Many air conditioning repair services in Alpharetta GA have reported that coil corrosion in AC units is one of the most frequent calls for trouble. While many experts working for AC repair companies in Norcross GA recommend that it is prudent to prevent corrosion than to hire a repair service for it.
So, whether it is your central AC repair service in Atlanta GA or College Park GA, as an HVAC system owner you need to know what causes coil corrosion and how you can mitigate it.
There are multiple side effects of AC coil corrosion. Firstly, it leads to the refrigerant or the gas leaking, it affects the warranty of the unit, it can render your entire AC unit irreparable, among other things.
Now since AC coil corrosion is a troublesome situation, one must either buy units with anti-corrosion protection features or should at least know how to prevent it.
What can lead to AC coil corrosion?
An air conditioner is created by assembling several parts together in symmetry including the coil. An AC unit contains coils in both outdoor and indoor units.
The coils are constructed out of high-grade copper that allows the refrigerant to properly circulate and do its job. Now, even though copper is efficient at eliminating heat, but it a reactive metal and hence is susceptible to corrosion by the vapors. This is the general science behind coil corrosion in air conditioners.
The fumes and the aerosols generated by the indoor paints on the walls can lead to coil corrosion in the inside unit. While for the outdoors, the fumes from the cars or the pollutants in the air can hamper the condition of the coil in the outdoor unit.
There are two types of AC coil corrosion:
- Pitting is a result of the coil being exposed to the chlorides or the fluorides
- Formicary deterioration happens when the coil is exposed to either the formic acids or the acetic acids in the fumes
Regardless of the type of AC coil corrosion, it is imperative that you understand how to prevent it so that you do not burden your pocket by hiring repair experts or investing in a new unit from scratch. Read further to know how to prevent this corrosion from occurring in the first place.
How can one prevent the AC coils from corroding?
Now, when it comes to prevention measures, there are several things you can do. But let’s stick to the basics first. Firstly, the coil should be covered by a protective layer or protective coating. This protective layer should prevent corrosion in the early years. The elements in the protective layer prevent the accumulation of materials that eat the copper.
Even though you do not want to burden your pocket with the maintenance since HVAC installation is already quite expensive, it is important to get the cleaning done by a professional at least once every year. DIY cleaning of the AC coils can do more damage to your HVAC leading to further expenses.
On the other hand, the outdoor unit is easily accessible and you can do its cleaning all by yourself. To ensure that AC coils in the outdoor unit do not corrode, you must thoroughly clean it at least twice every year.
Here are the easy steps through which you can clean your outdoor unit:
- Switch off the main power supply to the outdoor unit for safety purposes
- Then unhook the side panels and the panel on the top of the outdoor unit
- Using a hose spray, spray the condenser unit inside to clean it
- Allow the moisture to leave from the coils before attaching the side and the top panels
