Rusty HVAC? Right here’s Find out how to Take care of Rust On Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner is subjected to quite a lot of put on and tear over the course of its life. Though fashionable items are extremely sturdy and are designed to face up to harsh circumstances, they nonetheless require common AC tune-ups for efficient functioning. Excessive moisture content material and lack of upkeep can result in points comparable to rusting. 

Not solely is a rusty air conditioner a beauty eyesore, however it may possibly additionally have an effect on your unit’s functioning. A rusty HVAC might take longer to chill or warmth your house, and this can lead to excessive power payments. As well as, if the rust just isn’t eliminated on time, it may possibly unfold and deteriorate varied AC parts, resulting in pricey repairs and even untimely failure.

Let’s have a look at what results in a rusty AC and the right way to stop it!  

Prime Causes of Rust on Air Conditioner

Rust types when metals comparable to metal or iron are uncovered to oxygen and water for a sure interval. As soon as rust begins to type, it may possibly rapidly unfold and trigger injury to the steel floor. Among the AC components which might be more likely to be affected embody the coils, air filters, drain pan, compressor, refrigerant traces, fan blades, and ductwork. 

Following are a few of the most typical causes that result in rust on AC:

1. Extreme Moisture

The most typical reason behind rust is moisture, which may come from condensation, rain, and even humid air. Your air conditioner offers with moisture in its every day functioning. As an example, when the system attracts heat air from your house to be cooled, moisture from the air condenses on the evaporator coils after which drips into the drain pan. This moisture content material is a part of the conventional functioning of your AC and isn’t dangerous. Nevertheless, the issue develops when extreme moisture stays in touch along with your air conditioner parts for an prolonged interval. This occurs when the drain pan turns into clogged. Consequently, water overflows and typically even enters the unit.

If you happen to dwell in a coastal space, the salty humid air may result in corrosive circumstances to your out of doors unit. As well as, in case your out of doors unit is surrounded by crops or shrubs, it may possibly are available in contact with water and harsh chemical fertilizers that may corrode the steel. Rain falling immediately in your out of doors unit can even speed up the rusting course of.

2. Unstable Natural Compounds

Unstable natural compounds (VOC) are current in air fresheners, paints, and customary family cleaners. If these compounds are current in your indoor air, they will simply enter your air conditioner when it takes within the air for cooling. Over time, these dangerous compounds can corrode the copper refrigerant tubing leading to refrigerant leakage.

3. Lack of Upkeep 

Ignoring air conditioner upkeep creates quite a few issues to your AC unit. AC filter removes mud and some other contaminants from the air. If you happen to ignore air filter cleansing for longer, the moisture and particles build-up could cause rust to develop. Soiled filters additionally result in rusted coils. 

The moisture faraway from indoor air as a part of your AC’s cooling course of is collected within the drain pan. If you happen to don’t clear the drain pan usually, it can lead to blockage. This causes the indoor AC unit to leak water inside your house. Water can even again up within the unit, which is an ideal recipe for rust. 

The out of doors AC unit additionally requires periodic cleansing. Leaves, twigs, and different mud particles can accumulate within the condenser and affect its efficiency. They will additionally clog the drain system, resulting in rust formation.

4. Air Conditioner Getting old

Your air conditioner has a lifespan of 10-15 years, and rusting is a standard a part of getting old. As your unit nears the top of its life, it should begin to degrade resulting from common put on and tear. You’ll discover indicators like decreased airflow, excessive power payments, and bizarre AC noises along with rusting parts.

Listed below are eight methods to increase the typical lifetime of your AC unit.

Find out how to Take away Rust from Air Conditioner Condenser?

If you happen to caught your air conditioner rusting early on, it’s simple to take away the rust your self. Nevertheless, if it has began spreading to important parts, you need to contact an HVAC skilled instantly.

Right here’s how one can take away rust out of your out of doors AC unit:

1. Flip off your air conditioner circuit breaker. Use a circuit tester to verify it’s correctly off.
2. Take a screwdriver and take away the screws on the out of doors unit facet panel. Discuss with your air conditioner handbook to search out the place precisely the screws are situated in your particular AC mannequin.
3. After that, raise the out of doors unit cowl to entry the condenser. If the lid is heavy, ask somebody for assist. The AC condenser will appear like a sq. or rectangular panel with coils and fins.
4. After finding the condenser, spray it with a condenser coil spray. The foamy liquid ought to cowl each inch in order that the rust may be dissolved and eliminated simply.
5. The coil spray is often not rinsed, and it’ll drip into the drain pan.
6. In case some rust stays, take a smooth nylon brush and scrub it away.
7. To stop the drain pan from clogging, put together a mix of fifty components water with 50 components bleach and run it down the pan.
8. For air conditioner rust safety, paint the areas which you might have simply cleaned with a rust-proof primer.
9. Then, assemble the out of doors unit and resume regular functioning.

How Can You Stop A Rusty HVAC?

One of the best ways to stop rust is by specializing in preventative HVAC upkeep. Common cleansing and inspection of your unit will assist take away any filth or particles build-up that would velocity up the rusting course of.

• Clear AC Filters – It is best to deal with cleansing your AC filters as soon as in two weeks. If you happen to neglect to wash them regularly, you need to use sensible devices comparable to sensible thermostats or sensible AC controllers that work with mini-split, window, and moveable ACs. These gadgets maintain monitor of your filter cleanliness ranges and ship alerts in your cellphone when the subsequent cleansing is due.
• AC Coil Upkeep – Clear your AC coils each two months. You should use a smooth brush, a industrial cleaner, or a do-it-yourself cleaner made with cleaning soap and water.
• Test Outside Unit – Now and again, have a look round your out of doors unit and see if any leaves or particles are caught on the highest or sides. Additionally, usually clear the realm across the unit and trim any vegetation round it.
• Clear Drain Strains – Extra moisture can clog the drain pan over time, resulting in rust formation. Use an extended wire brush and scrub the road completely. You may as well pour bleach down the drainpipe each six months to wash the condensate drain line.
• Coating – If you happen to dwell close to the coastal facet the place moisture content material is excessive, you need to go for items with a rust-prohibitive coating.
• Annual Skilled Inspection – HVAC technicians will completely look at your system and guarantee its optimum efficiency. Annual check-ups be certain that filters should not full of particles, coils are cleaned, and the condenser is acting at its finest. The inspection additionally includes measures to detect rusting and cease it from spreading. The professionals will attempt to discover out the precise reason behind rusting and stop it from taking place once more.
• Go for a Cowl – You possibly can placed on a water-resistant air conditioner cowl when your unit just isn’t in use to stop rust that comes with extreme moisture within the surrounding air.

In Conclusion

Rust could cause all kinds of issues to your unit, from decreased effectivity to a whole breakdown. Rust on air conditioners may be brought on by a wide range of elements, mostly excessive moisture and lack of upkeep. Luckily, you may stop most circumstances of rust by specializing in common AC tune-ups. Make sure that to wash the filters and coils usually, take away any particles from the unit’s exterior and get your AC checked by an expert at the least every year. It should assist maintain your air conditioner in good situation for years – with none ugly rust patches!

April 13, 2022