16 safety tips for mobile A/C service pros

ALWAYS wear eye protection when servicing air conditioning systems or handling refrigerant.
2. Avoid breathing refrigerant and lubricant vapor or mist. Exposure may irritate eyes, nose and throat.
If accidental discharge occurs, ventilate the work area.
3. Do not allow refrigerants to come in contact with open flames and high-temperature surfaces.
Decomposition is hazardous, and can occur if refrigerant is exposed to high temperatures (open flames,
hot metal surfaces, etc.)
4. HFC-134a is not flammable at normal ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure. However,
tests have shown it to be combustible at certain pressures and ambient temperatures when mixed with
air under pressure in a sealed environment. Service equipment or vehicle A/C systems should not be
pressure tested or leak tested with compressed air.
5. PAG lubricant is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture). Containers must be kept tightly closed.
6. PAG lubricant can be a skin irritant. Protective impervious gloves are required to prevent lubricant
contact with the skin. To help avoid skin contact, mineral oil should be used to coat o-rings and seals
prior to installation. Also, since PAG lubricants absorb moisture, using mineral oil reduces the potential
for fitting corrosion.
7. PAG lubricants can cause damage to paint, plastic parts, engine drive belts and coolant hoses. Care
should be taken to prevent PAG lubricants from coming into contact with these items.
8. Failure to follow instructions provided by A/C system service equipment manufacturers could result
in personal injury or equipment damage.
9. To prevent refrigerant cross-contamination, use separate service equipment for each refrigerant.
Lubricant and refrigerant left in hoses and equipment can be a source of cross-contamination.
10. NEVER transfer refrigerants to a cylinder or tank unless it is Department of Transportation
approved for refilling.
DOT approval is indicated by the designation “DOT 4BA” or “DOT 4BW” stamped on a tank’s collar
(handle).
11. If a refrigerant tank is overfilled, it may explode. To prevent this from occurring, when transferring
refrigerant into a tank, the safe filling level must be controlled by weight, and must not exceed 60% of
the tank’s gross weight rating.
12. NEVER perform service on recovery/recycling/recharge equipment (other than routine
maintenance) without first consulting authorized service personnel. The removal of internal fittings and
filters can cause the escape of refrigerant under pressure.
13. NEVER perform maintenance or service on recovery/recycling/recharge equipment with the unit
plugged into electric power unless directed otherwise.
14. Avoid using extension cords with recovery/recycling/recharge equipment. If this is unavoidable, use
a minimum length, 3-wire (No. 14 AWG minimum) cord with a ground circuit. To prevent shock
hazards and reduce the risk of fire, make sure the extension cord is in good condition (not worn or
frayed) with the ground circuit intact.
15. Recovery/recycling/recharge equipment often contains parts that may produce arcs or sparks. Do
not use this equipment near flammable liquids or vapors.
16. Fuel injection systems on vehicles contain a service port the same size as one of the CFC-12 A/C
system service ports. Be careful not to attach A/C service equipment to a vehicle’s fuel injection
system.
Additional health and safety information may be obtained from equipment, refrigerant and lubricant
manufacturers.
Refer to their instruction manuals and Material Safety Data Sheets.
Caution: When using recovery/recycling/recharge equipment, while it is very important to follow the
general service procedures outlined in this manual, it is also very important to follow your equipment’s
manufacturer’s instructions.
Failure to follow these instructions could result in personal injury, damage to the equipment or A/C
systems, or improper or inadequate refrigerant recovery, recycling and containment.

When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and
quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not
released into the atmosphere.

