Maximize Greenhouse Growing Conditions with Aftermarket Coating Products
December 14, 2022 
Commercial vegetable greenhouses have been on the rise as consumer demands have changed over the years. Consumers now want a variety of produce year-round, which makes greenhouses an extremely important and lucrative opportunity. This has increased the number of commercial greenhouses across the U.S. because it allows for vegetables and fruits to be grown year-round. A report in Business Wire states that there are more than 8,750 greenhouse vegetable farms in the U.S., with the market expected to grow even more by 2027.
In addition to the increase in greenhouses, the amount of money found in the greenhouse industry is also increasing. According to a report from Grand View Research, the global indoor farming market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 13.5% from 2022 to 2030. The market was valued at $39.5 billion in 2021. With the importance of commercial greenhouses continuing to grow, it is paramount to create an optimal growing environment.
While finding the right heating and ventilation solutions is key to developing an environment that promotes vegetable growth, protecting those units is even more important. If a unit fails during a prime growing season, it could be detrimental to the greenhouse and production. With the high level of moisture that’s present inside greenhouses, it can be easy for HVAC units or control panels to short circuit and default early. In addition, these environments are also susceptible to corrosion. For greenhouses located along the coastline, that threat is two-fold. So, it is vital to protect your HVAC units because the salty air and higher levels of moisture along coastlines increase the chance that the units or circuit boards could corrode.
Due to these potential issues, commercial greenhouse owners should consider adding an extra layer of protection to their HVAC units. Aftermarket products are available for contractors to use to provide a barrier against corrosion. This will not only help protect HVAC units and circuit boards, it will also protect your investment and products.
Aftermarket Spray-On Coatings
When a unit is left unprotected against corrosive agents, those agents can attack coil fins and disrupt the thermal transfer abilities while also presenting a threat to valves, cabinets, sheet metal structures and other important components. Aftermarket products like the GulfCoat Contractor Series from Modine can be applied to units after installation to create a layer of protection. The GulfCoat Contractor Series consists of GulfCoat Coil Coating and GulfCoat Circuit Shield. Coil coating provides protection against corrosive agents with the help of a synthetic multi-polymer resin backbone that is suitable for most environments and will maintain its appearance after many years of exposure to the elements. The Circuit Shield help prevent early default by providing a protective layer specifically formulated to improve adhesion and moisture resistance. It can be used to protect HVAC equipment and control panels.
Preventing Default with Maintenance
While protecting your HVAC unit with aftermarket products is paramount in the greenhouse industry, it’s also important to protect the coatings. This means ensuring the coatings and components are cleaned regularly. While many contractors will simply rinse the coils with water, the proper cleaner must be used that’s safe for the metal or coating. The unit should be cleaned every six months.
It is important to clean these coatings regularly to ensure the coatings can deliver the proper protection against corrosive agents. HVAC units are essential to creating and maintaining growing conditions inside greenhouses. They allow commercial greenhouses to meet consumer demands by producing fruits and vegetables year-round. When protecting your greenhouse’s HVAC unit, consider aftermarket coating products as one of the main solutions.
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