Most of us know that hail can damage our roofs, siding, cars, and landscaping, but not many people are aware that hail can do serious damage to your outdoor HVAC unit. This is especially true if you live in an area where your AC unit is commonly mounted on the roof where it is totally unprotected from the damaging effects of hail.
When hail strikes the soft metal cooling fins surrounding the condenser coil, it crushes the fins together and impedes the flow of air through the condenser. Your AC unit needs excellent air flow to cool down the hot compressed refrigerant. When air flow is blocked, the air conditioner cannot operate efficiently.
It may need to run longer than normal to achieve the same cooling or it may run constantly without ever reaching the desired cooling level. Your compressor will be working much harder trying to cool your home and it will usually fail within a few months. If your AC unit is damaged by hail, have it checked out by a good HVAC technician.
In some cases, the cooling fins can be repaired by “combing” them until they are nearly straight again. If this procedure fails to fix the problem, you will need a new coil or possibly a whole new outdoor AC unit.
Check with your homeowners insurance policy to see if the hail damaged HVAC unit will be covered under your homeowners insurance. Even if you did not find the problem until months after the hailstorm, call your insurance agent. You may be entitled to a new air conditioner unit.
