What to Check on Your Air Conditioner After a Typhoon?

How a Typhoon Can Affect an Air Conditioner

Strong winds can loosen or shift the outdoor unit's bracket — particularly for split-unit outdoor units mounted on external walls or at height, and for window unit support brackets. Heavy typhoon rainfall can also allow large amounts of water to enter the outdoor unit. Outdoor units are designed to resist weather, but extreme rainfall may still cause water ingress.

On the indoor side, if window seals are poor or windows are damaged during the typhoon, rainwater may enter through gaps around window units or along the refrigerant pipe entry points of split units, affecting components and walls. Voltage fluctuations during a typhoon can also affect electronic control boards.

Step-by-Step Outdoor Unit Inspection After a Typhoon

Once the typhoon signal has been lowered and conditions are safe, visually inspect the outdoor unit from a safe position indoors — through a window or from a safe vantage point. Important: if going outdoors or to a high position is necessary to inspect the unit, ensure the ground is safe, there are no hanging objects and strong winds have fully subsided. If in any doubt, have a technician assess instead.

What to look for: whether the bracket and fixing bolts have shifted or come loose; obvious impact damage or deformation to the unit body; foreign objects (branches, debris) blocking the front discharge grille. If obvious structural damage is found, do not attempt to switch on — arrange a professional assessment first.

If the outdoor unit has taken in water during the typhoon, electrical components inside may be damp, creating a short-circuit risk when powered on. If water ingress is suspected, allow the unit to dry naturally in a ventilated environment for at least 24–48 hours, or have a technician confirm it is safe before switching on.

Indoor Unit and Power Supply Inspection

Check the area around the indoor unit's outlet and the unit body for standing water or water marks. Confirm whether any rainwater has come in through window gaps and entered the unit. If there is water near the indoor unit, absorb it with a dry cloth first, identify the source (wall, window ledge or unit itself), then decide whether professional attention is needed.

Inspect the air conditioner's power plug and socket for signs of water ingress or scorching. If the power point may have been exposed to moisture, switch off the relevant circuit breaker and allow the electrical components to dry completely. Only reconnect after a qualified electrician has confirmed it is safe.

For window units, inspect the seal between the unit body and the window frame. Strong typhoon winds can dislodge sealant material; if there are obvious gaps, repair them promptly to prevent rainwater from entering again next time.

Startup Test and Follow-Up

Only attempt to switch the unit on after all the above checks show nothing abnormal. After switching on, observe for 5–10 minutes: does the unit start normally? Are there unusual sounds? Is airflow normal? Is there unusual vibration from the outdoor unit?

If the unit runs abnormally, produces a burning smell or makes unusual sounds after switching on, switch it off immediately and do not continue using it. After a typhoon signal is lowered, technicians may be busy and require a wait; if you notice a problem, note it (take photos if you can do so safely) to facilitate subsequent communication.

Pre-Startup Inspection Checklist After a Typhoon

• Confirm the weather has stabilised and it is safe before carrying out any outdoor observation
• Visually inspect whether the outdoor unit bracket and body have shifted or suffered obvious damage
• Remove any foreign objects and debris from around the outdoor unit's outlet
• Check the indoor unit and nearby walls for water marks or standing water
• Confirm the power plug and socket show no signs of water ingress
• If water ingress is suspected, wait for adequate drying — or have a technician confirm — before switching on
• After switching on, observe for 5–10 minutes to confirm normal operation

Frequently asked questions