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Because of the
increasing environmental concerns of vehicle air
conditioning, the only refrigerant gas that is
legally permitted for use in air conditioning
systems is the CFC free R143a, all other
refrigerants have been banned, and rightly so to!
So, did the world
became a little more greener and safer with the
introduction of R134a as a refrigerant for car
climate control systems?
In most cases yes it
did, but read on to ensure you don't get caught out
with the pitfalls of the motor cars latest essential
feature, the air conditioning system:
Safety Concerns
R134a imports
Distributors across Europe may be unwittingly
selling illegally imported cylinders filled with a
cocktail of refrigerants. Disposable cylinders
labelled R134a were intercepted by refrigerant
producer Honeywell.
After analysis,
they were found to contain a mixture of R22, R152a
and R141b.
This mixture is
flammable and contains ozone-depleting substances.
It is estimated to
be around 20 percent as efficient as R134a.
The cylinders also
failed to comply with safety regulations as they
have no safety valve and do not carry the
appropriate labels and warnings.
These illegal
cylinders are believed to originate predominantly
from Asia and have been found on sale in Greece,
Romania and Germany with some evidence to suggest
sales in the UK also.
Honeywell's
managing director has appealed for help in tracking
down the importers.
Source: RAC Magazine
At AVACS we
guarantee to only buy our refrigerant from only
authorised and regulated R143a refrigerant suppliers
such as Honeywell.
Why should I
take my car to an air conditioning specialist to fix
a leak?
I can do it myself
or get my mechanic to do it...... can't I?
Many garages and
mechanics do not understand the complexity of
climate control and how it works.
As air conditioning
has become common place and even standard in the
modern car, some garages and mechanics have taken
this as just another bit that needs fixing.
The truth is,
different car manufacturers have adopted different
ways of cooling and controlling the car cabin
temperature using different methods and components.
Therefore, if a car
system seems to be leaking, do they bother to find
out where from or fix it properly?
Probably not unless
they have had specific training courses, so they
'attack' the problem with the good old fashioned
'bit of squirt', or sealant to the rest of us.
This innocuous
substance loosely designed to be 'squirted' in and
to go through pipes sticking to the sides and
'bunging up' any leaks that it finds on route!
Read the following
article from the trade MACS Action magazine to see
if sealants are a wise choice:
Beware DIY Air Con
Top Up Kits
Industry sources have reacted with concern to the
news that Halfords is selling canisters of
refrigerant direct to the public.
The company sees
an attractive market opportunity with the DIY kits
offering a much cheaper alternative to the average
garage service at anywhere between £80 - £200.
Some kits claim to
repair small leaks with the inclusion of a sealant
in the mix, on the 'Radweld' principle.
The Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board is
taking the issue up directly with Halfords stressing
the obvious environmental and safety implications
and that they could be contravening the
Environmental Protection Act.
They stated, work
on car ac systems should only be carried out by
people trained in the handling of refrigerants.
The move by
Halfords serves to underline the need for a
mandatory registration scheme for refrigerant
handling.
Taken from RAC
Magazine Nov 2005
Increase
Threat From Sealants
Air conditioning repair specialists can expect more
backyard mechanics to turn to sealants in an attempt
to avoid the cost of professional repair as the
price of R134a continues to rise and as R134a
becomes available over the counter at auto parts
retailers.
The DIYer may not
realise that sealant is being added with the
refrigerant while others think more is better,
adding a large amount into the A/C system. Unless
the DIYer mentions it when he finally brings the
vehicle to your workshop you will not know that you
are about to contaminate your A/C service equipment
and your refrigerant supply.
There are two
types of sealant in use today and both can damage
recovery equipment. Type 1 is a combination of seal
expanders and leak plugging sealants.
They cause o rings
and hoses to swell and can negatively affect
solenoid valves, switches or other component inside
your recovery machine. Type 2 sealant is a compound
that stops leaks by reacting with moisture to form a
plug at the leak point. When it encounters moisture
inside your recovery equipment it can harden
plugging hoses and plumbing and damaging solenoid
valves.
Sealant separators
such as the Airsept recycle guard are now available
which will remove type 1 & 2 sealants as well as
oil, dye and solid particles from refrigerant before
it can enter your A/C service equipment.
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