What you will learn with the Copper Versus Aluminum Coils - Condensers and Evaporators article:The transition from copper to aluminum for HVAC manufacturers.the pros and cons of copper versus aluminum for HVAC equipment.trying something new or keeping the status quo?a video debunking the “aluminum is difficult to repair” myth.Plenty of resources and in-depth related links to help you learn Conductivity of Copper Versus Aluminum Coils | Copper Versus Aluminum Coils - Condensers and Evaporators Copper Versus Aluminum Coils - Condensers and Evaporators - Some manufacturers are starting to transition from copper coils to aluminum coils for both condensers and evaporator coils for various reasons.When making a decision to purchase a new system you need to inform yourself about the pros and cons of purchasing a system with aluminum coils or copper coils. Traditionally, copper was the chief choice to use to manufacture evaporator coils and condenser coils because of heat transfer rate, cost, pliability (easy to bend and swage), and because copper line sets are used to join split systems.

The cost of copper has skyrocketed and that was a game changer. Many manufacturers have started looking at aluminum because the cost of aluminum is cheaper than copper and aluminum has some of the same benefits of the above-mentioned properties that copper has.Related Link: Our refrigeration category covers comprehensive information about HVAC refrigeration. (opens in a new window)Copper has approximately twice the conductivity of heat transfer of aluminum and therefore is more efficient at transferring heat. An air conditioner or heat pump works on the principle of refrigeration. The classic definition of refrigeration is moving heat from one place where it is not wanted to another place where it doesn’t matter. That means it is important to use materials that efficiently move or transfer heat. In this regard, copper wins. Another pro for copper is the ease of repairing the copper coils in the field if they become damaged. Aluminum coils, if damaged, are very difficult to repair and often times need to be replaced.

Related Link: HVACR Pipe Soldering Brazing – Refrigeration Systems (opens in a new window) Copper has a better heat transfer rate than aluminumCopper is easily repaired in the field when damaged whereas aluminum, when damaged, typically requires an entire coil changeBecause copper is used for the line set and fins are aluminum, where the copper joins the aluminum, it is subject to galvanic corrosion. top ranked ac unitsGalvanic corrosion happens when two dissimilar metals are joined. lg ac unit not workingModern technology and advancements in joining dissimilar metals have made this con very minimal for aluminum.air conditioner outside unit motorCopper is subject to formicary corrosion. This is a not a problem as long as the coils are given proper and regular maintenance.

Modern technology and the price of copper has made manufacturers use thinner and thinner copper. The new refrigerant replacing the old HCFCs operate at higher pressures therefore, the newer copper is more likely to spring a leak because of the thinner copper and the higher operating pressures.The traditional perception is that copper is more durable than aluminum but again that will soon change as the copper gets thinner and thinner because of the rising cost.Since copper is very expensive it makes it a target for thieves. A contractor friend of mine just replaced some air conditioner condensers and all the copper the thieves could get their hands on, for a church. Now its bad enough they hit a church (imagine the implications of that in the afterlife…..LOL) but it is now necessary to secure copper including condensing units to discourage theft. That is an added cost for the end consumer.Condensing unit with copper coil & aluminum finsI have read that as much as copper suffers from formicary corrosion aluminum suffers from bacteria and mold issues.

The problem with that argument is that manufacturers have always used aluminum fins over the copper tubing to increase the area for heat absorption and to channel the air more effectively across the coils. Besides that anyone with mold or bacteria problems need to use a UV Air Cleaner inside their ducts.Related Link: UV Air Cleaner - article about Indoor Air Quality (opens in a new window)Copper Versus Aluminum Coils - Condensers and Evaporators | Traditional CoilsThe traditional coils, copper tubing with aluminum fins have been used for years and years in condensers and for evaporator coils. These coils are tried and true so anything new on the market is subject to some apprehension. Trane has been using aluminum for years and years and they offer a good warranty for their product so aluminum can’t be that bad for use in HVAC equipment. Additionally, refrigerator and freezer manufacturers have used aluminum coils for many years for the coils in their products. What is your opinion based on the facts?

Leave your opinion in the comments below.As for me, I give my vote to tradition and stick with copper.Related Link: If you are purchasing new HVAC equipment you can see our Buyers Advice Category (opens in a new window)Here is a video of a repair to aluminum coils in case of a puncture or leak in the coils. Not sure how this stuff would work for joining two dissimilar metals together such as copper and aluminum but this is a plus for aluminum coils.Get FREE Home Insurance Quotes Copper thefts cause spike in home insurance claims Homeowners Insurance ArticlesCopper thefts cause spike in home insurance claims Gina Roberts-Grey and Aaron Crowe To some thieves, copper is practically worth its weight in gold. From January 2009 through December 2011, all but 4 percent of the insurance claims filed in metal theft cases involved stolen copper, according to the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau, which investigates suspicious claims. Businesses filed 55 percent of the more than 25,000 claims.

But homeowners and other holders of personal insurance policies accounted for the remaining 45 percent. These days, it seems that no one can escape the threat of metal theft, as prices for copper remain high, driven by demand from countries like China and India. Prime targets for copper theft include air-conditioning units and water pipes. Criminals easily can score $100 by selling copper from a large air conditioner to recyclers and scrap yards. In recent months, the market price for a pound of copper has been hovering around $3.30 to $4. "As the price for copper rises, the thefts trend up and vice versa," says Frank Scafidi, a spokesman for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Are copper crimes covered? So, what does this mean for homeowners whose air conditioners and pipes contain copper? Well, copper theft could cost you a pretty penny. Kurt Dettmer, vice president of marketing at Michigan-based Fremont Insurance, said in a 2011 news release: "Often, the value of common copper items may be overlooked by the consumer, but as the price goes up, thieves see an opportunity to make some quick cash and they aren't afraid to cause significant collateral damage to your property to do it."

A typical homeowner's insurance or business insurance policy covers the theft of copper and other metals, such as bronze, brass and aluminum. However, your policy may dictate that such a theft isn't covered, Scafidi warns. In a report on metal theft claims, the crime bureau says the damage caused by such thefts frequently "is several times the value of the metal stolen, leaving the victims with hefty repair costs which are often passed on to insurance companies." If an AC unit isn't stolen by copper criminals, it sometimes can be repaired. But if it can't be fixed, an insurer will pay for it to be replaced under a theft claim, says Mike Coleman, a State Farm agent in Alabama. On the insurer's website, Nationwide agent Ron Keats, president of The Keats Agency in New York, says: "Vacant buildings and homes under construction are huge targets for copper) thieves. The contractor locks the door, walks away and thinks it's safe. Even if a copper thief does strike at your home, you should think twice about submitting an insurance claim.

For one thing, you'll have to pay your deductible first before you get any cash from your insurer. Secondly, if you've filed too many home insurance claims in the past five years -- perhaps two or more -- your rates may rise or you may be dropped as a customer. Metal fatigue Ohio topped the crime bureau's most recent list of the top states for insurance claims related to metal theft -- nearly 2,400 from January 2009 through December 2011. Texas came in second, followed by Georgia, California and Illinois. Rhode Island led the pack when it came to the number of metal theft claims per 10,000 residents 2.59). Next in line were Ohio, Delaware, Kentucky and Georgia. Whatever state you're in, Fremont Insurance and Hartford Steam Boiler offer these tips for curbing the theft of copper: Install motion-sensor lights and an audible alarm around your property. For about $300, alarms are available that can monitor refrigerant pressure in an air conditioner and alert an owner when lines are cut or leak.