Bushfires, a natural yet formidable part of the Australian landscape, can pose an imminent threat to residences, as seen during the 2003 Canberra bushfires. In such scenarios, a critical aspect often overlooked is the influence of “Evaporative Cooling and Bushfire Smoke.”
Evaporative cooling units, which are commonly used in many homes, tend to malfunction during bushfires. The air becomes too dry and laden with dust for these units to operate efficiently, leading to potential discomfort or even hazards for the residents.
In this blog post, Landmark Air Canberra will discuss how you can prepare your Evaporative cooling unit during a bushfire.
Why Do You Need to Prepare Your Unit?
A flammable cellulose substance is used in the evaporative cooler’s filter pads. Sparks and embers from the air can ignite evaporative cooling systems, as can embers that drop on dry filter pads.
The flames spread from the roof to the remainder of the home when the dry filters catch fire. Even for experienced firefighters, putting out fires that start in evaporative air conditioners is a challenging task. Before the entire structure falls into the building, the fire burns through the dry ceiling planks.
As a result, the entire structure might catch fire, resulting in catastrophic damage or destruction.
In ablaze, the wind may carry embers and hot ash many kilometres in advance, which can cause significant damage. Even if you’re not directly in the path of a blaze, flying, hot debris pose a fire hazard to your property.
During a Fire Weather Day with a very high Fire Danger Rating, your home is especially exposed since power providers frequently cut the electricity.
The possibility of a fire spreading through power lines is eliminated when the power is off during major fires. However, it causes power shortages and long delays.
The evaporative air conditioning unit can’t be used to keep the filter pads moist during power outages. A dry filter pad on an evaporative unit leaves your property open to an ember attack.
If you are looking for professionals to help with your Evaporative cooling unit, Landmark Air Canberra can help. We offer excellent services to ensure your Evaporative cooling unit is prepared for bushfires.
How to Prepare Your Evaporative Cooling Unit?
If you find yourself in a scenario where you need to prepare for a bushfire, here’s what you should do with your air conditioner if your home has an evaporative air conditioner. You must proceed with caution since they are prone to ember assaults. When you notice the first traces of wildfire smoke, you should:
- Turn Off the Evaporative Cooler.
If the home is enveloped in smoke or scorching, ash begins to fall around it. This prevents the device from drawing in smoke, hot ash, and embers. It is not recommended to defend your home during a wildfire; fleeing is always the safer option. Only do this if you have no other choice but to stay.
Landmark Air Canberra offers Evaporative cooling services to prepare your Evaporative air conditioning unit.
- Maintain the Wetness of the Filter Pads.
Allow the device to stream water over the filter pads when the fan is turned off. Wet the filter pads with a garden hose if the power goes out or your unit can’t run the water.
Monitor the units and the surrounding area for spotfires until the threat of an ember assault has passed.
Contact Us
We guarantee no needless repairs or part replacements, or we’ll return your money in full and let you retain the parts. Please contact us if you ever have a heating or cooling problem. Even if you have an unrelated household problem, don’t hesitate to phone us — there’s a high chance we can assist you or know a dependable, hardworking local who can.
During business hours, call (02) 6189 2972 to talk with a member of our courteous team.
