The sea breeze is lovely for people and harsh for equipment. Salt in the air settles on an air conditioner’s outdoor coil, fins, fasteners and electrical parts, and in humid air it speeds up corrosion. Homes and condos on the barrier islands and along the Intracoastal Waterway see this most, but salt can travel inland too.
What corrosion does
- It eats through the thin aluminum fins and copper tubing of the coil
- It can cause refrigerant leaks, which are expensive to repair
- It corrodes electrical connections and fasteners
- It lowers efficiency and shortens the life of the system
Warning signs
- White, powdery residue or discoloration on the coil
- Rust on the cabinet, screws or the base
- Fins that crumble or flake away
- Oily spots on refrigerant lines, which can mean a leak
- A system that has needed repeated refrigerant repairs
How to slow it down
- Rinse the coil. Have a technician clean it with the right method. Using a high-pressure hose yourself can bend the fins.
- Inspect it twice a year. Corrosion caught early costs far less.
- Ask about protective coatings. Some coatings are applied to the coil to resist corrosion. They are not a cure-all, so ask what to expect for your equipment and location.
- Keep the unit clear of sand, debris and plants.
- Consider coastal-rated equipment if you are replacing a system on the water.
How we help
Our Comfort Club visits include coil inspection and cleaning, and for coastal members we pay extra attention to corrosion. Read more on our maintenance plan page, or see what we do in coastal communities such as Highland Beach, Ocean Ridge and Juno Beach.