Everyone dreams of living at the beach: The sun, the sand and the ocean, all in your backyard. Who could ask for more? Those of us who live in Florida are fortunate enough to live this dream. Unfortunately, what’s great for us is terrible for our air conditioners. Those living near the beach are often shocked to find out their ACs have been destroyed due to salt corrosion, leaving them without air and a huge bill. If you live near the beach, it’s vital you know how to fight back against salt corrosion.
What is Salt Corrosion?
So what allows the salty air to wreak havoc within our air conditioners? It all comes down to chemistry. Most of our air conditioners are made up of aluminum; a microscopic layer on its surface called aluminum oxide protects this metal naturally.
In most environments, this layer acts as a natural barrier, protecting the aluminum against corrosion. However, when salt meets with aluminum oxide, it creates a destructive reaction. The chloride in the salt prevents the aluminum oxide from protecting the metal. Suddenly, the protective layer is broken down. This reaction eventually leads to large corrosion holes forming in the aluminum and our AC starts to deteriorate.
How Bad Is the Problem?
High humidity and temperature have been found to worsen this kind of corrosion. Because of this, Florida homes have some of the worst rates of AC corrosion in the country. Anyone living near the beach is in danger, even if they do not live directly on the beach. But that’s not all. If you have not prepared your unit, your AC will look like it’s ready for the junkyard, even if it is only a couple of years old. Luckily, you don’t have to ditch your beachside dreams! There are several ways that homeowners can fight back against corrosion and save their AC units from a salty demise.
Protect Your Unit
Those living by the sea need to work to protect their air conditioners. Here are just some ways to protect your AC:
1. Buy the right air conditioner: The first thing you can do to save your AC is to buy the right one. Many brands offer special ACs made specifically for those living near the sun and sand. They are designed to withstand the harsh salty air and will last longer than other air conditioners.
2. Get some special products: There are several products designed to protect and remove salt from your AC. Add one of these to your unit to help in the fight against corrosion.
3. Hose it Down: Simply watering down your AC can help. Use a normal garden hose and regularly rinse your air conditioner to prevent the salt from building up.
If you’re living near the beach, then do the smart thing and protect your air conditioner! Contact One Hour Air Largo and find out how the salty air may be damaging your unit. Trust our experienced team to keep your AC safe. Call today and remember, we’re always on time… or you don’t pay a dime!