Keeping Your HVAC System In Great Condition

Air Conditioning Repairs That Might Be Needed When Your AC Condenser Develops Rust

21 May 2021

Herbert Franklin

Since your air conditioner is made of metal and it stays outside, there is a potential for rust to develop. If you keep up with annual maintenance, your AC technician should catch rust early enough that the problem can be stopped before the rust spreads.

If rust isn't caught early, you should call an air conditioning repair service when you see it so your air conditioner can be saved. If you don't stop rust in time, it can ruin parts in your condenser. Here's a look at how to handle rust on the condenser and what an air conditioning repair technician may need to do.

Remove Exterior Rust

Even if exterior rust doesn't affect how well your AC works, it still should be removed so it doesn't spread to the inside where the parts are. For instance, if there is rust on the grille on top of the condenser, it could spread to the fan, which is right under the grille.

Rust can be removed with rust remover and a wire brush. Just be careful that you don't let cleaning products leak inside the condenser. You can remove exterior rust yourself, and once it's gone, paint over the area with a rust inhibitor.

Check The Internal Parts

Call an air conditioning repair technician to look inside the condenser for rust. If rust is inside, let the technician remove it. Trying to remove rust from the fan might unbalance the blades or cause other problems, so it's best to let an experienced technician check the internal parts and deal with the rust.

Replace Damaged Parts

If the AC has been rusty for a long time, the parts inside the condenser might be damaged. The technician may need to replace parts that are too rusty. This might be necessary to prevent the spread of rust and to ensure your AC won't break down. If rust is already interfering with the way your AC works, the technician may need to diagnose the problem and then make repairs to get your air conditioner working again.

Some AC parts are not too expensive, while others cost quite a bit, so it's important to get rust taken care of when you notice it. The earlier it's removed, the easier it is to get rust under control.

If your AC has been neglected a long time, there may be damage to the coils or compressor, and since those parts cost a lot, it might be better to get a whole new condenser than to replace the parts. Fortunately, rust isn't usually a dire situation since you'll probably see it before it gets too bad.

Share