Marine Air Conditioning

[Silver Bullet]

I boat in south Florida where the barnacles form very quickly. The sea water lines on the a/c units get clogged with slime or barnacles and the units do not perform. I understand the slime, etc. acts as an insulation and does not allow the sea water to carry the heat away.

A friend suggested tha I put Bromide tablets in the sea water strainer. These is the same Bromide that is used in swimming pools. Does this help and can it harm the a/c units?

Do yo have any other suggestion other than acid cleaning the lines periodically?

Silver Bullet

[trit21]

It does help and helps alot. I am not sure if it will harm the seals, unit itself as I am still trying to figure that out as well. I know chlorine hurts the seals, dries rubber out etc but unsure about bromine. Maybe someone here has some insight and information about the chemical reaction of bromine against metal, rubber, etc. Where is the chemist when you need him.

[roadkingh1]

I boat in south Florida where the barnacles form very quickly. The sea water lines on the a/c units get clogged with slime or barnacles and the units do not perform. I understand the slime, etc. acts as an insulation and does not allow the sea water to carry the heat away.

A friend suggested tha I put Bromide tablets in the sea water strainer. These is the same Bromide that is used in swimming pools. Does this help and can it harm the a/c units?

Do yo have any other suggestion other than acid cleaning the lines periodically?

Silver Bullet

I live in Covington, La and the waters during summer is pretty warm. So to keep from any type of growth in my a/c system, I use the bromide tablets found at swimming pool stores. It works pretty good and does no harm to your system.

Ted

[trit21]

Actually, been reading up on bromine just now and states that bromine is very corrosive to metals. Dock neighbor has been using a piece of copper tubing in the strainer and he tells me no growth at all. Something about the copper oxide depleting the oxygen in the strainer and no growth. So, that is what I am going to try.

[bahamabreisus]

Would love to hear more about the copper. Our AC's run 24/7 growth is a constant battle

[Silver Bullet]

Tom,

Do you just put a piece of copper tubing in the strainer?