What to do with your AC when FPL cuts the power

Published: 2026-10-14 · By Equipo Kendall AC Repairs

In Kendall the power goes out more than we'd like: summer thunderstorms, a transformer that fails in the heat, FPL work in the area. Almost every unit handles an outage fine; the damage comes when the power returns badly, when the AC is switched on too soon, or when someone tries to run it on a generator that can't handle it. Here's what to do, in order.

As soon as the power goes out: turn the AC off

Set the thermostat to OFF and, if you can, also switch off the AC breaker in the electrical panel (usually a double breaker of 30 to 60 amps, sometimes labeled "AC" or "A/C"). Why? When FPL restores service, the power often comes back with surges and flickers for a few minutes. If the AC is waiting in the ON position, the compressor tries to start at the worst possible moment. That's the most common cause of burned capacitors and damaged control boards after an outage.

While the power is out

• Keep windows and blinds closed during the day: the house stays cool for several hours if the sun doesn't get in.
• Open up at night only if the humidity allows it.
• If you have a wall unit (mini split), turn it off at its switch too.
• Keep a flashlight handy to check the electrical panel afterwards.

When the power comes back: wait 5 minutes

Don't turn the AC on the moment the lights come back. Wait at least 5 minutes for the power to be stable (no flickering). Then, in this order:

• Flip the AC breaker back on if you turned it off.
• Wait another 2 or 3 minutes: modern units have a start delay to protect the compressor.
• Set the thermostat to COOL at your usual temperature. Don't drop it to 65°F "so it cools faster": it doesn't cool any faster, it just runs longer.
• Go outside and confirm the outdoor fan is spinning and the air coming out of the top is warm. That means the compressor is working.

If the AC won't start after the outage

Check these before calling anyone:

• The breaker. If it's in the middle (neither ON nor OFF), it tripped. Push it fully off and then on, once. If it trips again, don't keep trying: there's an electrical problem and you need a technician.
• The outdoor disconnect. Next to the outdoor unit there's a gray box with a lever or a pull-out block; sometimes it gets left OFF or moved by the wind.
• The thermostat. If the screen is blank, change the batteries or check that the air handler breaker (the indoor unit) is on.
• The condensate pan. Many units have a float switch that shuts the AC off if the pan fills with water. After extreme humidity during an outage, it may have filled up.
• The noise. If the outdoor unit hums but the fan doesn't spin, it's usually the capacitor. It's a cheap part, but replacing it on a live unit is dangerous: call a technician.

Generators: what almost nobody tells you

A 3,000 to 5,000-watt portable generator will not run a central AC. The compressor draws several times its normal current on startup and the generator stalls or, worse, sends dirty power to the unit. With a small generator you can keep the fridge, lights and a window unit or a small mini split going. A central AC needs a 10,000-watt generator or more, or a standby generator installed by a licensed electrician with a county permit.

After a big storm

If the outage was caused by a hurricane or tropical storm, before turning the AC on check that the outdoor unit has no standing water, no branches inside and no dents in the casing. If it was under water, don't turn it on: the motor and connections need to be checked first. We have a full guide on what to do with your AC before and after a hurricane.

So the next outage doesn't cost you a repair

• Install an AC surge protector at the outdoor unit. A technician fits it in under an hour and it protects the board and the compressor.
• If your unit is old and the power drops often on your street, a hard start kit softens the jolt of every startup.
• Write down where the AC breaker and the outdoor disconnect are; you'll be glad you did during a nighttime outage.

If you've checked everything and the AC still won't start, call us and we'll connect you today with a Florida-licensed technician in Kendall.