How to Restart Your HVAC After a Power Outage

Power outages are not exclusive to summer storms. Thunder and lightning can still occur during any type of fall or winter precipitation. Snowstorms and blizzards often produce lightning strikes, a phenomenon  known as “thundersnow”. Heavy snow and ice can weigh down power lines eventually causing them to break. Branches from nearby trees can also break from snow and ice damaging power lines as they fall.

There are some things you could go without for a few days during very cold temperatures but heat is not one of them. That’s why you should  know how to restart your HVAC system after a power outage.

Follow these 5 steps and you’ll get your air back on in no time:

Turn off your air conditioner with the thermostat. Yes, this really is as simple as going to your thermostat and switching the setting to “off.” This will keep your thermostat from connecting with the HVAC while you reset your circuit breaker.

Turn your air conditioner off with the circuit breaker. After you turn off the HVAC at the thermostat, you’ll want to go to your circuit breaker. This is usually located in a garage, storage room, or basement. Your circuit breaker box should have a switch for the air conditioner. Set it to “off.”

Flip the HVAC back on at the circuit breaker. After you’ve turned off the circuit breaker, you’ll want to switch it back to “on.” Think of it like restarting your computer after it crashes.

Wait 30 minutes. Give your air conditioner some time to reset after you turn it on. It can take around 30 minutes for the internal circuitry to get back up and running, so wait half an hour before moving to the next step.

Turn the thermostat back on. After you’ve waited for 30 minutes, go to the thermostat and set your system back to “on.” Your HVAC should turn back on successfully. If it does not, that may mean that the system was damaged during the storm.

Contact Bradley Mechanical if Your HVAC Doesn’t Turn On

Our certified technicians can get your HVAC system back up quickly. Being without heat can be very frustrating and even dangerous, especially in the freezing temperatures. We’ll make sure our repair job is thorough and done right the first time so you’ll stay warm.

Is a Generator Right for You?

If the power goes down and stays down — the only way to get it back is with a generator. If you live in an area where you experienced frequent power outages, a generator could be a great investment for your home. They are also a great fail-safe for businesses who don’t want to suffer the financial consequences of closing due to a power outage. At Bradley Mechanical, we carry a variety of generator systems that can help protect you in the event of a major power outage. We sell, repair, and service generators in Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, and throughout Central Virginia.