Air Conditioning Maintenance Do's and Don'ts
Do
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Do wear non-absorbent gloves and eye protection at all times when working on an air conditioning system.
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Do keep loose clothing and long hair clear of the condenser cooling fan(s).
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Do ensure adequate ventilation when working in an enclosed space.
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Do ensure that anyone working in the vicinity is aware of the hazards present when work is being carried out on an air conditioning system. (No smoking, no naked flames, no welding, no working in inspection pits, etc)
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Do fit protective valve caps to system service connections and refrigerant container valves when not in use.
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Do store refrigerant containers in a cool place, away from direct sources of heat and naked flames.
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Do use an exhaust extractor when running an engine in an enclosed space. In addition to the usual exhaust fumes hazard, leaking refrigerant can be burnt inside the engine to produce poisonous gas at the exhaust.
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Do discharge the air conditioning system before placing the vehicle inside a paint curing oven. The high temperatures can cause extremely high pressures (300+ psi/2069+ kPa) in the system which could cause seals and connections to leak, or hoses to burst.
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Do discharge the air conditioning system before carrying out any welding work near system components.
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Do counterhold refrigerant line connections when slackening threaded fittings, to avoid twisting the refrigerant lines.
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Do refit caps to compressor oil containers immediately after use.
Don’t
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Don’t smoke when working on or near a vehicle air conditioning system.
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Don’t use a space heater when working on an air conditioning system in an enclosed space.
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Don’t carry out welding work near air conditioning system components when the system is charged.
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Don’t vent refrigerant into the atmosphere.
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Don’t try to stop refrigerant escaping if a major leak occurs whilst working on a system, move clear immediately until the leak stops.
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Don’t operate an air conditioning system without first verifying that all connections, particularly those to service equipment, are tight and secure.
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Don’t carry out any work on an air conditioning system using an inspection pit.
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Don’t store refrigerant containers close to a heat source, or outside in direct sunlight.
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Don’t hit or strike refrigerant lines or heat exchangers on a charged air conditioning system. A blow could easily cause the soft metal to rupture.
The guidelines in this article cover some of the common dangers/risks that are present in the modern workshop. Always follow health and safety advice and excercise caution when working in any environment that may contain dangerous tools, equipment or substances.
