Your window unit could make you sick. Before you install a window air conditioner in a room, consider some of the harmful effects it can have. Mold, for example, can be worse in a window unit than a central AC system. Other possible problems apply to air conditioning in general, not just window units. Respiratory Illness Window unit air conditioners work by drawing heat and humidity from the room to lower the ambient temperature. The dehumidifying effects can also cause some drying of the mucus-coated lining inside your nose and allow airborne viruses to enter your system. A study published by the International Epidemiological Association in 2004 found higher sickness rates attributed to upper respiratory illnesses in women working in air-conditioned offices as opposed to women working in offices without air conditioning, though results were considered preliminary, due to limitations of the study's data. Allergy Irritant The humidity the window air conditioner draws from the air doesn't magically disappear;

it deposits on the cooling coils inside the unit. This moisture plus dust creates an attractive environment for mold-growing spores. Failing to remove and clean or cover the window unit during the winter allows the accumulation of mold inside the cabinet. Neglecting to clean the filters inside the unit or installing inferior filters can allow dust and debris to pass through it. Breathing these mold spores can trigger allergy symptoms, such as coughing, watery eyes and a runny nose. Mold can also trigger breathing restrictions in asthma sufferers. Inspect and clean the coils as needed. Outdoor Air Infiltration A high-quality window air conditioner that's properly installed should not permit unfiltered outdoor air into the interior space. However, any breach in the seal between the air conditioner unit and the window can introduce outdoor air, along with allergens and other air pollutants. Additionally, a malfunctioning or poorly designed air conditioner may not filter outdoor air sufficiently, pulling outdoor air directly into the room.

To prevent these problems, make sure the air conditioner unit is fully sealed around the window opening and the unit is designed to filter all conditioned air. ac condenser unit r22Also be sure to use a high-quality filter or supplemental disposable filter in addition to the unit's standard filter, to remove as many air pollutants as possible. haier air conditioner window unit troubleshootingIrritate Exiting Eye Conditions The allergens blown into the air by your window unit air conditioner can worsen allergic conjunctivitis, also known as Pink Eye. car ac repair greensboro ncAn inferior filter allows dust mites and animal dander to pass through the window unit’s blower and pollute the air. These allergens irritate the lining of the eye, turning it pink or red.

Air conditioning can also increase the suffering of individuals diagnosed with blepharitis. The cold air blowing into the room can accelerate tear evaporation and aggravate sufferers’ dry eye symptoms. Environmental Hazards Both window unit air conditioners and central units use refrigerant to cool your room. Depending on the age of the unit, it could use chlorofluorocarbon cooling agents that could leak from the sealed system and damage the earth’s ozone. Improper disposal of these older units could result in fines up to $25,000 issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Even units using hydrochlorofluorocarbon cooling agents can harm the environment, although not as damaging as those units using chlorofluorocarbons. Check with your municipality for disposal facilities before you throw away your leaky unit. References The New York Times: Really? The Claim: Air-Conditioning Can Cause ColdsCardiff University: Summer ColdSharecare: How Does My Nose Protect Me from InfectionsIEA: Workplace Air-Conditioning and Health Services Attendance Among French Middle-Aged Women: A Prospective Cohort StudyCalifornia Energy Commission: Window Air ConditionersHello Daily News: Air Conditioning: Too Cool To Be Good For You?

902 posts, read 1,556,816 times 25,521 posts, read 52,492,518 times 14,533 posts, read 20,877,240 times Originally Posted by luvnycAny electrical or mechanical component (or machine) that uses a radiator for cooling (like the radiator on your car, for example), has to be periodically cleaned. A lot of the outdoors AC units use radiator-like components, and these are regularly rinsed or air-cleaned. 12,267 posts, read 11,899,712 times Originally Posted by nightbird47 If you keep the coils clean, the filter clean, the coil fins undamaged and the drainage system clear on it you're not sucking much life at all from it. Certainly not enough life to be worried about it.Learning Center » A/C & Heating » What is Freon (And Why It’s In Your Air Conditioner)What is Freon (And Why It’s In Your Air Conditioner)Written Refrigerants  make air conditioning possible. Contained within the coils of an air conditioner, these liquid agents cool and dehumidify indoor air.

