The salty sea air is part of the attraction of living on an island or near the coastline, but it’s really tough on exposed metal, especially the components of your air conditioner condenser or heat pump.
How Salt Affects Your Heating and Cooling Appliance(s)
- Shortened Appliance Life
Salt corrosion can cause your air conditioner/heat pump to break down and wear out much earlier than it may in a different climate. The aluminum fins can even begin to disintegrate, copper can be stripped and the condenser coil break down so that the system struggles to transfer heat. Pressure can build up in the A/C unit, causing it to shut down periodically at the most inconvenient moments. - Higher Electric Bills
Because the salt air’s damage causes your equipment to not run the way it was designed, it works less efficiently. And an inefficient appliance costs more to run, especially in energy and your electric bill. Not only does it draw more energy to operate, but it will operate more often to make up for its reduced ability to hold moisture and properly cool the air. - More Maintenance and Emergency Service Calls
Ongoing salt damage will mean more phone calls for air conditioning repair, and early replacement of parts, components, and even entire systems. If your air conditioner/heat pump is designed to last a decade or more, but has its life cut to half (or even a third, in severe cases), then your out-of-pocket costs will grow greatly.
Solutions for Protecting Your A/C from Salt Damage
- Cleaning and salt removal
If your unit is new or mid-life, then replacing may not be an option right now, but at a minimum, cleaning, maintenance, and salt removal are important to prolong the life of your air conditioner or heat pump. - Replacing parts
You can replace damaged parts or upgrade to different or treated materials. - Have a salt-protection kit added to your existing unit
If available from your air conditioner’s manufacturer, you can add on a salt-protection kit to minimize future damage. Trane offers a Sea Coast Kit for this purpose. - Buy a unit with a coated coil to protect from salt corrosion
Carrier-Bryant offers this type of air conditioner, and it’s a great fit for our region of Florida. The coated coil protects from salt corrosion, but also other contaminants that may eat away at the components of the condenser and exterior unit. The coated system is a great investment to prolong the life of the air conditioner/heat pump, which is already a significant investment. - Check your warranty
Review your air conditioner/heat pump’s warranty to determine if salt corrosion and damage are covered (even if it’s a lifetime warranty—are there limitations?). Also make sure that any coatings or add-ons, especially direct from the manufacturer, are covered by the warranty (or its extension) as well.
To choose the best air conditioner or heat pump for our coastal climate, contact us or give us a call and we’ll help match you with the best system for your needs and budget.
