Published May 1, 2026 Boling-Iago, TX
Hurricane season in the Gulf runs June 1 through November 30. For homeowners in Wharton, Matagorda, and Brazoria Counties, that's six months where any week could deliver a named storm. Hunter's Air & Heat services both HVAC and roofing in this stretch of coastal Texas, which means we see the full picture of storm damage and what could have been prevented. Here's the prep work to do before, during, and after a storm, with the order of operations that actually matters.
Before the storm: HVAC checklist
- Photograph the outdoor condenser and indoor air handler. Date-stamped photos before any storm are your insurance claim's best friend. Get the model and serial number tag in at least one shot.
- Cover the outdoor condenser with a hail-rated cover or plywood (only if you have time). Do not wrap the unit in a tarp that traps moisture; vented covers designed for AC condensers are the right product. Texas Department of Insurance storm-prep guidance covers what insurers expect to see.
- Shut off the AC at the breaker before any expected flooding. Refrigerant lines are sealed, but the electrical panel on the condenser and the air handler aren't. Power off prevents shorts when water reaches energized components.
- Strap or secure the outdoor condenser. Hurricane straps anchored to the concrete pad are the standard. If your unit isn't strapped, a 100+ mph wind can tip or roll it; a tipped condenser typically becomes a total loss.
- Replace the air filter. Pre-storm, a clean filter helps the system recover faster after power restoration.
Before the storm: roofing checklist
- Photograph the roof condition. Drone shots or ladder shots from each elevation, with date stamps. Insurance adjusters compare pre-loss and post-loss photos.
- Tarp known weak spots. If you already have lifted shingles, missing flashing, or a soft spot in the deck, get them tarped before the storm. Hunter's offers emergency tarp service.
- Clear gutters and downspouts. Backed-up gutters drive water under the shingles and into the deck. This is one of the most common causes of post-storm interior leaks.
- Trim limbs over the roofline. A pre-storm tree-trim is cheaper than a post-storm tree-on-roof.
- Document the inside. Photos of attic ceilings, drywall conditions, and any pre-existing water staining help separate storm damage from older issues during a claim.
During the storm
Don't run the AC during the height of the storm if flooding is possible at the condenser pad or the air handler. Power surges from utility-grid switching can damage compressors and control boards even before water arrives. If you've shut the system off at the breaker pre-storm, leave it off until you can verify the equipment is dry and the area is safe.
After the storm: order of operations
The right order saves money and prevents secondary damage:
- Roof first. If the roof is breached, water keeps coming in. Get a tarp on the breach the same day. Hunter's roofing crew runs emergency tarp calls in our service area.
- HVAC inspection second, before restart. Don't restart a system that was exposed to flood water or wind-driven rain until a tech inspects the air handler and condenser. Common storm damage we find: water in the blower compartment, control board corrosion, refrigerant leaks from a tipped or struck condenser, debris in the coil.
- Document everything. Before any repairs are made, photograph all damage. TDI's hurricane claims guide walks through documentation requirements.
- File the claim. Most policies require notice within a defined window (often 30 days, sometimes shorter). Don't delay.
- Get repair estimates from a licensed Texas contractor. Insurance adjusters need an itemized estimate to settle. Hunter's provides written estimates that are formatted for direct submission.
A note on flood-damaged AC units
If your outdoor condenser or indoor air handler was submerged, even partially, a refrigerant top-off is not a fix. Flooded compressors and electrical components have a high failure rate within weeks of restart, and most major manufacturers explicitly void the warranty on flood-damaged equipment. We've seen the pattern more than once: a unit gets a quick recharge after a hurricane, runs fine for two weeks, then fails completely. The lasting fix on a flood-damaged system is replacement, not refrigerant. We tell customers this upfront so they're not paying twice.
Coordinating HVAC and roofing on one claim
One of the harder parts of a major storm claim is coordinating two trades, often two separate adjusters, sometimes two separate policies (homeowner's vs. windstorm). Hunter's offers both services, so we can:
- Inspect both systems on the same site visit
- Provide one combined estimate or two estimates formatted for separate adjusters, depending on what your carrier requires
- Sequence the work so the roof is dried-in before HVAC restoration begins (otherwise water keeps reaching the equipment)
- Communicate directly with adjusters when needed
For more on what we handle on the insurance side, see our insurance claims page.
Hurricane history in our service area
Wharton, Matagorda, and Brazoria Counties have taken direct or near-direct hits from a long list of named storms. NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks tool lets homeowners view storm tracks for any property. The point isn't to alarm anyone; it's that storm prep should be part of the calendar in this part of Texas, not a scramble when a forecast cone shows up.
After-hours emergency service
Storm damage doesn't wait for business hours. Hunter's runs emergency HVAC and roofing calls during and after named storms across our service area: Boling-Iago, East Bernard, El Campo, Wharton, West Columbia, Bay City, Matagorda, Sargent, Needville, Damon, Fairchilds, Guy, Richmond, Rosenberg, and Van Vleck.
Emergency line: (979) 532-1707.
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