Georgetown sees hail storms, flash flooding, and lightning strikes that damage HVAC equipment. Restarting flooded or physically damaged equipment before inspection can cause additional damage and void manufacturer warranties. We provide thorough post-storm assessments with insurance documentation. A storm-driven leak that leaves water pooling under the indoor unit deserves the same urgency as a mechanical failure, since standing water spreads damage by the hour.
Do not restart flooded equipment under any circumstances
Document damage with photos before any cleanup for insurance
Check for visible hail damage to condenser fins (dimpled appearance)
Check disconnect box for water intrusion before any power-up
Call your insurance company to open a claim, then call us for inspection
Common Storm-Related HVAC Damage in Williamson County
Central Texas storms hit HVAC equipment through three distinct mechanisms, and telling them apart matters for both the repair and the insurance claim. Hail bends or crushes the thin aluminum fins on the outdoor condenser coil, and while a light dusting of bent fins is mostly cosmetic, heavy fin collapse chokes airflow across the coil and forces the compressor to run hotter and longer than it was designed for. Wind-driven debris, branches, loose fencing material, gravel from a roof, can dent the cabinet or puncture the coil outright, causing a refrigerant leak that will not show up until the system stops cooling days later. Lightning is the least visible and often the most expensive: a nearby strike induces a voltage surge on the buried power line running to the outdoor unit, and that surge can destroy a control board or compressor without leaving a mark anywhere on the equipment.
We inspect for all three on every storm-damage call, not just the one the homeowner noticed, since Georgetown storms frequently produce hail, wind, and lightning in the same system. Every inspection includes dated photos of the specific damage found, which is the documentation most Williamson County insurance adjusters ask for when processing an HVAC claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inspect the outdoor condenser unit visually before restarting. Crushed or heavily dented condenser fins reduce efficiency dramatically and can cause the unit to overheat. Deep fin damage can also affect coil tubing integrity. We recommend a post-hail inspection before operating the system. We document all damage with photos for insurance claims.
Never restart flooded HVAC equipment. Water in an air handler or furnace can damage electrical components, control boards, and in gas furnaces create carbon monoxide risk if the heat exchanger is compromised. We perform a complete flood damage assessment, determine what can be dried and restored vs. what must be replaced, and provide insurance documentation.
Most Georgetown homeowner's policies cover sudden, accidental damage from storms, hail, wind, and lightning are typically covered perils. Flood damage from storm surge may require separate flood coverage. We provide detailed written assessments with photos that support insurance claims. We don't do 'storm chasing', we document honestly what we find.
Yes. A nearby strike can send a voltage surge through the buried electrical line to the outdoor unit, frying the control board, capacitor, or compressor windings without ever touching the equipment directly. This is the most common storm-damage claim we see after a Central Texas thunderstorm, and it often shows up as a unit that simply will not start rather than visible physical damage.
Within 24 to 48 hours if you noticed hail, high wind, or a nearby lightning strike, even if the system still seems to run. Fin damage and surge damage both worsen with continued operation, and an early inspection also produces a cleaner insurance record tying the damage to that specific storm date.