HVAC failures are a primary reason for excessive energy costs, which can hurt a company's ability to keep products at a proper temperature while also draining revenues from budgets. This problem is a top source of ire for engineers and building managers because HVAC systems have the habit of succumbing to levels of corrosion and buildup in fairly quick time.
Though billions of dollars are spent every year to upgrade to the newest models, the core processes of heating and cooling are reliant upon the basic functions of HVAC coils. In many industries, HVAC evaporator coils are crucial to the performance of a unit, and without attentive care, these coils can falter under extreme pressures, harsh contaminants and a lack of maintenance.
HVAC evaporator coils transform liquid into a gas at a high rate, thus absorbing heat and forcing cold air into a defined room. When located in environments high in salt, biological pollutants and other particles, coils can become negatively affected. That's why it's important to select and protect HVAC evaporator coils with longevity in mind because without them, HVAC failures will occur.
These coils are especially pertinent to data centers and commercial refrigeration industries, due to the demand for regulated temperature levels and a steady flow of cool air. Data center cooling solutions are expected to expand by more than 13 percent in the next four years, according to a report from Research and Markets, which means evaporator coils will be the foundation of many companies' growth expectations. Further, as the global population rises and industrialization continues in underdeveloped parts of the world, refrigeration will be vital to food safety and quality – for which evaporator coils will be necessary.
Signs of damage
It is well-known that when confronted with water, metals will rust, break or produce mold and fungi. These processes can occur in a matter of weeks. The problem is that water coils operate by using heated or chilled water to change temperatures, and many coils collect too much water, which can lead to breakdowns in performance. Though it's difficult to gauge the exact amount of water necessary, HVAC units must deal with excess overflows.
Drip pans can catch and remove water, but condensation and moisture can continue to remain behind even after HVAC evaporator coils have turned liquids into gases. This issue is common among all HVAC systems and must be dealt with swiftly, or else corrosion can set in.
Typical warning signs of possible damage can range from higher energy costs or declining levels of air quality. When looked into further, technicians may find pinhole leaks, cratering or pools of stagnant water, among other things. Further, these conditions can lead to bacteria growth.
Finding the right coils
Once a problem has been identified, HVAC replacement coils may be necessary. This entails removing damaged coils and replacing them with heavy-duty upgrades. But installing a new HVAC evaporator coil should be handled with care, because a report from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America found that a majority of HVAC failures were a result of incorrect installations.
Additionally, evaporator coils need to be coated in a layer of hydrophobic polyurethane, which will decrease the chance of water from gathering. This will eliminate the chances of corrosion and can improve the lifespan of coils by years.
Waiting too long to replace a coil will only make matters worse because one small problem creates a correlated effect of worsening other functions until the entire system is malfunctioning. And once the system is beyond repair, it can cost millions to replace. It all starts with the need to act quickly so that evaporator coils can work at a more efficient rate, leading to energy savings and better air quality.
At Rahn Industries, teams of engineers design coils specifically for each HVAC system. But they go one step further and apply Rahn-Kote coating, a superhydrophobic Fleuro Teflon material that protects against corrosion, to HVAC evaporator coils. With industry-leading services, Rahn has a variety of evaporator coils available, including A Frame, Single and Interlaced coils.
Rahn has a full lineup of spray and immersion (dip)/ Bake protective coatings to meet your needs.