Salt Air Corrosion in Florida: Protecting Your Commercial AC Unit

Managing commercial property in Central Florida means dealing with humidity, heat, and the hidden killer of HVAC equipment: salt air. If your building is anywhere near the coast—or even if the wind is blowing right—salt can destroy a commercial AC system in half the time of a normal unit.

In our years serving Casselberry and the greater Orlando area, we've seen brand new systems turn into rust buckets in just a few years because the owner didn't account for the environment. Replacing a 10-ton commercial unit isn't cheap. It usually costs between $5,000 and $12,000, depending on the SEER rating and brand. That’s a hit to your bottom line you don’t want to take early.

Here is how you can stop salt air from eating your profits and keep your tenants comfortable.

How Does Salt Air Damage AC Units?

Salt air destroys AC units through a chemical process called galvanic corrosion, which happens when salt water (an electrolyte) connects two different metals, usually copper and aluminum. In Florida, salt crystals travel inland with the humidity. When these crystals settle on your unit's condenser coils and get wet from rain or condensation, they create a corrosive acid. This acid eats away the aluminum fins that help transfer heat. Once those fins dissolve, your system works twice as difficult to cool the building, driving up electricity costs by 20% to 40% before the compressor eventually fails.

Which AC Parts Are Most at Risk?

The condenser coil is the most vulnerable part of any unit because it's exposed to the outside elements 24/7. Specifically, the thin aluminum fins that are pressed onto copper tubes take the hardest hit. We also see significant corrosion on the cabinet screws and the compressor housing itself.

If you're looking to replace a damaged unit, checking the specs on central air conditioning systems is smart. You want to look for units built with corrosion resistance in mind. If the fins on your current unit look like they are crumbling when you touch them (a condition we call "fin rot"), the damage is already done.

Can You Stop Salt Corrosion on AC Units?

You can't stop salt air completely, but you can slow it down significantly with protective coatings. Applying a specialized anti-corrosion coating to the condenser coils acts as a barrier between the metal and the salt.

For HVAC supplies Orlando Florida, property managers rely on, we often recommend factory-applied coatings for new units. If you have an existing unit, an aftermarket spray-on coating can help, though it's less effective than a factory dip. This typically costs $300 to $600 per unit but can extend the equipment's life by 3 to 5 years. That is a solid return on investment compared to an early replacement.

How Often Should Coastal AC Units Be Serviced?

In Florida, you need to service commercial units at least twice a year, but coastal units need eyes on them quarterly. The most important maintenance step is rinsing the coils with fresh, clean water every 1-2 months to wash away salt buildup.

This applies to large commercial systems and smaller setups alike. Even if you manage smaller office condos or rental properties that utilize standard home package air conditioning units, the maintenance schedule remains the same. Salt doesn't care about the size of the unit; it eats through metal just the same. Regular rinsing prevents the salt from having enough time to start the chemical reaction that leads to rust.

What Are the Best AC Materials for Coastal Areas?

When buying new equipment, don't just look at the price tag; look at the construction. Standard units use copper tubes and aluminum fins. In high-salt areas, we recommend looking for:

• All-Aluminum Coils: Since there are no dissimilar metals (copper vs. aluminum), galvanic corrosion is much less likely to occur.
• Copper-to-Copper Coils: These are expensive and heavy, but they are incredibly durable against salt.
• Stainless Steel Cabinets: These hold up much better than painted galvanized steel, which will rust quickly in areas like Daytona or New Smyrna Beach.

Finding the right parts is key. When searching for HVAC supplies Orlando Florida has plenty of options, but you need a supplier that understands the specific demands of our salty, humid environment.

When Should You Call a Pro for Corrosion?

Call a professional if you see white powder on your cooling fins or rust flakes pooling around the base of the unit. These are signs that corrosion is advanced. If your energy bills have jumped 20% in a month without a change in weather or usage, your system might be struggling to breathe through corroded coils.

Commercial repairs involving coil replacement can range from $1,200 to $3,500. A licensed technician can tell you if a repair is worth it or if the structural integrity of the unit is too far gone.

Does Corrosion Protection Actually Work?

We recently worked with a property manager in Winter Park who manages a strip mall. They were replacing their rooftop units every 7 years like clockwork due to corrosion issues. We switched them to units with a factory-applied epoxy coating and implemented a quarterly wash-down schedule.

Those units are now in year 12 and running efficiently. By spending about $400 extra upfront per unit for the coating and a little more on maintenance, they saved over $30,000 in premature replacement costs across the property. It proves that being proactive pays off.

Why Florida Weather Requires Special AC Care

It's not just the salt; it's the combination of salt and high humidity that makes Central Florida tough on equipment. Our average humidity hovers around 74%, which keeps surfaces damp and accelerates the rusting process.

Whether your property is in Casselberry, downtown Orlando, or closer to the coast, the air is thick enough to carry contaminants. We stock the HVAC supplies Orlando Florida businesses need to fight back against these elements. From coil cleaners to sacrificial anodes, we have the tools to keep your system running.

Protect Your Investment Today

Don't let the Florida elements dictate your budget. A proactive plan against salt air corrosion protects your asset and keeps your tenants happy. If you'ren't sure if your current maintenance plan is cutting it, or if you need parts to fix a rusting unit, we can help.

Need Help With Your AC Equipment?
Contact Discount Air Supply LLC today at (407) 951-5050. We’re the local experts you can trust to get you the right parts at the right price.