Spring has finally arrived so it’s time to get your air conditioning system in top shape before the hot weather hits hard. Air conditioner servicing, however, is not a job for just anyone. Did you know that people who install, service or decommission air conditioners containing fluorocarbon refrigerant gas (found in most household air cons) must hold an appropriate licence issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC)?
Who is the ARC?
ARC is an acronym for the Australian Refrigeration Council, introduced in 2005 by the Minister for Environment and Heritage to help minimise emissions of refrigerant gases into the atmosphere that contribute to global warming and damage the ozone layer. These refrigerants are commonly known as fluorocarbon refrigerants. For more information, visit the ARC website: www.arctick.org
Does my air conditioner need servicing?
Your air conditioner may need servicing or repairing if there is an issue with the components that hold and/or circulate the refrigerant within the unit. This could cause it to leak. If a leak exists, all affected parts must be repaired or replaced before the unit can be refilled with refrigerant.
If your air conditioner is not cool, it’s probably out of refrigerant. Leaking air conditioners directly emit environmentally harmful gasses to the atmosphere and runs less efficiently. This causes indirect emissions through greater electricity use. For the equipment owner, this lowered efficiency and loss of refrigerant can have a financial impact on repairs and the life expectancy of the air conditioning system, in addition to the cost of reducing the leaking refrigerant.
For one case in South Australia, ongoing leaking of a major piece of refrigeration equipment for one particular business owner resulted in the facility having to close its doors while the system was replaced, losing them business and income for several months. This cost the owner far more than if they had appropriately maintained the equipment from day one.
Refrigerant leaks found in air conditioners/refrigerators must, by law, be fixed before any new gas is introduced.
Did you know…
-
Most household air conditioners contain fluorocarbon refrigerant.
-
An appropriately licensed technician, such as our GlowTechs, must be used to recover the fluorocarbon refrigerant before an alternative refrigerant is introduced.
-
Discharging of fluorocarbon refrigerant gas is illegal under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and subject to civil penalties of $63,000 for an individual and $315,000 for a business. In some circumstances, this can even result in a criminal conviction.
-
It may be better to replace old equipment rather than continually repairing it. With such rapid improvements to technology over the last 10-15 years, this could turn out to be a great opportunity to improve the efficiency of your operation and save you money, despite the initial outlay. With some alternative refrigerants, it also significantly reduces the impact on the environment.