For years, the most common refrigerant gas used in air-conditioning systems was R-22 (Freon).Today, Services for Major Brand's Air Conditioner should be provided considering growing environmental concerns. Production of systems using R-22 refrigerant is being dropped out. Meanwhile, cooling systems have introduced an environment friendly alternative to R-22.Today , EPA-recognized chlorine-free R-410A refrigerant is acclaimed in the industry. Because R-410A contains no chlorine, it is considered ozone-friendly.Highest efficiency cooling systems are designed to use R-410 A refrigerant, therefore providing an economic benefit in addition to the environmental benefit.  R-410A systems are also known for improved reliability, quieter operation, improved dehumidification and enhanced heat pump performance.Main Features of R-410A are :R-410 A is a hydro-flurocarbon ( HFC ) & doesn't contribute to ozone depletion.its operating pressures are 50% higher than R - 22R-410 A systems require components capable of working at these high pressuresR-410 A is the most common refrigerant for new light commercial unitary air conditioning systems.

Written The gas used is Freon, which is merely a marketed name for  dichlorodifluoromethane (A CFC [chloro fluoro carbon]). This is a  product that is being phased out because it adds to ozone depletion and  thus the Global Warming effect. This happens because when the CFC's  escape from the unit it quickly rises up to the ozone layer. Once there  it rips the ozone (three oxygen molecules bonded together) apart and  turns them into plain oxygen (two oxygen molecules bonded together).The problem with this is that ozone is very reflective of the radiation  from the sun and it works to keep the surface of the planet from  becoming too warm.Worth noting is that a single CFC molecule could potentially destroy hundreds of thousands of ozone molecules in it's life span.Anyway it works because the freon is compressed (at the base of the  fridge/air con unit), causing it to heat up, it is then run through a  series of coils so it condenses as a liquid, it is run through an  expansion valve where it becomes a very cold gas which is run up behind  the fridge or past the fan of the airconditioning unit.

There are some alternatives in use that are less damaging to such a precious resource but freon is still the most popular.Written The commonly used refrigerant gas is R22 Chlorodifluoromethane).  However, After the Montreal Protocol the gas R22 is to be phased out due to its ozone depleting properties. R22 will phased out from the developed countries by 2020 and in developing countries by 2030.You can refer to the presentation showing the phase out schedule and alternatives by referring this Page on jandgassociates.co.uk The performance of R22 in ACs and Refrigerators was excellent compared to all other gases. Currently different firms across the world are looking to come up with an alternative to R22. Some of the other refrigerant gases which are considered as an alternative for R22 are R404,HF134a,..However these gases are not effective as R22 and also they require minor structural modification of the existing air conditioning systems due to the pressure range in which they operate.For the second part of your question.

Generally they don't add any chemicals to improve the efficiency. The gases are measured based on the COP(Coefficient of Performance) they give for the air conditioning system. Other than this the operating pressure of the refrigerant, its ability to undergo phase change ( change from one physical state to another), environmental impact..etc. are also taken into account.Written Hmm, Don't ask for me, my work or employer.R22 and CFC are gone now, R134 is still used in old AC's which have not changed refrigerants. Now a days my employer uses R600a, isobutane because of- Low vapor pressure--> low condenser duty, low pumping power and the thickness of evaporator and condenser can be reduced too to improve heat transfer and cut down some cost.High energy efficiency --> They might not have told you in school or college but the efficiency of refrigeration or air conditioning strongly depends on the refrigerant they use. Currently R600 n-butane is the most efficient then R600a is there. New refrigerants R500 or R504 I don't remember exactly but they are in research phase and might replace R600a and R134 in race of efficiency.