09/01/2026
🚨 LOOK AT THIS EVAPORATOR COIL!
We saw this heavily corroded evaporator coil on a service call today, and I wanted to share it with our customers because this is something homeowners don’t always think about.
At first glance, you may see an old, dirty coil—but look closer. The aluminum fins and tubing are showing significant corrosion, and corrosion like this can eventually lead to weakened metal, refrigerant leaks, and ultimately coil failure.
So where do VOCs come into the picture?
VOCs = Volatile Organic Compounds.
These are gases released by many everyday products and materials inside our homes—things like:
• Paints and finishes
• Flooring and adhesives
• Furniture and cabinets
• Cleaning products
• Air fresheners and fragrances
• Certain plastics and building materials
The process of these materials releasing chemicals into the air is called off-gassing.
And here’s the part many homeowners don’t realize:
Your HVAC system is constantly circulating the air inside your home.
Certain airborne contaminants can interact with moisture and metal surfaces inside the HVAC system. In some environments, this can contribute to corrosion of evaporator coils, especially when combined with high humidity and other contaminants.
⚠️ Important: You can’t look at a corroded coil and definitively say, “VOCs caused this.” Coil corrosion can have multiple causes, including humidity, chemicals, salt/chlorides, household contaminants, and the specific materials used in the coil.
But this is a great reminder that indoor air quality and HVAC maintenance go hand in hand.
A corroded coil isn’t just an appearance issue. As corrosion progresses, it can eventually result in refrigerant leaks, loss of cooling capacity, higher operating costs, and an expensive repair or replacement.
👀 Don’t wait until your AC stops cooling to have your system inspected.
At Northland Air Conditioning, we look beyond whether your system is simply “running.” We look at the condition of the equipment and what could potentially cause problems down the road.
Another service call. Another lesson for homeowners.
Take care of your HVAC system, and it’ll take care of your home. 🏠❄️