Shaking Things Up: New B6 Air Handlers
In the past year, NORDYNE has launched some significant products – a single-stage 95% furnace, packaged equipment with Micro-Channel condenser coils and two 95% efficient furnaces for manufactured housing. Our most innovative launch, however, might just be the new line of B6 air handlers.
These new air handlers include two ways to combat coil leaks – and customer call-backs.
1) 13 & 14 SEER: All-aluminum Anteater MC™ Micro-Channel evaporator coils.
Models B6EMMX and B6BMMO include Anteater MC™ Micro-Channel coils. These evaporator coils are constructed of aluminum extruded tubes that are brazed to enhanced aluminum fins. Because Anteater MC coils are all aluminum, they eliminate the copper element in the formicary corrosion combination. Without copper, the corrosion process cannot happen.
This coil design provides water management and thermal performance results equal to the standard copper tube-in-fin designs, except with superior resistance to formicary corrosion and galvanic corrosion. Benefits include:
- Same size as traditional tube-in-fin coils
- Eliminates both formicary and galvanic corrosion
- Reduced weight – approximately half the weight of a traditional coil
- Easier handling and servicing of units
- Requires approximately 50% less refrigerant than traditional copper tube-in-fin coils
The Anteater MC Micro-Channel coils have been extensively tested for proper water management. To learn more, watch our technical services video.
2) 16 & 24.5 SEER: Copper tube-in-fin with Anteater™ technology.
Our new B6VMAX and M6VMAI variable-speed air handlers utilize traditional copper tube-in-fin coils, but with Anteater™ technology for 50 times better protection against formicary corrosion than untreated copper. They are designed to outlast standard coils in high-moisture environments.
The Anteater coil is made with UNIGUARD™ copper alloy, which includes zinc additives to stop formicary corrosion from tunneling through the material. When acid begins to attack the coil copper, the Anteater alloy prevents the acid from tunneling completely through the copper grain. Some surface pitting will still be evident, but the damage will be stopped before it can cause a leak.
Read any HVAC online forum, and it’s obvious the industry is plagued with coil leaks. NORDYNE decided to do something about it. If our customers’ homes are changing, then we will too – and put an end to leaks.
Let us know what you think about these new air handlers in the comments.