It took millennia, not years, before humans evolved from the fan to a device that creates comfortable living conditions based on preset room environmental parameters. The evolution of the air conditioner: fan – China, early 2nd century BC; fan – Europe, mid-16th century; ventilator – England, 1735; and the actual beginning of what we use today and call air conditioning was the installation of an industrial refrigeration machine in a Brooklyn printing house (USA) in 1902. And the domestic air conditioner – the predecessor to today's split systems and window air conditioners – was an air conditioner manufactured in the USA in 1929. But here, ammonia was used as a refrigerant. It wasn't until 1939 that freon was invented for filling air conditioners.
Freon is the basis of an air conditioner.
Air conditioner A device designed to maintain specified climate parameters within a specific volume of space. One of the most important components of this complex technical device is freon. Air conditioners utilize freon's ability to absorb heat during evaporation and release heat during condensation. During operation, the refrigerant naturally leaks, so refilling the air conditioner is a mandatory part of split-system maintenance. Annual freon leakage can reach up to 15% of the total refrigerant volume in the air conditioner. Refrigerant refills must be performed at least every two years. Initially, the air conditioner operates reliably within the set parameters. However, over time, performance deteriorates. And here, leakage is one of the problems. When a freon leak occurs, the compressor will overheat due to the refrigerant circulation, as it is cooled by the freon. This period typically lasts for up to one and a half years. In principle, you can refill the unit yourself, but this will require expensive equipment. However, it's more practical to entrust this task to a specialist at a qualified service center. Before refilling the unit with freon, the specialist will diagnose the unit and, if any faults are detected, repair them.
What should alert you?
Refilling the air conditioner and maintaining the freon level in the unit is the key to its stable operation.
What are the signs in the device's operation that should alert the user:
- Slight cooling occurs.
- If frost appears on the hoses, this is the first sign that the working parts are frozen. If ice forms, the unit must be turned off. Otherwise, the freon may leak from the system.
- The appearance of oily stains on the outdoor unit is a sign of a freon problem. This could be a leak or a complete lack of refrigerant in the system.
- Another sign of a lack of freon in the air conditioning system is ice literally pouring out of the unit.
- The appearance of noise and hissing from the indoor unit may indicate a blockage or kinking of the freon pipeline tubes.
All these signs indicate the need to contact the appropriate centers, where qualified specialists can prevent costly repairs and, in the worst case, replacement of the air conditioner. Experience with air conditioners shows that specialists are typically called in when the unit stops working. This can be quite expensive, especially when it's hot outside. A lack of diagnostic inspections, in addition to freon loss, also leads to the accumulation of harmful microorganisms in the air ducts and indoor unit filter.
Don't ignore
When installing an air conditioner in a private apartment, office space, or industrial premises, it makes sense to enter into a contract with a service organization that will perform the following services promptly and efficiently:
- Refueling the air conditioner with freon
- Cleaning the evaporator
- Cleaning the drainage system
- Regular diagnostics of the system
