Since Lorain sits along freshwater Lake Erie, you might think that you don’t have to worry about coil corrosion. Even though your outdoor unit isn’t exposed to corrosive salt air, your indoor evaporator coil can still start to corrode over time. To protect your costly HVAC system, it’s important to understand what causes corrosion and how to prevent it.
Why Does an Indoor Coil Corrode?
Deterioration of an indoor evaporator coil is most often caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air supply. You might already know how VOCs can degrade your indoor air quality, but you may not realize that they oxidize into formic or acetic acid on your HVAC system’s coil, which eat away at the metal and create tiny pinholes.
Effects of a Corroded HVAC Coil
Damage from a corroded coil typically causes a drop in system efficiency and conditioned air output, which results in a rise in energy consumption, an increase in your utility bills, and problems maintaining comfort in your home. If you’re experiencing these issues, have an HVAC professional check the condition of your indoor coil.
Tips to Avoid Corrosion
If a pro finds that your HVAC performance issues are caused by a loss of refrigerant through pinholes in a corroded coil, your only options are replacing the coil or the equipment. However, there are steps you can take now to prevent corrosion:
- Keep your system well maintained with regular preventive care. A skilled technician should clean the coil using a product designed to neutralize acid and prevent deterioration of the metal.
- Ventilate your home. The goal is to get rid of stale, VOC-laden air and bring in fresher outdoor. To do so effectively during heating season, consider having a mechanical ventilation system installed, such as a heat recovery ventilator (HRV).
- Add an air cleaner to the HVAC system. There are various types available, so ask your HVAC contractor about the best one to improve air quality by removing VOCs.
For solutions to help prevent coil corrosion in the HVAC system in your Lorain-area home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about coil corrosion and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area