Your HVAC system has two sets of coils, and both are subject to corrosion from a variety of factors. Corrosion on coils can result in pinprick leaks and loss of refrigerant. Leaking refrigerant will prevent your air conditioner from cooling properly, resulting in discomfort and inefficiency, and could even damage the equipment.
Here’s some advice every homeowner should know about preventing coil corrosion.
How Does Coil Corrosion Occur?
Your coils are the part of your air conditioner through which refrigerant travels, and where the exchange of heat occurs. They are located inside your HVAC cabinet, and outdoors in your compressor.
Pitting in the coils can be caused by fluoride in the municipal water supply, from salt spray, chloride in cleaners or in air pollution, or may occur from exposure to formic or acetic acid in insulation, adhesives, cleaning solvents, paints, plywood and other materials. This latter type of corrosion may show itself as a blue-gray or black deposit, which causes tunnels in the tubing. A type of Chinese drywall installed between 2004 and 2007 has been found to cause corrosion by emitting sulfur compounds. It is also a health concern.
The end result of all these types of corrosion is pinholes that can allow refrigerant to leak.
HVAC systems in buildings located near pools, laundry facilities, in highly polluted areas and near water treatment plants are particularly at risk.
What to Do About Coil Corrosion
These days, HVAC equipment may be coated with any of a variety of substances to prevent corrosion before it is installed.
Otherwise, your HVAC technician should examine your coils during preventative maintenance to make sure they are corrosion-free. If corrosion is found and coils have to be replaced, the technician may apply after-market coatings to alleviate the problem on the new equipment.
The HVAC technician should also look at the home environment, eliminating any factors leading to coil corrosion, such as storing of cleaning solvents near the return air duct. Installing fresh air ventilation in the home can also help.
For more on preventing coil corrosion, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning of Lorain.
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 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