[jlplatts]

Good day and happy holidays. Does anyone have advice for managing growth in the cooling water system of the AC systems. We are in south Florida and flushed our system this past October. There was a fair amount of growth, enough to cause one of the units to shut off on high pressure. This seems to be a fairly regular maintenance issue. When I cleaned the strainer day before yesterday there was some growth starting in the strainer again. Someone told me to drop a bromide tablet like used in spa disinfection systems to help stop growth. Has anyone done this? I am worried about the bromide attacking the copper in the AC units. I would not use the chlorine tablets because chlorine is such a strong oxidizer I am sure there would be an undesirable reaction, just not sure about the bromide. Any other thoughts welcome. Thanks for any advice.

[Pascal]

I get up to 2 years between descaling here in Miami never get to high press shut downs just some lack of efficiency if I let it go over 2 years

I Never bothered triying anything in the strainers...

[captbluewater]

Something that I found that helps . Buy a short piece of 1/2 copper pipe. Cut into 5'' pieces. drill hole in one end. attach 2 pieces with rigging wire so you can hang them over the handle of strainer. as the water passes through the strainer it causes the pipes to come in contact an releases some copper that helps with killing some of the growth in strainer.

[Capt J]

I have used Bromine for years in a/c strainers and several reputable air conditioning companies have recommended it. It cuts down on growth, and I've never had to acid wash the a/c's on any of the yachts that I manage in years and years......

[Capt Bill11]

Take a look at: The Zeta Rod - First in the Fight against Fouling in Industrial Water Systems

[Opcn]

Bromide is a reducer, If you use both bromide and sodium hypochlorite in a pool the bromide will reduce the hypochlorite and the hypochlorite will oxidize the bromide and the microorganisms get off scot-free.

[CSkipR]

My boat resides north of you in the Ponce Inlet area and every year I have to flush the AC systems. I still put bromide tablets in the strainer but that doesn't seem to totally prevent growth in the ac lines. Growth up here is terrible compared to my experience in south Fl.

[Swamp fox]

If you keep your boat around the Terra Verde area vs. St. Pete Marina, then you are getting much cleaner water running through your a/c system than farther inside Tampa Bay.

A couple of months ago we moved our boat from Marina Jack to Sarasota Yacht Club. You could almost see the growth happen overnight. (You could in a weeks time.) Major water flow due to Big Pass. That being said, I'll probably start acid cleaning the chillers twice a year instead of once a year. I add some bromine tablets to the strainer weekly. It cuts down on growth, but dosen't stop it. Part of the problem lies in the chiller and manifold design as well. With 5/8" tubing, there isn't much room for a restriction.

Lastly, my owners want the boat like a meat locker in the summertime. Colder the better, even when not on the boat. The more the chillers run, the more water you pump. Keep the boat thermostats higher to avoid having the growth foul you up so bad. Put blackout canvas on the windows, etc.

[wsdemmer]

If you think Florida has problems try south Texas. One week and my strainers are completely clogged. Putting bromide tablets in my strainers helps reduce cleaning them to twice a week in the summer months. I have to flush my ac water lines to the units and the units themselves twice a summer season. When I was in Florida (Aventura) I went 6 weeks without cleaning the strainers. Interesting with the copper pieces in the strainer; I will have to try that one on a strainer and see.

[K1W1]

Hi,

Look into one of thee if the problem is that bad.

Cathelco - Cathodic Protection & Pipework Anti Fouling

I have used and currently use the larger brother to this where Copper and Cast Iron Anodes are used together to control growth and combat corrosion in the system as a whole.