Living in a coastal area, you get used to the idea that salty, humid air can have an unfortunate effect on all sorts of things. Your HVAC equipment is no different and can be susceptible to the local air in various ways. Let’s look at how coastal air affects your HVAC, what you should look for to determine whether your system is suffering, and how to minimize the impact of wear and tear on your air conditioning and other HVAC units. 

How Coastal Air Affects HVAC

As someone living in a coastal area, you know that salt and humidity are just part of the region. For HVAC equipment, once salt accumulates on the system, moisture is sure to follow, with the combination of the two allowing rapid corrosion of various metal surfaces.

On an air conditioner or heat pump, this usually means damage to the condenser coil, which can reduce efficiency and overall operation. It can also lead to refrigerant leaks and a host of associated problems. You will see damage throughout the rest of your system if this problem is left unchecked, as strain on one part of any HVAC system forces other parts to work harder. 

Signs Your AC Unit Is Failing or Inefficient

If you’re trying to figure out whether your air conditioner or heat pump is suffering from this trouble, keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms:

• Visible corrosion of exterior metal surfaces on your outdoor unit
• Increasing energy bills for no apparent reason
• Your system no longer keeps your home comfortably cool on hot days
• Your system is prone to freezing over, forcing you to wait for a thaw before it works again

If these sound familiar, your system probably feels the wear and tear of coastal living — or worn down from other issues, like age or poor maintenance. 

Extending the Service Life of HVAC in Coastal Areas

You can do a few things to ensure your system has the longest service life possible, despite salty coastal air. First and foremost, keep up with the routine maintenance you can do at home. That means changing filters regularly and cleaning your exposed evaporator coils with a hose or an approved cleaning product.

Second, keep up with routine professional maintenance each year. In a coastal area, it’s even more vital to have an expert look at your system annually for tune-ups, early detection of problems, cleaning and calibrating parts you can’t reach, and more. This will slow the aging of your system, even if it will likely never last quite as long as it would in a less corrosive environment.

Learn More About Caring for HVAC On the Jacksonville Coast

When you need professional assistance for maintenance services or repairs in the Jacksonville area or along the Florida coast, don’t hesitate to contact the team at United Air Temp for assistance. At UAT, we understand the nuanced needs of air conditioners and heat pumps in the Florida air. Our work is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and our licensed, insured technicians will keep your HVAC system in top shape! 

Call (904) 980-8769 or contact us online to book HVAC repairs or maintenance today.