Photo 1: Hail-damaged condenser coils can often be straightened using a fin combing tool. (Photo: HVACi)
Wind and hail losses are the most frequently claimed homeowner's insurance peril, causing approximately $1 billion in damages each year according to the Insurance Information Institute. HVAC systems, particularly condensing units and package units, have a high risk of hail damage.
These systems, which sit outside either on the ground or the roof, contain a condenser coil constructed of copper tubing covered in a layer of malleable aluminum fins that facilitate heat transfer from the refrigerant to the surrounding air. When hail (or any other foreign object) strikes the coil, these fins can be bent and flattened, eventually reducing the ability for the coil to transfer heat efficiently.
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