Living in the Coastal Bend, having your A/C checked for corrosion is vital to smooth operation. Air with a high chloride content, as you will find in any coastal environment, is hard on metal surfaces, causing pitting and corrosion. As the summer heat begins to taper off is the best time to have your A/C checked for corrosion and serviced professionally.
Use the Rinse Cycle
The easiest way to avoid corrosion is to have your A/C checked for corrosion annually, and keep the pipes and coil clean in between. Since sodium chloride, salt, will dissolve in water, rinsing the coil and exposed pipes regularly will reduce the salt build up. The problem is that you will have to rinse the coil regularly to prevent corrosion, and once corrosion begins, there is not much you do about it other than replacing the HVAC unit or at least the damaged components.
Coatings for Added Protection
There are a variety of protectorants that can be applied to coils and pipes to inhibit corrosion. Some of these can be applied by the homeowner, but others require a technician or even sending the parts to a coating facility. In the long run, a professional coating will be more consistent and last longer.
Corrosion Destroys Efficiency
Small amounts of corrosion will cause damage over time. And even with the best of care, your HVAC unit is only designed to last for about 10 to 12 years. If your unit is getting close to that, it may be more cost effective to replace the unit with one which meets the new federal efficiency standards than to patch up an outdated system. While you are having your A/C checked for corrosion, talk to the technician about the benefits of upgrading.
If you live in or near Corpus Christi, Mathews CCAC Heating and Air Conditioning would be happy to stop by when you need your A/C checked for corrosion or given an annual servicing. When the time to replace your old unit draws near, call or contact us to get a free estimate.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C corrosion and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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