Refrigerant Handling Safety

Summer is approaching fast, and you’re going to be servicing your air conditioning units as
well as your customers. It’s a very busy time for the air conditioning industry and you need to take care
and follow all the safety guidelines in order to avoid injury to yourself, property damage, as well as
damage to the environment.
Refrigerants used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems must be used properly to avoid potential
hazards. Most refrigerants have low boiling points and present dangers of frostbite and eye damage.
Refrigerant liquids with higher boiling points can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Refrigerants can
also damage the environment if handled improperly. In the mid-1970s it was suggested that freon and
other CFCs were, by chemical reaction, destroying the ozone present in the stratosphere. Depletion of
the ozone could create a threat to animal life on the Earth because the ozone absorbs ultraviolet
radiation that can induce skin cancer. The use of Freon in aerosol-spray containers was banned in the
United States in the late 1970s. By the early 1990s, accumulating evidence of ozone depletion in the
Polar Regions had heightened worldwide public alarm over the problem, and in 1992 most of the
developed nations agreed to end their production of freon and other CFCs by 1996.
Here are guidelines for the safe handling of refrigerants.
• Employers must ensure that personnel who handle refrigerants are properly trained in their safe
use and handling, and have reviewed the MSDS for the refrigerant used.
• Wear safety goggles and gloves at all times when handling refrigerants or servicing a
refrigeration system.
• Wear the proper respiratory protection while working with refrigerants. Check the MSDS for
the proper level of protection required.
• Proper ventilation or respiratory protection is required for any work on equipment in an
enclosed area where a leak is suspected.
• Always ventilate or test the atmosphere of an enclosed area before beginning work. Many
refrigerants which may be undetectable by human senses are heavier than air and will replace
the oxygen in an enclosed area causing loss of consciousness.
• Inhaling refrigerants can cause sudden death. Intentional inhalation of refrigerants to produce
intoxication can cause the heart to cease functioning properly and may be fatal.
• Refrigerant cylinders should never be filled over 80% of their capacity (liquid expansion may
cause the cylinder to burst).
• Check the I.C.C. cylinder stamp to ensure the cylinder is safe. Always check the refrigerant
number before charging to avoid mixing refrigerants.
• Always check for the correct operating pressure of the refrigerant used. Use gauges to monitor
the system pressure.
• Always charge refrigerant into the low side of the system to avoid damaging the compressor, or
causing the system to rupture.
• R-717 and R-764 are very irritating to the eyes and lungs. Avoid exposure to these refrigerants.
• R-717 is slightly flammable and mixed with the proper proportions of air may form an
explosive mixture.
• Fluorocarbon refrigerants should be treated as toxic gases. In high concentrations, these vapors
have an anesthetic effect, causing stumbling, shortness of breath, irregular or missing pulse,
tremors, convulsions, and even death.
• Ammonia is a respiratory irritant in small concentrations and is a life threatening hazard at
5,000 parts per million (ppm).
• Ammonia is also flammable at a concentration of 150,000-270,000 ppm
• Always stand to one side when operating an ammonia valve. Ammonia can burn and damage
the eyes, or cause loss of consciousness. Ammonia leaks may be detected by their smell, or with
a sulfur candle or sulfur spray vapor.
• Refrigerant oil in a hermetic compressor is often very acidic causing severe burns. Avoid skin
contact with this oil.
• Liquid refrigerant on the skin may freeze the skin surface causing frostbite. If contact with the
skin occurs, wash immediately with water, treat any damaged skin area for frostbite, and seek
medical treatment.
• Never cut or drill into an absorption refrigeration mechanism. The high pressure ammonia
solutions are dangerous and may cause blindness if the solution contacts your eyes.
• Ensure that all liquid refrigerant is removed and the pressure is at 0 psi before disassembling a
system.
• Do not smoke, braze, or weld when refrigerant vapors are present. Vapors decompose to
phosgene acid vapors and other products when exposed to an open flame or hot surface.
• When soldering, brazing, or welding on refrigeration lines, the lines should be continuously
purged with low pressure carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
• Following work, the lines should be pressure tested with carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
• If refrigerant makes contact with the eyes, immediately wash with mineral oil as this absorbs the
refrigerant. Then wash your eyes with a prepared boric acid solution.
• If the refrigerant is ammonia, wash with water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention as
soon as possible.
• Purged refrigerants must not be released into the atmosphere. Federal law governs their
disposal, and they must be collected and disposed of properly.
• Do not allow temperatures where refrigerant cylinders are stored to reach 125 degrees F.
Temperatures can easily exceed 125 degrees F in your vehicle during hot weather.
 • Inspect refrigerant cylinders regularly. Do not use the cylinders if they show signs of rust,
distortion, denting, or corrosion. Store cylinders secured and upright in an area where they will
not be knocked over or damaged.
Special Note: Always check MSDS before handling any refrigerant and follow all safety requirements.
Exposure to large concentrations of fluorocarbon refrigerants can be fatal. In high concentrations, these
vapors have an anesthetic effect, causing stumbling, shortness of breath, irregular or missing pulse,
tremors, convulsions, and even death. Take care and be safe…

