Living in Corpus Christi means you have easy access to the Gulf Coast. With the ocean so close by, you can enjoy the day on a boat, walk along the beach, surf, or go fishing. However, living near the beach means the salt air can cause damage to your home including your air conditioning unit.
What’s the problem?
Living near the ocean causes a few problems unique to the region.
Salt air corrodes machinery, in part by attracting moisture. This moisture, in turn, contributes to the early deterioration of the coils and other components within the HVAC system. Studies show that aluminum and steel corrode significantly faster in the salty air, significantly shortening the lifespan of most outdoor metals.
In air conditioning units, condenser coils are typically made of copper tubes with aluminum fins that disperse heat quickly. Because of the salt air, these fins degrade quickly in coastal climates. The closer you are to the ocean, the greater damage the salt may do to your unit.
Living on the coast can lead to other problems as well.
Our soils are sandy, leading to dust and sand getting into our units. With our warm, humid climate, people often run air conditioning units almost all year-round, continuously drawing our salt air into the units. And because of the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes, our outdoor units may sustain damage from hail, the wind, and falling tree limbs.
AC maintenance for coastal residents
How can Corpus Christi residents delay or prevent some of the damage to air conditioning units? Here are some things you can do:
- Keep your air filters clean. Filters provide your first line of defense for maintaining your HVAC system. A quality filter can capture much of the dust and salt in the air, keeping it out of your unit. During times of heavy use (or if you have pets,) you should change your filters at least once a month.
- Check your coils. You can rinse the coils and fan blades in your outside unit with a hose to keep salt from building up and contributing to corrosion.
- Maintain a clear area around the outside unit. Experts recommend a two- to three-foot perimeter around the outside condenser unit. Rake dead leaves and make sure to mow your grass. The build-up of organic debris or an overgrowth of plants can block your unit’s airflow and keep it from functioning properly.
- Consider purchasing AC units made with low-corrosive parts. Some units/brands are better suited for coastal climates and utilize special coatings and connectors that are less likely to be affected by salt air.
- Always check your unit after major storms. Remove downed tree limbs, leaves, and other debris that may have gotten trapped on or inside the unit itself. You can even hose it down to remove sand that high winds may have blown into interior nooks and crannies.
How professionals can help
When you live near the coast, preventative maintenance is one of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your air conditioning unit. Regular checkups of your HVAC system by a licensed professional can help you avoid costly repairs or premature unit failure.
At ABC Home and Commercial Services Corpus Christi, we have expert technicians who know the climate-specific problems residents in our area face when it comes to air conditioning. We can check your unit for corrosion and help maintain your system in optimal condition. And when you’re in the market for a new unit, we can recommend models that perform the best in our region.