate inside the cover causing condensation that can lead to disintegration of the unit parts. It would also help keep your unit in good working order by having the right drainage around the HVAC unit. This prevents water buildup from storms and snow.

Final Words

No one, not even our sacred weathermen can accurately predict the weather. We have learned these past few months that nothing is for sure, not even rain. Although we had the most beautiful California style weather this autumn, we are paying a hefty price for the sun and blue skies.

Extreme weather takes a toll on your HVAC system, and it is imperative to have it serviced regularly even with that said we must check out for loose twigs and dried leaves that can obstruct a HVAC system from working properly and efficiently. If you notice that your compressor is bogged down by debris, then it would certainly be advisable to call in a reliable technician to get your system ready for the winter. That way when the warm weather appears you will have a system working and not have to call your serviceman when he is up to his neck in service calls.

After having a range of extreme weather, it is vital to check on your AC units for any water damage or debris. In regions known for extreme weather conditions it’s a wise idea to have a total service contract with a yearly or bi yearly maintenance check and also establishing a shiny personal relationship with your HVAC tech. This connection will assure you that he will come when you call. A nice compliment of appreciation, a cold-water bottle and a couple of snacks will establish a friendship that will endure. Then when you call your serviceman, he will not deny your request and say that he has an emergency. Instead, you will be that emergency that others have to wait on.