Evaporator coil leaks can be a tremendous source of inconvenience for Jacksonville homeowners. They increase air conditioning costs by making periodic refrigerant top-ups necessary, decrease energy efficiency, and eventually make expensive A/C repairs a necessity. Fortunately, there are some things homeowners can do to delay or prevent evaporator coil leaks.

One thing to understand is that it’s normal to have water dripping from your air conditioner’s evaporator coil. The expansion of refrigerant in the coil draws heat from the surrounding air inside your house and causes water to condense out of the cool air and onto the coil. The water dripping from the coil collects in a condensate pan where it flows from your house. If your HVAC tech has to add refrigerant to your system every year, it’s a good indication that the coil is leaking.

Corrosion of the copper tubing in the coil from the outside is the most common cause of evaporator coil leaks. This corrosion happens when formic acid accumulates on the coil as a result of the interaction of water, copper, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your indoor air.

VOCs are present in many household chemicals, personal products, and new construction materials. Here in the Jacksonville area, salt in the air contributes to the corrosion of various parts of your air conditioning system. It’s something that comes with being a coastal community and having the best Jacksonville AC repair company at your service is a great way to ensure any issues are mitigated quickly and efficiently.

Here are some steps you can take as a homeowner to help prevent leaks in your A/C evaporator coil:

• Sign up for one of our maintenance plans to schedule annual AC diagnostics and repairs. Having the coils cleaned once or twice per year will reduce corrosive buildups and extend coil life.
• Reduce the use of VOCs as much as possible inside your home. This will not only reduce coil corrosion but will also improve your overall indoor air quality.
• Consider installing an Aerus Air Scrubber which will neutralize VOC and provide a source of fresh air for your home. This saves you money on energy costs while also improving the indoor air quality of your home.

Call us at Ocean State today for the best Jacksonville Air Conditioning & Heating service to help keep your A/C system in top condition.