Can I use the air conditioner during red rain? First check for water ingress, power supply, and abnormal unit conditions
Contents
A red rainstorm warning alone does not determine whether a particular air conditioner is safe to use. If water ingress, burning smell, unusual noise, tripping, loose parts, or nearby flooding occurs, stop using it; do not repeatedly switch it on to test it just because it has smart or protection modes.
What does the red rain warning mean?
A Red Rainstorm Warning from the Hong Kong Observatory means that heavy rain exceeding 50 mm per hour has been recorded or is expected in a wide area of Hong Kong, and the rain may continue. The rainfall threshold is only a guideline for issuing the warning; it does not mean every location has the same rainfall, and it is not a safety standard for air-conditioning equipment.
If there is an abnormality, stop using it first; do not use modes as a substitute for inspection
Only observe from a safe indoor position. Do not touch a wet machine, wet socket, or nearby electrical switch near water ingress. If it cannot be safely isolated, let the appropriate person handle it. Do not rely on automatic mode or the age of a new unit as proof of safety; arrange an inspection first if water ingress is suspected.
Do not open the window in the rain and lean out, or go outside to cover the unit.
Ventilation must be based on the weather, rain and safety conditions at the time. Do not let rainwater blow into the equipment just to dry out moisture. Do not go outside to fit a cover, lean out to touch brackets, or cover an operating air conditioner. Wait until conditions are safe before arranging an inspection, and follow the latest official weather guidance.
Related reading and services
- Related service scope and current charges
- Back to AC encyclopedia
- Hong Kong Observatory: Definition of the Red Rainstorm Warning and Notes
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