Challenge – $32,000 In Air Conditioner Damage from Spring Storms
The National Weather Service said that supercell thunderstorms are dangerous storms that can last for hours. “They are responsible for nearly all of the significant tornadoes produced in the U.S. and for most of the hailstones larger than golf ball size.” Unfortunately many states are currently being blasted by high winds, hail and tornadoes throughout a violent spring storm season that will lead into a hot, steamy summer when air conditioning units are critical. Hail storms flatten fins and impair operation with reduced air flow, strained motors / compressors and raised power consumption. Thousands of energy dollars and fin replacement dollars are being wasted by budget strapped school districts that are already struggling with reduced state funding to keep their doors open and their teachers benefits and educational programs running smoothly.
Solution – HailStop Hail Guard Netting Makes A Difference
Two small midwest towns, located in southern Illinois, saw the difference between having their rooftop air conditioning system with and without hail guard protective netting. The larger of the neighboring school districts had installed HailStop hail guard netting a month earlier. During one of the many violent spring storms, the district was bombarded with 3″ hail stones. The rooftops suffered minimal hail damage. The second school district did not have any type of hail guard protection on their rooftop air conditioning fins when they were recently hit with massive thunderstorms that delivered 1/2″-3/4″ hail stones and damaging winds. Their rooftop air conditioning fins were destroyed and completely flattened. Replacing the air conditioning fins for the second school district cost them $32,000.
Many school districts are facing school closures, teacher layoffs, pay freezes and education program cuts due to the lack of state funding from reductions in property assessments and tax revenue. Hail stone damage to air conditioning units and a $32,000 cost to replace damaged fins could have been avoided by taking cost effective preventative measures. HailStop cut-to-fit hail guard netting is lightweight and easy to install with our unique mount clips. Netting can be used alone as hail guard or layered behind PreVent Equipment Protection Filters (to catch debris like cottonwood) for added air intake protection.
