Air Conditioning Refrigerant and Refrigerant Leaks The cooling medium of a air conditioning or refrigeration system is called its refrigerant. In most residential air conditioners and many refrigeration systems it is R-22 or Refrigerant which is a chlorofluorocarbon or CFC. Refrigerant is an Environmental Protection Agency controlled substance which is deemed hazardous if released into the environment and will damage the Earths ozone layer if not properly contained. Air conditioners do not consume Refrigerant and you should never need to add or change the Refrigerant in your air conditioning system unless there is a leak. According to environmental laws any refrigerant that is removed must be extracted and and filtered by a refrigerant recovery or recycling machine. According to environmental laws any refrigerant that is purchased, installed, or removed must be extracted and and filtered by a certified technician using a certified refrigerant recovery or recycling machine. To become certified technicians must successfully pass a written examination for the type of equipment on which they wish to work.

There are three different types of certification, Type I for small appliances, Type II for high pressure refrigerants, and Type III for low pressure refrigerants. Exams are given by organizations which have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is extremely important that the coolant or Refrigerant level of an air conditioning system be checked often. A 10% loss of Refrigerant or coolant will cost the home or business owner 20 percent more in electrical costs and can cause undue wear and tear on your unit. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America or ACCA recommend checking once a year to maintain the proper Refrigerant levels. If your Refrigerant levels are low either the proper charge was never added to your system or there is a leak which should be repaired. Low levels of Refrigerant can cause compressor failure, reduce the efficiency of your air conditioner, can freeze the evaporator coil, and many other problems. Refrigerant leaks will not get smaller and will usually increase in severity over time so a repair can save money on service as well.

The laws on CFC's do not allow an air conditioning contractor to add Refrigerant to a leaky commercial system if the leak is within 30% of the units capacity. They are required to fix the leak in the system. Violation of this law may cause contractors to loose their license. Leaks can be caused by many problems including unit vibration, physical damage (from lawn movers, pets, etc.), stress, worn service valves, etc. Methods for locating leaks include visual inspection, high viscosity liquid leak detector, electronic detection equipment, ultraviolet leak detection and a nitrogen isolation test. Of all of the methods the nitrogen isolation test is one of the most effective methods for locating all the leaks in the a system. In a nitrogen isolation test the system is isolated into four parts. The condensing unit, suction line, liquid line, and evaporator coil. Access fittings are installed and sealed shut to allow nitrogen pressure of several hundred pounds PSI (per square inch) is added to each component.

Pressure readings are taken and recorded and if there is a pressure drop it indicates the presence of a leak. For very small leaks it may be necessary to leave the unit pressurized for up to 24 hours. After the leak is repaired the system is reconnected, vacuumed, and charged with refrigerant Click here to Order Parts from Ra-Jac Services Online Air-Conditioning and Heating Storewindow air conditioner repair rockford il Take the guesswork out of shopping for high quality air conditioning and heating parts for your home or office. car air conditioning repair cheshireWe offer only top quality parts that the professionals are using. car air conditioning repair scarboroughLet our 40+ years in the air conditioning, heating, ventilation and refrigeration industry work for you.

Click here for 10 Reasons to choose Ra Jac as your Air Conditioning and Heating Company for Repair and Installation Service. Ra-Jac Air Conditioning & Heating has proudly served Galveston County TX since 1966. We pride ourselves on providing top notch service on residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration in the Southern Texas area. We offer prompt and courteous service on air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment. Algoa / Arcadia / Bacliff / Bayou Vista / Clear Lake City / Clear Lake Shores / Dickinson / El Lago / Friendswood / Galveston / Hitchcock / Kemah / La Marque / League City / Nasa Area / Nassau Bay / San Leon / Santa Fe / Seabrook / Taylor Lake Village / Texas City / Tiki Island / WebsterWHEN SHOULD I DO FURNACE MAINTENANCE? The old adage is true: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound ofBelow you’ll find our Preventative Maintenance Checklist, which is our proven method to keep your system in the pink and your home in

