How does salt air shorten an AC's life?
Fort Lauderdale is laced with roughly 165 miles of canals and waterways, which is why it's called the Venice of America. That water carries salt, and salt settles on everything outside, including the condenser coil. Over time it corrodes the thin aluminum fins and the copper tubing, which reduces how well the coil sheds heat and eventually causes refrigerant leaks. Electrical contacts corrode too, so contactors and capacitors fail sooner. Homes on the water or east of Federal Highway see this most. The best defense is boring but effective: rinse the outdoor coil with fresh water regularly, keep it clean on every maintenance visit, and when it's time to replace, ask about coil options built for coastal conditions.
Source: Visit Lauderdale
What does Broward's High Velocity Hurricane Zone mean for a new AC?
Broward and Miami-Dade are the two counties in Florida's High Velocity Hurricane Zone, the strictest wind-load area in the Florida Building Code. For an AC replacement, that means the outdoor unit has to be secured to resist hurricane-force winds with approved anchoring, and the job needs a permit and inspection. Rooftop equipment on condos and commercial buildings has its own requirements. It's one reason Fort Lauderdale replacement quotes can vary: a low number may leave out the permit or the tie-downs. Ask any contractor whether the price includes the permit, the anchoring, and a new pad if the old one has cracked or sunk.
