Leakage is frequently seen in which type of HVAC coil?

Leakage is commonly associated with water-cooled coils due to their design and operation. Water-cooled coils rely on circulating water to transfer heat and, because they are subjected to high pressures, there is a higher potential for leaks to occur. These leaks can result from corrosion, wear and tear, or poor installation practices.

In contrast, air-cooled coils typically use air as the cooling medium, which minimizes the possibility of leakage as there is no water involved. Refrigeration coils, while related, primarily indicate the refrigerant system rather than water flow, which reduces the likelihood of leaks associated with liquid. Chilled water coils may also have leaks, but the context of frequent leakage is more applicable to water-cooled systems because they are directly tied to water as a heat transfer medium and may be installed in environments that exacerbate corrosion or mechanical failures. Therefore, the frequency of leakage issues makes water-cooled coils particularly noteworthy in HVAC discussions.