How Ocean Air effects Beach Air Conditioners

Coastal homeowners need to consider the type of air conditioner which is being installed to prevent air conditioning corrosion. Living near the shore can negatively impact an air conditioning unit which people often are unaware of. Here at Aircon Hyper we work in South Africa and have handled multiple aircon corrosion issues in places near the beach. Our installers are here to help any person who needs corrosion resolved or advice on suggested aircons.

Air conditioning systems located in homes near the beach are more likely to face air conditioning corrosion issues. As the salt air can cause corrosion purchasing aircons with corrosion protections and coastal warranties is needed. Regular air conditioning maintenance and installing it in the right location are important for protecting the air conditioner from corrosion.

Corrosion With Air Conditioners

There are three main types of corrosion which can develop in an air conditioner. They often occur within the coils or the outside unit, but corrosion can appear anywhere else. Here are the three more common types of corrosion beach homes can experience with their air conditioners:

Formicary Corrosion – this type of corrosion has tiny holes appear on the surface of copper tubes. These are not visible to the human eye which means they are often undetected or unknown. This corrosion can cause the system to break and have the refrigerant function be broken

Pitting Corrosion – corrosion of this kind is visible to people and larger holes form. This can also cause serious issues which is why handling the corrosion early is needed

Case Corrosion – when the case, or outdoor unit, is exposed to too much salt it will become corroded. If the system is not protected properly then the case will become ruined and the system will fail to work

An Air Conditioning Repair will be needed to resolve the corrosion issues. These can be expensive which is why placing the needed step to prevent corrosion is important.

Specific Factors Of Coastal Aircons

When deciding on the specific air conditioner to install within a coastal home they should include:

The components of the heating or cooling system should be coated with polymer materials. These protect all the parts of the aircon from weather conditioner and helps prevent corrosion starting.

The external case of the system should have an anti-corrosion treatment to stop salty air ruining the unit Condenser coils should be built with a coil corrosion protector, or an armour-plate to resist corrosion.

There should be a corrosion warranty for air conditioning systems which are installed near the coast.

To find out if the air conditioner has these factors, the manual will provide all the details. Additionally, looking at reviews can help influence if other people have had any issues or successes with the unit. Using an air conditioner which is built and designed to resist corrosion will help keep it healthy for longer.

Advice With Air Conditioners In Coastal Environments

There are many different factors and decisions a person should consider when installing an air conditioner into a beach home. As corrosion is more likely to happen because of salty air and other environmental factors the aircon needs to be protected.

Bluchem Coil Treatment

Bluchem fills a niche requirement for a high quality anti-corrosion coating that offers real value for money and quick turn-around times. Bluchem’s Clear Panel Protection is a Clear acrylic water borne product based on high-quality hydroxy-acrylic dispersions based anti-corrosion system. The coating offers excellent protection against corrosion and weathering and is ideally suited for use over metal substrates in demanding environmental conditions. The clear coating means that the original colour of the unit is preserved. Coating thickness is approx 50 microns.

Bluchem’s Marine Panel Protection is a multiple coating option consisting of an initial layer of BluGuard Anti-Corrosion Primer, an intermediate coat of high solids epoxy, and then a finish coat of a chemical resistant polyurethane. This multi-coat application is suitable for the harshest corrosive environments, such as oil rigs, chemical plants and oil refineries, or equipment located at the sea. Coating thickness can range from 100 – 300 microns Dry Film Thickness, dependent on customer requirements.

Benefits Of Bluchem Treatment

– Extends lifetime of panels & cabinetry
– Excellent weatherability
– Abrasion resistant
– Maintains colour and gloss
– Flexible to withstand temperature fluctuations

Bluchem offers a two (2) year warranty on the Clear and up to five (5) years warranty on the Marine panel coating (from the date of application) if applied by Bluchem and the required maintenance and cleaning requirements are met. Panels should be washed clean using water only or Bluchem approved non-acid based neutral PH diluted soapy solutions once every three (3) months during routine maintenance.

Correct Location Of The Aircon

Air conditioners located near the shore need to be serviced more often than other systems. An Air Conditioning Service will need to be booked with an approved Aircon Hyper Installer to inspect the systems for any defects. The specialist will clean the system and ensure that the salt is rinsed off the unit. The condenser coil will be cleaned, as well as remove any building corrosion.

Doing some own maintenance is advised which includes spraying the water regularly to remove salt and sand. This includes the coils and fins where corrosion happens more commonly. Seeking the help of a professional first to see what to do regularly is important.

Regular Air Conditioning Maintenance

Air conditioners located near the shore need to be serviced more often than other systems. An Air Conditioning Service will need to be booked with an approved Aircon Hyper Installer to inspect the systems for any defects. The specialist will clean the system and ensure that the salt is rinsed off the unit. The condenser coil will be cleaned, as well as remove any building corrosion.

Doing some own maintenance is advised which includes spraying the water regularly to remove salt and sand. This includes the coils and fins where corrosion happens more commonly. Seeking the help of a professional first to see what to do regularly is important.

Undergoing both professional and basic maintenance will increase the lifespan and efficiency of the aircon. Also, it will help prevent corrosion from developing and causing equipment failures from happening.

Air Conditioning Efficiency And Filters

It is important to have an air conditioner which is more energy efficient, especially within coastal areas. This is to save money on energy costs and the system will last longer. It will cost less to run and still work effectively to keep the air cool.

Additionally, replacing and cleaning the filters when needed of an air conditioner will keep it from breaking. Within regular maintenance, having the filter healthy will also keep corrosion away. A healthy filter will also assist with keeping the system efficient and remove corrosive elements from the air.

Professional Aircon Corrosion Repairs

Here at RF Refrigeration & Airconditioning our technicians are fully qualified and understand how to work on corroded air conditioners. They have resolved aircon corrosion in many beach homes. Our technicians will ensure that the issues are repaired correctly and the system is handled safely.

Also, our team provides useful advice on how to maintain the system’s health and keep it from corroding. Performing service as well, we have all air conditioners properly inspected and cleaned. Want more info or need a quotation? Send us an email on admin@rfra.co.za