A disturbing trend among drug-abusing teenagers puts your air conditioner at risk and can cause major health and environmental problems. Air conditioners use refrigerant that some teens have started huffing to get high. You can avoid this hazard, however, by installing an air conditioner safety cap. Without this precaution, drug abusers can remove the regular cap from your outdoor condenser’s refrigerant valve and either breathe the refrigerant onsite or capture it in a plastic bag.
The refrigerant is highly toxic to both people and the environment, especially the standard refrigerant used in cooling equipment manufactured before 2010, R-22. The cost of R-22 is rising, since the federal EPA is phasing it out. Other types are not as hard on the atmosphere but still have serious side effects for people. The best protection against this practice is to install a tamper-proof locking safety cap. This prevents abusers from tapping into your system and keeps your air conditioner running efficiently.
The side effects from huffing include long-term heart, lung and brain damage or it may even be fatal. If you startle someone who is huffing, the combination of the refrigerant in their system and the adrenalin the body releases can stop the heart.
If your air conditioner isn’t cooling as it should or your electric bills are high for no identifiable reason, the culprit may be a low refrigerant charge, either as a result of leaks in your system or theft of refrigerant. An HVAC professional will measure the pressure to see if your A/C is low on refrigerant. He’ll check your coils and connections for leaks, refill the system if you’re low, and install an air conditioner safety cap.
It’s one of the best ways to prevent the tragic consequences of refrigerant huffing and keep your air conditioner from breaking down. When the pressure falls, your compressor has to work harder, raising your electric bills and increasing the wear and tear inside the system. When it gets too low, your A/C won’t work at all, leaving you uncomfortable until the air conditioning can be repaired.
If you’d like to learn more about preventing refrigerant huffing with an air conditioner safety cap, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve provided quality HVAC services to Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties for over 34 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner safety caps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Energy 1 Heating services the Lorain, OH area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area