How Water Sprinklers Can Hurt Your Air Conditioning Unit
Your outdoor AC unit is designed to handle a lot of rough conditions, especially when you have a quality unit from Lennox. But there is one yard hazard that you might not expect. In this article, you will read why water sprinklers can damage your outdoor AC unit.
Fenix Heating & Cooling has been the locally owned company relied upon to install, service and repair air conditioning systems across Wichita for more than 4 decades. We’ve seen all the different ways AC units can be damaged. Therefore, we want our customers to be are aware of avoidable problems to help them keep their cooling system running for a long time.
HOW DO SPRINKLERS DAMAGE AIR CONDITIONERS?
Water contains minerals. These exist in small amounts and, on their own in small doses, would not be something to cause problems. However, over time and with consistent direct contact with that water, those minerals can start to build up and create problems on other metals – including the components of your outdoor AC unit.
Understandable for a homeowner to think that having a sprinkler hit their AC would be a good thing. However, over time, the mineral content in water can build up on your condenser coil. That could cause it to wear away and begin to possibly work less efficiently.
The minerals from water can damage the coils and fins. In addition, ongoing exposure to moisture or water may cause the condenser to rust. Ongoing sprinkler water hitting a unit can corrode the coils on a unit, leaving them too brittle to be straightened.
WATER FROM WELLS: A BIGGER THREAT TO AIR CONDITIONERS
If you have well water, this potential problem could be even bigger for your home’s cooling system. That well water can be more corrosive, increasing the chances of it causing damage to air conditioning housings and other appliances if regularly sprayed at or near an AC unit.
Well pumps draw untreated water from a shallow well. There are natural chemicals in well water that can set up a reaction and can quickly corrode metal.
WATER YOUR YARD, NOT YOUR AC UNIT
When you have sprinklers watering your yard, be sure to consider your air conditioning unit when setting the sprinklers and/or sprinkler system up. Position the sprinklers so that they do not spray water directly onto your AC unit.
The actual force of the spray will not damage the unit. It’s the minerals in the water that, over time, lead to potential wear and rust. Be aware that even if you direct the sprinklers away from the unit that there could be overspray that can hit the condenser. Even a mild breeze (not to mention strong Kansas winds) can carry the mist over a distance.
You may want to consider planting some bushes or other plants to help protect your unit from overspray. Be careful to keep those plants at least 3 feet away from a unit so that it has the necessary air flow to work properly. You will need to watch for plant growth and trim back anything that gets too close to your AC unit.
Fences or other structures can be used to protect and block from sight an outdoor air conditioner. Again, be mindful to keep at least 3 feet of open coverage around an AC unit.
CAN I USE WATER TO CLEAN MY AC?
It is still okay – and good even – to spray your outdoor AC unit with a hose.
One of the maintenance steps important to your home’s cooling system is keeping the outdoor condenser unit clean. It can easily and quickly be covered with dirt and debris. Here in Kansas, we also see a lot of problems with pollen and all the resulting fluff floating to the ground.
In the early spring before you need to start using your air conditioner for the season, you should take a look at the outdoor AC. Remove the cover to inspect the coils. If it’s covered in dirt or debris, clean it off. Using a hose can get rid of a lot of the big debris that can gather and stick to your unit.
WICHITA AC REPAIR & INSTALLATION
If you notice that your air conditioner looks like the photos shown in this article, give Fenix a call. We can come out and diagnose the damage. We repair any make of home heating or cooling system, and we can install a new, efficient AC quickly to keep you and your family cool for many summers to come.
Fenix Heating & Cooling delivers quick, professional HVAC services by licensed technicians to Wichita and the surrounding towns. Send us a message online or call us at (316) 945-4842.
Trust the Fenix Comfort Heroes to rescue you from your HVAC problems. Don’t wait until the first day of winter to discover your furnace is not working! Turn it on today. If it’s not running properly, contact us and we’ll work to get your system fixed before the first frost.
Join the Fenix Protection Plan Service Program today! You’ll receive some nice benefits, like 20% off all parts and labor and having the peace of mind to know that your HVAC unit is being serviced by the best comfort specialists in Wichita!
Visit our showroom to see all our trusted products on display at 802 West 2nd St., just across from Wichita’s new library, or give us a call at 316-945-4842.
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