If you live in a cooler climate, chances are you aren’t giving much thought to your air conditioner right now. You should. 

Air conditioner covers can help prevent system failures that require expensive repairs and replacement. Protecting your HVAC unit through heat pump and air repair by Green Street HVAC is important not just for winter, but year-round. While your air conditioner may be equipped to endure rain and snow, it’s probably not built to keep out leaves and other contaminants. These elements contain moisture that can inhibit the system’s built-in drainage components, resulting in corrosion. If you live in a warm, coastal environment, a good air conditioner cover is a must to fight corrosive salt in the air.

CED Engineering reports corrosion is responsible for 40 percent of all equipment failures of industrial HVAC units. It’s worth considering similar damage to residential outdoor air conditioning units.

Why Corrosion is So Damaging to Air Conditioners

Although air conditioners remove air moisture during the cooling process and often contain efficient draining systems, these units can still be at risk for corrosion. There are three basic types of air conditioner corrosion: Galvanic corrosion, general corrosion and formicary corrosion. Galvanic corrosion involves contact of dissimilar metals with an electrolyte (i.e., moisture). Formicary corrosion typically occurs in copper tubing when condensation attracts airborne contaminants. General corrosion involves degradation of the metal in reaction with its surrounding environment (typically due to moisture).

In a study conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which focused on military installations of air conditioning units worldwide, corrosion of air conditioning systems was noted to slash the life of these units from 15-to-20 years down to 7-to-10 years.

Some of the most common corrosion problems seen in residential air conditioner units involve rusty condenser fins, terminal blocks, wire harnesses and other metal contact points. Damage to these components will result in a marked reduction in energy efficiency, usually only resolved with costly repairs and replacement.

Using a corrosion-inhibiting air conditioner cover can help prevent degradation of your air conditioning components by blocking moisture, dust and debris.

Why Zerust Recommends Air Conditioning Covers

If your air conditioner isn’t working as well as it should, check this ac repair company for professional to look into it. There is a good chance debris or rust could be the source of the problem. They can help you clean the AC and make sure that you have a smooth functioning AC. This is where air conditioner covers can be useful.

Air conditioner covers are especially beneficial for:

• Keeping coils cleaner, helping the unit run more efficiently;
• Prevention of salt air corrosion, especially common in coastal regions;
• Prevention of damage resulting from hailstorms, blizzards and other unpredictable weather;
• Blocking infiltration of yard waste (i.e., leaves, sticks, grass and other items that can become lodged into the unit);
• Shielding the unit from water resting and freezing directly on coils, particularly if there are several freeze-and-thaw cycles in a season.

While it is true many air conditioning systems are designed to withstand the elements, leaving the unit completely exposed is going to increase wear and tear and leave it vulnerable to damage from ice, moisture and debris.

Zerust air conditioning covers are laboratory-tested to stop corrosion from forming and spreading on metal surfaces. When used and handled correctly, these covers will last for up to five years.

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“>Contact Zerust for information on air conditioning covers by emailing us or calling (330) 405-1965.

Additional Resources:

Demonstration of Corrosion-Resistant Coatings for Air-Conditioning Coils and Fins, June 2015, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

More Blog Entries:

Anti-Tarnish Protection for Your Silver Jewelry and Serving Pieces, Jan. 28, 2018, Zerust Corrosion-Inhibitor Blog