Tragic Danger Posed By Home Air Conditioning System

Rest in peace Kristal Salcido

Who would ever imagine that your home air conditioning system could be a danger to children or teens in your neighborhood?

The heartbreaking death of 12 year old Victorville girl, Kristal Salcido today, is the latest tragedy resulting from the practice of breathing freon. It is called "huffing" or "bagging".  Children and teenagers looking for a quick easy high open the air conditioner line and inhale the refrigerant.

Kristal inhaled the chemical, later passing out in her grandma’s bathroom. She was pronounced brain-dead at a local hospital. Her family says there were never warning signs of Kristal’s dangerous behavior which is not surprising, children honestly don't realize how dangerous this is.

Huffing freon prevents the body from getting oxygen. It is a dangerous EPA controlled substance.  The chemicals irritate the mouth, throat and lungs. A person can get frostbite through any of the tissues in the nose, the mouth, the face. Huffing Freon, even one time, can cause brain damage including memory loss and behavioral problems or even worse. Kids don't realize what they are risking.

But how easy is it for teens to get to that dangerous freon? Access to the refrigerant is similar to a tire access. You just unscrew the cap, press the button and let the refrigerant out.

There are refrigerant locks available and most HVAC service companies will gladly install them on your system. If teens or children have access to your equipment you may want to buy a little peace of mind. Before your next scheduled maintenance of your heating and air conditioning system ask for a freon lock. It is typically about a $40 extra.

How Important Is The Refridgerant Charge?

More than 30% of newly constructed houses and newly installed air conditioning systems in Los Angeles have the wrong refrigerant charge. Refrigerant is the compressed gas that cools the air in your home. It is commonly referred to as freon and comes labeled as 410A and R-22.

Many home owners find it hard to believe that their air conditioner is improperly charged especially since the air conditioning system is working.

Los Angeles home owners assume their AC system is working properly if it is blowing cold air. We think it should be blowing cold air at the lowest possible cost and wthout causing excessive wear and tear on your equipment.

An overcharged system will blow cold air but use more electricity. An undercharged system will blow cold air but use more electricity. Both situations lower the life expectancy of the air conditioning system. Not to the point it breaks tomorrow. A life expectancy of a properly installed central AC system is many years. Overcharging and undercharging shrink the number years the system will operate.

How Air Conditioning Works

If you live in Los Angeles Air Conditioning is a MUST have. But did you ever wonder how your AC is cooling your home? What exactly does that box on the side of your house do? The above video explains in 1 minute what how air conditioning works.