Warren Grobbelaar is acutely aware of what it takes to keep corrosion at bay in Florida’s balmy climate. You only have to look at the sleek, silver Cessna 180 he pilots in national STOL (short take-off and landing) competitions to know a lot of manhours go into maintaining its impressive gleam. His personal knowledge — along with his mechanical engineering credentials and deep expertise as a sales engineer with Integrated Cooling Solutions — make him uniquely qualified to advise Florida building owners, contractors, and facility managers on ways to select the right commercial HVAC equipment for their sites.
High humidity, salty air, and other elements make Florida a very corrosive environment. It doesn’t take long for corrosion to take hold in HVAC equipment.
“For the galvanized, unpainted parts on many units, we often see signs of corrosion within two years,” Grobbelaar notes. “Pieces and components can show signs sooner than that. The intake plenum is where we usually see corrosion within six months. Condensation settles on them and salt starts eating through the unpainted floors.”
Salt air also wafts into the interior of units to cause additional damage. To help building owners combat the environmental factors that shorten equipment lifespan, ICS offers several smart, state-of-the-art HVAC options designed to keep corrosion at bay.
Salt-Spray Protection
“AAON offers a salt-spray coating that provides 3,500 hours of protection against exposure. Right now, this is the highest rating available for packaged rooftop lines,” says Grobbelaar.
AAON applies the protective coating to panels and condensing units — as well as the outdoor portions of split systems. “As far as corrosion goes, the units with the salt-spray coating are better than a standard packaged unit,” he adds.
AAON customers may also choose to have a unit’s interior painted with the same salt-spray coating. Grobbelaar believes it’s a worthwhile add-on in Florida. “Plus, all of AAON’s coils are dipped in an epoxy coating that offers 10,000 hours of protection against salt-spray and ultraviolet (UV) rays. These protective features could be the difference between replacing a unit every eight years or every 13 years.”
No Metal, No Corrosion
Greater ROI is a big impetus to avoid corrosion all together. AnnexAir is up to the challenge. They are the first manufacturer to offer 100% metal-free casing construction for units of all sizes. Zero metal. Zero thermal bridge. Zero condensation.
Using bio-composite technology that leverages new, high-performance engineered composite materials, rooftop units and air handler exteriors feature a rounded design and extra UV protection against outdoor chemicals and environmental pollutants. Stiff-core insulation is made from recycled plastic bottles.
”Because they are made without a steel casing, they are about 40% to 60% lighter than steel encased units,” Grobbelaar explains. “Another bonus is that the casings for these units come with a lifetime guarantee against corrosion. They literally cannot corrode because there isn’t any metal in the casing.”
Stainless Steel Stands Up to Rust
All steel is composed of iron with a small amount of carbon to give it strength. In this form, steel is vulnerable to rust. That changes when steel also contains a certain percentage of chromium — a mineral that makes steel stainless steel. While the hybrid metal is known for its rust- and corrosion-fighting properties, it’s not without some qualifiers. Stainless steel must have at least 10.5% chromium and no more than 1.2% carbon and other alloys to effectively stand up to the wear and tear the elements throw its way.
“ICS offers product lines that include good stainless-steel solutions,” Grobbelaar explains. “For instance, the EVAPCO line offers HVAC equipment with a choice of 304 and 316 stainless-steel casings. If you have a job that’s on the water — say a big condo building or hotel — they are good options we recommend to building owners. All the custom air handler brands we represent can outfit them with stainless-steel casings and stainless-steel interiors. If you’re looking for something light weight, some of our equipment lines offer units with aluminum construction, which also combats corrosion.”
