Should I use aluminum coils or copper coils in air conditioning systems?
Aluminum Coil or Copper Coil?
In AC, it is debated over and over again, what is better, let me tell you the final answer to this difficult question today. This article will discuss this issue from the buyer's point of view. For the industry debate over copper, every contractor has a primary sales-oriented end goal. Buyers specialize in heating and cooling system installation and repair dealers to hedge the details. It became a state of mind due to price competition in the HVAC industry.
Points for Aluminum Coil or Copper Coil - Homeowners' Top Concern
The biggest concern for AC homeowners and business owners is which one works better? An air conditioner with a copper condensing coil, or an air conditioner with an aluminum condensing coil?
Although the information comes from government and educational sources, the manufacturers seem to think economics. We all want a better heating and cooling solution, and it's just a question of how to gain market share.
For most cooling and heating in the US, all major brands of heating and cooling equipment are brought to each major brand. We deal with units with copper condensing coils and aluminum condensing coils. Our purpose may indeed be economic, or if there is no profit, we will fade away.
Nevertheless, Staral sticks to satisfy all customers’ needs or demands. The following info will help you to understand how the difference is.
Aluminum Condenser Coils – The Origin
It was in the 1970s when General Electric was still in the HVAC business, the Aluminum condenser coils began to be adopted. And all the AC producers use aluminum fins bonded to the copper tubes as condensing units. While GE wanted to cut production expenses, which followed with the coils with aluminum tubes and aluminum fins.
It was a huge industrial change for the most part. Before 1980, only about 20% of residential structures were air-conditioned. Air-conditioning components and air-conditioning installation costs make air-conditioning a luxury. Few homeowners can afford central heating and cooling.
Then the market changed. Construction is booming. Inflation invades. With rising housing prices, the home air-conditioning market is booming, becoming a lucrative company.
The use of aluminum coils provides GE with a competitive advantage. Soon after, other AC manufacturers began to make their own versions of compatible aluminum coil solutions. GE is no longer involved in the HVAC business, but aluminum tubes with aluminum fin condensing coils are still a stable market product.
Is copper really more durable than Aluminum? The answer is no.
The debate over this matter fell on both sides of the street. Some reasoning can be scientifically proven. Some reasoning is just the preference of individual dealers. From a scientific point of view, the most statements are correct-provided that all pipe measurements between components are the same, which is that copper has more good features than aluminum.
However, due to manufacturing costs and efforts to keep up with the unit price reduction associated with devices using aluminum tube coils, manufacturers of copper-based coil systems have adopted methods to reduce the thickness of the copper tube wall. Therefore, strength, reliability, and durability are related to the actual components used in the air conditioning construction phase.
The US Department of Energy does not provide statistics on leaking air conditioning coils (aluminum or copper). The rule is simple: if your equipment has insufficient refrigerant, ask a trained air-conditioning technician to repair the leak, test the repair, and then charge the equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Galvanic action describes the leakage that occurs when oxygen reaches the contact point between the aluminum in the condensing coil and the copper in the condensing device. The problem is generally considered to be irreparable. Qualification: More and more air conditioning repair centers are now equipped with welding equipment capable of welding aluminum. Over the years, the aluminum coil repair process has been improved and may continue to improve in the future.
In the early days of aluminum condensing coils, Arizona AC contractors tended to use copper tubes with finned coils. However, the transition may be happening. Regardless of other arguments, unit cost is still the main factor in any air conditioner purchase decision. Eg:
| Copper Coil | |
Price | More Favorable | Expensive |
Flexibility | Well | Need more material added |
Galvanic Corrosion | Well resistant | Common problem |
Thinness | Thin while durable | Thin with repair issues |
The manufacturing cost of aluminum coils is lower than that of copper coils
Due to flexibility, copper coils require more material than aluminum coils (even up to three times the material); this leads to higher manufacturing costs.
Galvanic corrosion is a common problem for all copper pipes.
In order to maintain price competitiveness, use unqualified coils when new equipment is shipped.
The thinner the copper, the more difficult it is to repair the coil.
Copper is harder to damage than aluminum, provides better heat transfer and is easier to clean. Modern engineering eliminates most galvanic corrosion. The price of these devices is still much higher than that of AC equipment constructed with aluminum condensing coils. The homeowner questioned the value of the exchange.
Summary
Without the collected statistical data, concerns about leaks and early system failures are difficult to substantiate. All-aluminum coils are more fragile than copper tube coils, but manufacturers solve this problem by protecting the units in heavy-duty cabinets. Of course, this makes the system more difficult to clean and maintain. So as above points, the Aluminium coil is the better financial choice for AC applications.
Price of aluminum coil
Usually the price will be affected by raw materials, market environment, research and development costs, etc. If you need to know the latest price of aluminum alloy, you can contact Staral’s customer service to answer your questions.
About Staral
Staral specializes in the deep processing business of aluminum products. Its main equipment include melting and holding furnaces from Switzerland GAUTSCHI, electro-magnetic stirring machines, refinery equipment and casting machines etc., 1+1+4 continuous hot rolling mill, 1+5 continuous hot rolling mill/three-stand and single-stand cold rolling mills with patent CVC flatness control imported from Germany SMS Group. Staral also placed large investments for high performance assisting equipment.
Staral’s main products are series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. The main products are ultra wide aluminum alloy plate, aluminum alloy medium plate, aluminum alloy heckered plate, aluminum alloy brazing plate, aluminum coil, aluminum tube, aluminum profile, aluminum circle, aluminum forges, etc.
Staral has a large number of 5083/5052 aluminum alloy plates in stock, welcome to consult us and order.