The Damaging Effects of Salt Water on an Air Conditioner

April 15, 2018

If you live on the coast, salt water is no stranger to you, it’s part of the environment that you’ve grown accustomed to. What you may not be accustomed to are the negative effects of salt water on your home and your home’s major equipment.

Due to being near salt water, homes that are close to the coast can be affected by moisture and sodium chloride in the air. Salt is very corrosive and can break down structural components of a home and quickly penetrate a variety of outdoor equipment, including your air conditioner.

The deposits of sodium chloride left behind can settle inside your air conditioner causing damage that can lead to breakdowns and poor operation. Continuous exposure to these coastal conditions can shorten the life of an air conditioner in addition to raising energy bills.

Air conditioner parts that can become damaged:

• The condenser coil, this is one of the most vulnerable parts of the system.
• The aluminum fins, these can deteriorate quickly when exposed to salt water. The deterioration of these fins can prevent airflow and reduce heat transfer, resulting in inefficient operation and frequent system shutdowns.

Signs of corrosion problems:

• Poor cooling performance
• Icing up of the equipment
• Frequent parts failure

How to keep your air conditioner corrosion free

• Have your air conditioner regularly cleaned and inspected, doing this can prevent many of the problems caused by salt water corrosion.

Coastal living in South Florida has many advantages. Unfortunately, of all the states, Florida has some of the most corrosive environments because corrosion is worst in areas that have high temperatures and high humidity.

If you live in South Florida and are concerned about corrosion hurting your air conditioning system, one of our skilled air conditioning technicians can advise you on the best ways to keep your home’s air conditioning equipment operating at its best.