Prevent Metal Corrosion in HVAC Systems

Metals begin to break down when exposed to air and water. Metal corrosion can be big trouble for an HVAC system that isn’t regularly maintained, including a loss in efficiency, an increase in costs, and, ultimately, complete failure.

Let’s start with the monitoring and treatment of water used in a commercial building system. That’s where oversight can result in scale, corrosion, microbiological growth, and dirt/silt fouling. Should that happen, you’re on a path to:

• • Inefficient heat transfer
  • Higher energy costs
  • Reduced reliability
  • Damage to equipment, and
  • Risking the health of employees and visitors

Water Velocity

Low water velocity allows solids to settle and deposit on the metal surfaces. The deposits make it challenging for corrosion-fighting chemicals to work. Corrosion-inhibitor treatments settle on the deposit because they can’t reach the intended metal surfaces. As a result, there’s an ideal environment created for localized corrosion to thrive underneath.

The right piping can prevent or inhibit corrosion.

Corrosion-Free Niron Piping

Niron is another type of stainless steel that has been specially treated with chromium and molybdenum. It’s used extensively in the food industry, where piping must be free from rust or other forms of corrosion. Niron can also be found in medical equipment, such as surgical instruments, dialysis machines, and MRI scanners where sanitization is critical for patient health and accurate readings.

Stainless Steel Piping

Stainless steel piping is another option although it is very expensive. It is mostly used in industries with highly corrosive environments.

4 Steps To Ensure a Long and Happy Life for HVAC Systems

• Don’t skimp on costs of new materials if you’re constructing a new building.  Use corrosion-resistant materials to prevent or slow corrosion from occurring.
• Regular maintenance. This one may seem obvious. But, with all the site visits we’ve performed at PSI after corrosion problems have escalated into very expensive repairs, it’s worth mentioning!
• Chemical pre-treatment. If PSI hasn’t been your service company, check to be sure your coil maintenance included treatment with an anti-corrosive agent. Freshly-cleaned pieces of equipment are especially vulnerable to corrosive attacks. You must treat them before sending them back into service.
• Call PSI Our experienced and versatile technicians hold trade licenses in multiple disciplines. Their piping and environmental specification knowledge is unrivaled.

What HVAC questions do you have to get more mileage from your HVAC system? Contact us for an on-site visit or a quick phone call.