Hurricane Season HVAC Recovery - What Contractors Need
After a Houston-area hurricane, HVAC service calls surge. Here's the refrigerant and equipment prep that matters for the first 30 days post-storm.
If you're an HVAC contractor in Houston, your service volume spikes immediately after every named storm. Condensers submerged, indoor units with moisture intrusion, refrigerant leaks on damaged line sets. Being prepared for that spike - with stocked refrigerant, functioning recovery equipment, and proper hazard protocols - is the difference between a three-week recovery-call backlog and getting your customers comfortable again in the first week.
Pre-storm stock
The 48 hours before a hurricane landfall is not when to order more cylinders - supply chains tighten, everything slows. By June 1 every year, our contractor accounts have:
- Storm stock: 25–50% above normal refrigerant inventory across R-410A, R-22, R-134A
- Fuel cans: recovery pumps and compressors run on generator during outages
- Backup tools: spare leak detector, spare scale
- Paper invoices: when the network is down, you still need to bill
Post-storm priority
- Flooded condensers: total loss, replace - don't attempt restart
- Line-set damage: recover the remaining refrigerant, pressure test, replace line set section
- Moisture intrusion: evaporator and condenser both require deep evacuation and multiple filter-drier changes
- Electrical: verify breaker, contactor, and capacitor condition before re-energizing
- EPA reporting: intentional release is prohibited; recovered refrigerant from damaged systems should be reclaimed
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