Refrigerants
R-12 refrigerants have effectively been replaced in modern air-conditioning equipment with R-134a or any of the other
approved substitutes, and R-22 has some acceptable substitutes also. They are considered to be nontoxic and
noninflammable. However, any gas under pressure can be hazardous. The latent energy in the pressure alone can cause
damage. In working with R-12 and R-22 (or their substitutes), observe the same precautions that apply when working with
other pressurized gases.
Never completely fill any refrigerant-gas cylinder with liquid. Never fill more than 80 percent with liquid. This will allow
for expansion under normal conditions.
Make sure an area is properly ventilated before purging or evacuating a system that uses R-12, R-22, or their equivalents. In
certain concentrations and in the presence of an open flame such as a gas range or a gas water heater, R-12 and R-22 may
break down and form a small amount of harmful phosgene gas. This poison gas was used in World War I.

Types of Refrigerants
he most common types of refrigerants in use nowadays are presented below:
- halocarbons or freons.
- azeotropic refrigerants.
- zeotropic refrigerants.
- inorganic refrigerants like carbon dioxide, ammonia, water and air.
- hydrocarbon refrigerants.
Halocarbons are generally synthetically produced. Depending on whether they include chemical elements hydrogen
(H), carbon (C), chlorine (Cl) and florine (F) they are named after as follows:
CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons): R11, R12, R113, R114, R115
HCFCs (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons): R22, R123
HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons): R134a, R404a, R407C, R410a
Since determining that the common hydrochlorofluorocarbon refrigerant R-22, which has been in use
for decades, is not as healthy for the environment as experts once thought, the Environmental
Protection Agency has been working to phase out the refrigerant and will eventually ban it altogether.
The phasing out of R-22 began in 2010, and further phasing out took place in 2015. By 2020, use of the
refrigerant will be severely limited, and by 2030, it will be completely illegal.
As more consumers work to ensure their refrigerant-based machinery and equipment will still work in
their residences, businesses and industrial worksites, they are looking for environmentally-friendly,
efficient and cost-effective freon alternatives. To help those looking to help phase out R-22, we have
created this list of suitable replacements.
Below, you will find four popular refrigerants that are safe and suitable alternatives to freon. Please
note, each of these refrigerants have their own list of pros and cons, as well as many uses and safety
precautions that should be taken into consideration.
1. R-134A

Click Here to Buy R-134A on Amazon

A haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties, Norflurane is more commonly referred to as
R-134A. R-134A is made of a single component and is not blended like most R-12 and R-22
alternatives are. Because of this, working with the refrigerant does not require the use of multiple
recovery machines.
According to Environmental Protection Agency regulations, any product using or recycling a blend
requires a separate machine for each component. Currently, R-134A is the only approved alternative
refrigerant to retrofit R-12 air conditioning systems in vehicles, which is also its most common use.
However, retrofitting must follow proper procedures in order to avoid problems or safety hazards.
Retrofitting is usually an easy procedure. Typically, the process includes changing out the vehicle’s
accumulator or receiver/dryer, removing any old compressor oil and replacing the vehicle air
conditioner’s high-pressure switch. Despite the easy process, it is still important to perform it carefully
and thoroughly. If any R-22 is left in the system, it could result in cross-contamination.
Cross-contamination of R-22 and R-134A can make the vehicle’s cooling system less reliable and
might raise the compressor head’s pressure to dangerous levels that result in the system completely
failing. Additionally, R-134A requires a special oil blend of either polyalylene or polyol ester.
R-134A is considered better for the environment because it has what some experts consider an
insignificant effect on the ozone layer – some claim it has an Ozone Depletion Potential of 0 – but
some countries still are not convinced that it is the best alternative and have been phasing it out along
with R-22. Even so, it is still available in the United States and can be purchased at the majority of auto
shops and in the automotive department of most big box stores.

