50 posts, read 108,199 times Originally Posted by newlocustpt Thanks, I imagine you then took the top off then to wash from the inside? Lots of screws, but sort of hard to direct the water inside with the top on right? 25,644 posts, read 21,697,976 times 662 posts, read 1,223,982 times Originally Posted by timfountain Well I kind of figured that was obvious. HOWEVER, you are correct and I am sure many people would forget or neglect this little item."The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, not the lack of knowledge, but rather the lack in will."Vince Lombardi"Success is the sum of small effort, repeated day in and day out."Robert CollierHow Can I Tell if I Have a Freon Leak? is a trade name for a class of chemicals (known as Chlorofluorocarbons or CFC's) used as a refrigerant in air conditioning systems. Freon is a gas at room temperature and a liquid when cooled or compressed. Freon gas is colorless, non-flammable and relatively odorless.

Some Freons have an ether-like odor. gas is added to the compressor of the AC unit. This compressor is located outdoors on AC split-systems and inside wall-mounted residential units. Freon is added to a closed looped system and continuously recycled. Freon gas leaks can ocurr at the outdoor compressor or indoors as the Freonliquid is pumped into the AC unit. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends the coolant level in your HVAC system be checked every year. A system that is only 10% low in coolant will not operate efficiently and can cost over 20% more on your monthly utility bills. Continued operation of your HVAC units with low coolant can damage your compressor. Freon is 4 times heavier than air and sinks to the ground/floor initially when a leak occurs. Freon will rapidly disperse due to its high volatility. Federal law prohibits adding Freon to a leaking system. Repairs to fix the leak must be completed prior to adding Freon as Freon has been shown to damage the Earth's protective Ozone layer.

is dependent upon the amount of Freon in the system and the space/size of the area where the leak occurs. Representative quantities of Freon by type used include: Note: Freon is also used extensively in the food service industry during storage, processing and transport including supermarkets. Reportedly, Freon does not have serious long-term health effects. It is not a carcinogen, mutagen or cause damage to the liver. It is primarily a simple asphyxiant which displaces oxygen causing dizziness and suffocation at very high concentrations. It has limited irritation effects. Persons with a history of heart problems are most at risk since it has been shown to cause irregular heart beats and palpitations in high concentrations. Air conditioners work by removing heat from warm air in your buildings/homes and replacing it with cool air until the thermostat reaches the desired temperature. Freon provides cooling by: HVAC units also help clean the air inside your facility by filtering the air of dust, pollen, mold spores and other allergens.

Air conditioners also function as dehumidifiers as they take excess water vapor from the air and use it to help cool the unit.average cost of air force one flight How Can I Tell if I have a Freon Leak?air handling unit example Don't rely on a detectable odor. central air conditioner ratings 2011Look for frost-like buildup on the copper lines around the HVAC unit. Check to see if the HVAC unit is blowing warm air. If you discover you have a Freon leak, evacuate the building and contact your HVAC technician for immediate repairs. Windows and doors can be opened and fans used to bring fresh air into the building. If you feel any unusual health effects, seek medical care. July 2009 - Salt Lake City, Utah... 6 treated after Freon leak from refrigeration compressor failure at Costco Warehouse.

June 2009 - Philippines... Thick smoke from a Freon leak in an overheating AC unit filled Fession Hall during official speech. February 2009 - Raleigh, North Carolina... State laboratory of public housing building evacuated due to  Freon leak. November 2008 - Russia... 20 People suffocate and 21 injured by Freon gas on Russian Submarine when vessels fire extinguishing system unexpectedly activate. As a client or contact of AET you are automatically opted in to receive AET's free newsletter.  If you would like to be removed from the subscription, please email reply changing the subject line to "Opt-Out".  We apologize in advance for any duplication.Time to Clean Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (cleanac) The ducts in your home, even though you never see them, are among the most important parts of an ongoing, air filtration, heating and cooling system that keeps you and your family happy and healthy. However, few people realize how often duct cleaning needs to occur.

Dirt from your clothing and your feet, dust from dead skin and pets, and pollen from outside can start to block these ducts and vents over time and guess where all that excess ends up? If you have a heating or air conditioning system in your home, it’s a safe bet that you also have a complex duct system that distributes that heated or cooled air to the rooms of your house as efficiently as possible. Most people take that system for granted, forgetting that there are potential holes, leaks, or cracks in those ducts that could be leaking air in torrents, severely increasing your energy consumption and more importantly, your bills. WHAT DUCT SEALING PROVIDES Sealing the ducts in your home can help to keep your family comfortable, reduce the cost of electricity and heating year round, and ensure you are doing your part to consume less energy on a regular basis. Beyond the money and energy saving benefits of duct sealing, you can also ensure higher air quality in your home.

Fumes and gasses from outside can leak into open duct systems and be circulated throughout your home. This can make asthma, allergies or chronic illnesses worse and even if you have an air filtration system, the excess pollutants will be present in the air. Additionally, not all ducts carry heated or cooled household air. Some of them carry exhaust fumes and dangerous carbon monoxide. While it is important to have a CO monitor in your home, you can ensure safe breathing for your family with a properly sealed duct system. Have you ever thought about what the condenser coil on your outdoor air conditioning unit is really doing every summer? In extreme heat, it takes the heat from your house and pushes it outside into that already warm summer air and in cold weather it moves air across heated coils to warm it. To do this, it pumps a large amount of air into and out of the house. Imagine what happens if dirt builds up on the unit or if you allow plants to grow over the outdoor coils?

The air flow has nowhere to go and the air conditioning unit only gets hotter, building up to the point of potential damage. As a result, the cost of electricity to run the fan on your unit skyrockets as the lifespan of your air conditioner drops sharply due to overuse. To make sure this does not happen, Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning provides regular coil cleaning to remove excess dust and debris from your air conditioning and heating coils. In addition to professional cleanings, we also recommend you pay especially close attention to the plants and dirt that build up on the outside of your unit, especially during the cooler months when it is not in use A good cleaning should be done at least every two years, depending on how often you use the air conditioner in the summer. For those that leave their air conditioner on from May through September, you might even need to have it cleaned annually to ensure the build-up is less severe. Is your house leaking? In many homes, air leaks are found in holes cut where plumbing, wiring, lighting, and duct work are installed.