How to Protect Your AC from Dust Storms

If you live in Arizona or parts of the desert Southwest, you’ve likely seen or at least heard of a haboob – a massive wall of dust that rolls across the landscape, swallowing everything in its path. A haboob recently swept through Phoenix, causing the city to turn dark in the middle of the day and halting all flights.

While they look like something straight out of a movie, haboobs are very real and can have serious effects on health, visibility, and even your home’s air conditioning system. Let’s break down what haboobs are, why they matter, and how to keep your AC running smoothly before, during, and after one hits.

What Is a Haboob?

The word haboob comes from the Arabic word haab, meaning “wind” or “blow.” These dust storms form when strong downdraft winds from thunderstorms push downward and outward, picking up dirt and debris as they race across the desert floor. What results is a giant wall of dust that can rise thousands of feet high and travel at highway speeds.

Haboobs aren’t unique to Arizona. They’re common in hot, dry regions of the world like the Sahara Desert and the Middle East. In the United States, they mostly occur in the Southwest, particularly in:

• Central and southern Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma)
• New Mexico
• Parts of West Texas
• Occasionally southern California and Nevada

In Arizona alone, dozens of dust storms occur every year. Most haboobs are short-lived, typically lasting anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, though their effects can linger long after the dust settles.

The haboob that hit Phoenix on August 25, 2025, made widespread news as it swept through the city, giving residents the opportunity to capture photos and videos of the weather phenomenon. The dust storm resulted in mass power outages, significant travel disruptions, and downed trees.

Why Are Haboobs Dangerous?

Haboobs can cause several problems, including:

• Reducing visibility to nearly zero, leading to traffic accidents.
• Knocking out power, leaving tens of thousands without electricity.
• Triggering health issues like asthma attacks and respiratory irritation.
• Causing property damage, especially from windblown debris.

Wind speeds can exceed 60 mph, and dust walls can reach heights of 5,000 to 10,000 feet. The combination of wind, dust, and debris makes haboobs a threat you don’t want to underestimate.

Do Haboobs Affect Air Conditioners?

Arizonians rely heavily on air conditioning to combat the relentless summer heat, so it's natural to wonder how haboobs impact system performance. These dust storms can challenge AC units in several ways:

1. Dust Clogs Outdoor Units

Your AC’s outdoor condenser needs clear airflow to function properly. When a haboob blows through, dust and dirt can coat the condenser coils, which can hinder heat exchange. This can lead to higher energy bills, reduced cooling, and potential breakdowns.

2. Filters Get Dirty Fast

The fine dust stirred up by a haboob often finds its way inside your home. That means your AC filters work overtime to catch the extra particles. A clogged filter restricts airflow and can shorten the life of your system.

3. Potential for Overheating or Damage

If your AC is running during a storm, it’s pulling in dusty air. Over time, that grit can build up inside the system, forcing it to work harder than it should and increasing the risk of breakdowns.

Should You Run Your AC During a Dust Storm?

It’s best to turn off your air conditioning system during a haboob. While it may feel inconvenient, shutting your AC down while the storm passes protects the coils, fan motor, and filters from being overwhelmed by dust.

Once the skies clear:

• Check the outdoor unit for visible dirt and debris.
• Gently hose off the condenser fins (with the unit powered off).
• Replace or clean indoor air filters.

This quick cleanup helps your system recover and keeps dust from working its way deeper into the components.

Do You Need to Call a Professional After a Haboob?

Not always – light dust and debris can usually be managed by homeowners with the aforementioned cleaning. But you should call an HVAC professional if you notice:

• Weak airflow from your vents
• Warm air instead of cool air
• Strange noises or smells
• A sudden spike in your energy bills

These can all be signs that dust has severely clogged the coils or filters, which may require professional inspection and cleaning.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Even if your system avoids damage from a haboob, your AC is working long and hard every summer to combat the Arizona heat. That’s why experts recommend AC maintenance at least once a year. During a maintenance visit, a technician will:

• Clean condenser and evaporator coils
• Check refrigerant levels
• Replace or clean filters
• Inspect electrical components
• Ensure your system is running efficiently
• Inspect the AC drain line for clogs or leaks

For those living in dust-prone areas like Phoenix or Tucson, this regular upkeep can extend the life of your system and help avoid costly repairs.

A Dustier Future?

While Arizona and the desert Southwest are the current hotbeds for haboobs, other parts of the U.S. could see dust events increase over time. Changes in land use, drought, and shifting climate patterns can make regions more susceptible to dust storms, just as the Dust Bowl reshaped the Great Plains in the 1930s.

For homeowners in these areas, staying on top of HVAC maintenance will become increasingly important as dustier conditions become more common.