Air conditioners can use a wide range of refrigerants, but the most common air conditioning refrigerant is Freon or R22, depending on the year of the unit. The latest model of air conditioning uses a relatively safer coolant, the R410-A. No matter what your air conditioning coolant is, it is CFCs. The CFCs fall under the category of controlled substances, which means they must be handled carefully. Your air conditioning unit does not use any coolant during operation, as is obvious, and if the coolant level goes down and needs to be refilled, a leak in the unit can occur.
Many people encounter leaked air-conditioning equipment, and many overlook the spill and keep using the equipment, which is a very common in Singapore. However, such a practice is very dangerous not only for air conditioners and occupants of air-conditioned buildings or houses, but also for the environment.
 Why air conditioning leak?
A common cause behind air conditioning leaks is a failed schrader valve. In most cases, the seal around the valve will deteriorate. Another possible reason may be a evaporation coil or hole in the capillary. This hole is the result of the tube rubbing against each other, eventually producing a hole.
If air-conditioning coolant leaks into your house, it quickly evaporates into gas, it is harmful to our health. In extreme cases, it can cause many health problems such as headache, nausea, and even suffocation. When CFCs come in contact with the skin, they may cause irritation, cracking and dryness. Prolonged CFC inhalation periods may lead to loss of coordination, dizziness and increased heart rate . Prolonged using may lead to more serious health problem such as shortness of breath, unconsciousness, excessive cough and even death. CFC's heat absorption capacity can cause frostbite when it comes in contact with vulnerable parts of the body, such as the eyes.
 Air conditioning damage
Although the health and environmental hazards of leaking air conditioners may appear after some time, the most direct and obvious effect is the air conditioning itself. When you continue to use your air conditioning unit, your improper pressure compressor may irreversibly damage the equipment despite leaks. Even if the equipment is still serviceable, the cost of repairs can be so high that you may regret using air conditioners after a leak is detected. In addition to the increased maintenance costs, a 20% drain is eventually consumed for every 10% of the refrigerant loss whenever leaking equipment is operated.
Studies show that the CFCs cannot gel with the soil and not to be absorbed by them. They penetrate the soil and contaminate groundwater sources. When CFCs are mixed with groundwater, their risks can also increase as groundwater is affected by animals and plants. They may contaminate the well so that they are not suitable for use.
 What to do when a refrigerant leak occurs
It is recommended that you stop using air-conditioning equipment once a leak is found. The next step is to require certified aircon servicing singapore technicians to seal the source of the leak. Remember, not only for the health of you and your device, but also for the environment. An important thing to keep in mind is that trying to repair a leak by you can lead to a greater risk than leakage of a CFC.
 You may want to enlarge the problem to the extent that the entire unit needs to be replaced, which will definitely cost you more service technicians. The only breathing room is that domestic air-conditioning units seldom leak such a large amount of deadly CFCs, but that does not mean that domestic air-conditioning leaks are negligible. Although this spillage is not common, if you suspect this spill even further, it is best to stop using the air conditioner and contact aircon professional as soon as possible.
