When
your air conditioning isn't working as well as it should be, aka,
cold and comfy inside when it's horrible and hot outside, you may
think that it needs a freon boost. So for about $200, you have the
AC/Heat guy out to charge up your unit again and all is well, right?
This may work for a short while, or it may work for long time,
another year probably. In reality, freon doesn't leak out or wear
down.
For
freon to work correctly, it must stay enclosed and under pressure.
When it is leaking, there are two problems. One, it's not under
pressure and therefore not cooling. Second, it is harmful to you,
anyone nearby and especially to the environment and ozone. Freon is
wonderful when it is installed and all is working well, but here some
information you may or may not have known:
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) is the most common Freon type. Studies have found that CFCs are harmful to the environment due to the fact they deplete the ozone, which is a layer of protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
- The CFCs in freon seep into the ground then into our water. This is harmful not only to the Earth as a whole, but the animals that drink and feed from the natural sources of grass and water.
- Freon is heavier than air and when humans or pets inhale it, it can be deadly.
- When you add more freon to an air conditioning unit that is leaking freon, you are putting more of this chemical into the atmosphere, which is against the law if you know this is happening.
The
release of freon into the atmosphere can cause many other problems
not listed here. Should you suspect your air conditioning or any
appliance that cools, is leaking freon, you should immediately call a
certified, experienced repair person. If the unit can not be
repaired, you should have it properly disposed of and replace it with
a new unit.