For a system that heats and cools: perform maintenance in the spring and fall For cooling system maintenance only: perform maintenance at least once a year, before the cooling season For furnace maintenance only: perform maintenance at least once a year, before the heating HVAC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST Many dealers provide priority service for their customers who have an annual maintenance or service agreement. maintenance will ensure that your system runs as efficiently asYour local dealer will perform the following tasks, depending on the unit: Inspect unit for proper refrigerant level and adjust if necessary Clean dirt, leaves and debris from inside cabinet Inspect base pan for restricted drain openings—remove obstructions as necessary Inspect coil and cabinet—clean as needed Inspect fan motor and fan blades for wear and damage—on older models lubricate as needed Inspect control box, associated controls/accessories, wiring and connections.

Controls may include contactors, relays, circuit boards, capacitors, sump heat and other accessories. All control box and electrical parts should be checked for wear or damage. compressor and associated tubing for damage Inspect and clean blower assembly (includes blower housing, blower wheel and motor) On older models, lubricate motor and inspect and replace fan belt if needed Check combustion blower housing for lint and debris and clean as necessary Inspect evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain lines. Clean as needed Inspect for gas leaks in gas furnaces Inspect burner assembly—clean and adjust as needed Inspect ignition system and safety controls—clean and adjust as needed Inspect heat exchanger or heating elements Inspect flue system—check for proper attachment to the furnace, any dislocated sections, and for signs of corrosion. Inspect control box, associated controls, wiring and connections Clean or replace air

filters Inspect conditioned airflow system (ductwork)—check for leaks WHILE YOUR SYSTEM IS OPERATING Monitor system starting characteristics and capabilities Listen for abnormal noise Search for source of unusual odors Monitor air conditioning and heat pump systems for correct refrigerant charge Measure outdoor dry bulb temperature Measure indoor dry and wet bulb temperature Measure high and low side system pressures Monitor gas furnace for correct line and manifold gas pressure—make adjustments as needed Measure temperature rise and adjust airflow as needed Check vent system for proper operation Monitor system for correct line and load volts/amps Monitor system operation per manufacturer's specifications Provide system operation report and recommend repairs or replacement as necessary NOTE: Trane recommends all maintenance and service work be performed by a professional air conditioning and heating dealer that holds the appropriate

credentials to install and service air conditioning and heating a Trane Comfort Specialist near you HOW CAN I GET THE MOST OUT OF MY TRANE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS? systems are designed to provide optimal efficiency and comfort. it’s time to do the same to your home. Here are some things you can do around the house to optimize the operation of your system, as well as the comfort inside your home. MAINTENANCE Set the thermostat as high as comfort willMake sure attics are adequately ventilated to relieveIf necessary, improve airflow by adding or enlargingWhen building a new house or renovating an old one, choose light-colored roof shingles to reflect more of the sun'sDuring moderate weather, don't use the air conditionerDraw blinds or drapes to block the sunlight during the hottest part of the day. windows exposed to direct sunlight. In the cooling season, don't run kitchen and bath exhaust fans longer than necessary.

Don't place lamps, TV sets or other heat-producing devices beneath a wall-mounted thermostat. Rising heat from that equipment may cause the air conditioning system to overcool your house. HEATING & FURNACE MAINTENANCE Locate the thermostat on an inside wall away from windows and doors. thermostat as low as comfort permits. Each degree over 68°F can add 3% to the amount of energy needed for heating. So lower the thermostat a degree or two when expecting a large group of guests. sure your home is properly insulated. This is the single most important step in conserving energy. Thermal insulation should be specified in terms of thermal resistance (R-values). is recommended for ceilings, and R-11 (3-1/2”) for exterior walls and floors over unheated areas. In colder climates, considerInfiltration of humid outside air is your heating and air conditioning system's worst enemy—it could account for 15% to 30% of air conditioning energy requirements.