2. R-407C

Click Here to Buy R-407C on Amazon

Because it has thermodynamic properties that closely correspond to those available in R-22, R-407C is
a common replacement refrigerant for those who wish to retrofit their R-22 equipment.
The mixture of hydrofluorocarbons includes a blend of pentafluoroethane, difluoromethane and
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. The widely accepted alternative refrigerant is popular in packaged air
conditioners and ductless split systems and water chillers as well as in light air conditioning and direct
expansion systems found in residential, commercial and industrial properties. R-407C also works in
medium temperature refrigeration systems.
R-407C is used in many newly manufactured appliances. New equipment that uses nitrogen as a
holding charge works best with R-407C because of the use of polyol ester oil. While it is most common
to put in new appliances and refrigeration systems, R-407C is able to be retrofitted on some R-22
systems as long as the procedure includes an oil change.
This alternative to freon is considered safe for the environment due to its Ozone Depletion Potential of
zero. Available in both cylinders and drums, R-407C can be purchased from reputable gas and
refrigerant suppliers, many of which are available on Amazon.com.

3. R-404A

Click Here to Buy R-404A on Amazon

Another widely accepted alternative to R-22, R-404A has an Ozone Depletion Potential of 0, just as R-
407C and R-134A. This refrigerant is often used for refrigeration systems that require a temperature
between -45° C and 15° C, which translates to between -49° F and 59° F, respectively. It is most useful
in the commercial and industrial transport industries due to its wide temperature range.
The refrigerant’s makeup is very similar to R-22 and sometimes offers improved performance. Because
R-404A has no rapid reaction to air or water, it is considered safe for many uses. It is also non-
flammable, colorless and odorless.
However, as with any refrigerant, users should always take the appropriate safety precautions to protect
themselves. Direct contact with R-404A can still cause frostbite, and exposing it to fire or high heat for
too long can result in a ruptured tank, which will have a rocket-effect that you don’t want to be around.
R-404A is fairly common and is available for purchase in stores that specialize in providing heating and
cooling products. You may also find it available on Amazon.com.
4. R-410A

Click Here to Buy R-410A on Amazon

A blend of two hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane, R-410A is a
non-ozone-depleting refrigerant that provides better energy efficiency than both R-22 and R-407C and
uses no chlorine in its makeup.
It is considered more than suitable as an R-22 replacement due to its higher pressure and refrigeration
capacity that results in better performance. Should users decide to purchase units that use R-410A, the
process is usually quite easy. In fact, many companies that manufacture air conditioning and
refrigeration equipment make units specifically for use with R-410A.
While it is most popular in commercial refrigeration, air conditioning and chilling units, it is important
to note that this alternative to Freon will not work in R-22 A/C units. Because R-410A has higher
pressure, it requires a different manifold pressure gauge than what is typically used with R-22.
The refrigerant must be charged in its liquid form and only in short bursts. R-410A is sold under
several trademarks: AZ-20, Suva 410A, Genetron R410A, Forane 410A, EcoFluor R410 and Puron. It
is fairly easy to buy online and in specialty heating and cooling stores.
 AC200V/2.2kw/50Hz air compressor (tank 99L)

Pressure Washer Pump | eBay

ebay.co.uk

WELLMATE WELL MATE Water Pressure Tank ...

picclick.com

The refrigeration cycle explained in ...

air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-guide.com