Commercial Coastal HVAC Protection in Galveston, TX

Salt air corrodes commercial HVAC equipment at 3 to 5 times the rate of inland systems. Businesses on Galveston Island within a mile of the Gulf lose condensers, coils, and cabinet panels years ahead of schedule because standard aluminum and sheet metal were never designed for constant salt spray exposure. If your rooftop unit or condenser is showing white oxidation, pitting, or flaking fins, the damage is already underway.

Who Gets Hit Hardest

Waterfront restaurants, hotels, and marinas on Galveston's Seawall and Harborside take the worst of it. But salt spray travels. Commercial properties in Texas City and La Marque see accelerated corrosion too, especially during hurricane season when storm surge and wind-driven salt penetrate deeper inland. Any business running standard equipment within a few miles of the coast is on borrowed time.

What Salt Air Actually Does to Your System

The damage isn't just cosmetic. Here's what happens inside a commercial unit exposed to Gulf Coast conditions:

- Condenser coils develop pinhole leaks as salt eats through aluminum fins, causing refrigerant loss and declining cooling capacity
- Sheet metal cabinets rust from the inside out, weakening structural integrity before you notice exterior damage
- Electrical contacts and relays corrode, leading to intermittent failures and short cycling
- Copper refrigerant lines develop formicary corrosion — tiny ant-nest-shaped tunnels that cause slow leaks nearly impossible to find
- Fan blades and motors pit and become unbalanced, increasing noise and vibration while shortening bearing life

Most commercial property managers don't catch these problems until a system fails on a 95-degree day in July. By then, you're looking at emergency replacement costs instead of planned upgrades.

How We Protect Coastal Commercial Equipment

Our techs install and retrofit systems using marine-grade components built specifically for salt air environments. This isn't a one-size-fits-all spray coating. We match the protection level to your property's actual exposure.

Corrosion-resistant coil coatings — Factory-applied or field-applied epoxy and phenolic coatings on condenser and evaporator coils. These create a barrier between salt-laden air and the aluminum substrate. We use coatings rated for ASTM B117 salt spray testing, the same standard used for marine and offshore equipment.

Marine-grade cabinet materials — Stainless steel or powder-coated galvanized cabinets replace standard sheet metal. For existing units still in good mechanical shape, we can retrofit with protective wraps and sacrificial anodes similar to what boat hulls use.

Elevated and protected placement — Getting equipment off ground level and away from direct splash zones makes a measurable difference. We design elevated platforms with proper drainage and wind screening that reduce salt contact without restricting airflow.

Sealed electrical compartments — Conformal coatings on circuit boards, marine-rated contactors, and sealed junction boxes keep salt out of the components most vulnerable to corrosion-related failure.

What a Coastal HVAC Assessment Covers

We offer a free assessment for commercial properties in the Galveston County area. Our techs evaluate your current equipment condition, document existing corrosion damage, and map out your exposure level based on distance from the water, prevailing wind direction, and building orientation. You get a written report with photos and a prioritized recommendation list — not a sales pitch.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

A standard commercial condenser that should last 15 to 20 years might give you 4 to 6 years on Galveston Island without protection. Replacing a 10-ton rooftop unit runs $8,000 to $15,000 installed. Corrosion protection adds a fraction of that cost upfront and can double or triple equipment life.

Factor in lost revenue from HVAC downtime during peak summer months, and the math gets even more lopsided. Galveston restaurants and hotels can't afford to close dining rooms or guest floors because a condenser failed in August.

Humidity Compounds the Problem

Galveston County humidity regularly tops 80%, and that moisture accelerates every form of corrosion salt air starts. Condensation forms on cool metal surfaces inside the unit, creating a saltwater film that sits and eats. Standard drain pans overflow. Mold colonizes wet insulation. The combination of salt, heat, and humidity is uniquely destructive, and it's the specific environment our installations are engineered to handle.

Storm Season Preparation

Hurricane season from June through November adds another layer of risk. Wind-driven salt spray during tropical storms penetrates equipment that's normally somewhat sheltered. Power surges when the grid cycles damage compressors and control boards. Our commercial clients get pre-season inspections that include securing cabinet panels, clearing condensate drains, testing surge protection, and verifying that backup systems are operational.

If your commercial HVAC equipment is showing signs of coastal corrosion — or if you're planning a new installation anywhere in the Galveston area — our team can evaluate your situation and spec the right level of protection for your specific location and budget.