alvinashah2018-blog

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HOW TO ENSURE SAFETY WHEN USING A FIRE HYDRANT

Water from a fire hydrant systems shoots out at over 100mph, so it is essential to be safe when using one.

We see fire hydrants around every time we drive down the street, but most of the people are not aware of what they are for or how to use them. This is also due to the fact that not everyone is allowed to use a fire hydrant.  They are only handled by people who are qualified to do so such as the contractors, road cleaners, and emergency personnel. For individuals who do use fire hydrants, here is the way to ensure safety.

Get A Permit

The primary thing you need to do to ensure safety while using a fireplace hydrant is to get a permit to use it. Many cities require that you get a permit in order to use a hydrant. This guarantees that no person is using a fire hydrant for the wrong motives. You can apply for a permit through your city government or their water authority. You need to apply for the permit well in advance of the date when you would be using the fire hydrant.

Secure The Area

Before using a fire hydrant, make sure to cordon off the area around it to refrain people from coming too close to the site. The hydrants shoot out water at over 100mph, and if a person gets hit by the force it could cause injury. Before you open the hydrant, make sure it is stable and doesn’t have any free components.

Opening The Hydrant

Ensure safety while opening the hydrant. Make sure to open it slowly in an anti-clockwise manner.

The Hydrant

Much like the way you open it, ensure you shut it slowly and completely. There's a socket that should be turned clockwise to close it. After you have closed it in all way, watch the fire hydrant for a little while to ensure that the water flow stops from all components of the tool.

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Fire Hydrant Systems

EFFPL accommodates a Fire Hydrant Systems amount to a piping network from the pump house with hydrant and isolation values. To firefight prominently, the piping network contains pressurized water. Firefighters can tap into a water supply by a fire hydrant which is also known as Johnny pump or a fire pump which is a component of active fire protection.

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Fire Fighting System

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EFFPL accommodates a Fire Hydrant Systems amount to a piping network from the pump house with hydrant and isolation values. To firefight prominently, the piping network contains pressurized water. Firefighters can tap into a water supply by a fire hydrant which is also known as Johnny pump or a fire pump which is a component of active fire protection.

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Working of Fire Foam Suppression System.

Foam works in several ways that depending on the kind of fire. fire are split into classes: A for normal combustibles (wood, paper, etc), B for ignitable liquids (gas, oil, etc), C for energized materials (electrically supplied machines), and D for combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, etc). Foam is usually solely used on the first two categories, A and B and that they use differing types of froth and equipment.

Class A foam works by soaking into the burning material, breaking down the surface tension and allowing water to penetrate it better, thereby cooling it and inhibiting its access to oxygen. additionally, class A foam "sticks" to fuel that permits the properties of water to be applied to them longer. class A Fire Foam Suppression System involve a pump, a water system, foam concentrate, hose, an eductor or injector, and a nozzle. the foam is mixed with the water within the hose at the eductor/injector at a share of typically .1-1%. the upper the share, the a lot of the "shaving cream" effect.

Class A foams are used predominantly with vegetation fires, however have gained quality within the u. s. over the last decade just about in structural firefighting. several departments have additional compressed air Foam Systems (CAFS) to their arsenal. These systems have an equivalent quality of the systems delineated higher than except they add compressed gas to make bubbles within the foam that will increase its effectiveness and lightens the burden of the hose.

Class B foam works by forming a vapor barrier over the ignitable liquid prohibiting the vapors from the fuel to ignite (remember, it's these vapors that ignite, not the liquid). There are many sorts of class B foam for various sorts of fuels and there are differing types of application depending on things (high growth foam could also be wont to completely cover an outsized space like a machine space in a warehouse).

Class B foam systems work slightly totally different than class A systems. they're typically comprised of a pump, a water system, foam concentrate, hose, an eductor/injector, an trouble maker, and a nozzle. the largest difference is that the class B foam should have bubbles (the addition of agitation) to figure. whereas usually times you can't tell once a suppression system has class A foam (rarely is it "shaving cream"), if you can't tell (there ought to be "shaving cream") class B foam is returning from the nozzle, then one thing is wrong with the system. class B foam is usually applied at 3-6% (concentrate to water).

Unlike Class A Fire Foam Suppression Systems, class B foam typically needs reapplication. Firefighters, using ignitable gas meters, should monitor the world wherever the flammable liquid was kept or spilled. If ignitable levels are higher than a precise share of their lower explosive limit (it differs for each chemical), then foam should be reapplied. class B foam incidents needs an amazing quantity of resources and an outsized amount of foam offer.

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What is Fire Fighting Systems?

A Fire Fighting Systems is probably the most important of the building services, as its aim is to safe human life and property, strictly in that order.  

It consists of three basic parts:

·        A Large store of water in tanks, either underground or on the top of the building, called fire storage tanks

·        A Specialized pumping system,

·        A large network of pipes ending in either hydrants or sprinklers.

A fire hydrant is a vertical steel pipe with an outlet, close to which two fire hoses are stored. During a fire, firefighters will go to the outlet, break open the hoses, attach one to the outlet, and manually open it so that water rushes out of the nozzle of the hose. The quantity and speed of the water is so great that it can jamming over the firefighter holding the hose if he is not standing in the correct way.  As soon as the fire fighter opens the hydrant, water will gush out, and sensors will detect a drop-in pressure in the system. This drop-in pressure will trigger the fire pumps to turn on and start pumping water at a terrible flowrate.

A sprinkler is a nozzle attached to a network of pipes, and installed just below the ceiling of a room. Every sprinkler has a small bulb with a liquid in it. This bulb normally stops the flow of water. In a fire, the liquid in the bulb will become hot. It will then expand, and brash the glass bulb, removing the obstacle and causing water to spray from the sprinkler. The main difference between a hydrant and a sprinkler is that a sprinkler will come on automatically in a fire. A fire hydrant has to be operated manually by the trained firefighters. A sprinkler will usually be activated quickly in a fire - possibly before the fire station has been informed of the fire - and therefore is very effective than the hydrant.  For this reason, a sprinkler system is considered very good at putting out fires before they spread and become unmanageable.

Fire-Storage Tanks

The amount of water in the fire storage tanks is determined by the danger level of the project under consideration.  Most building codes have at least three levels, namely, Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard, and High Hazard.  The relevant building code lists which type of structure falls in each category.  The quantity of water to be stored is usually given in hours of pumping capacity. In Fire Fighting Systems with a capacity of one hour, the tanks are made large enough to supply the fire with water for a period of one hour when the fire pumps are switched on.

The water is usually stored in the concrete underground tanks. It is essential to ensure that this store of water always remains full, so it must have no outlets apart from the ones that lead to the fire pumps. These tanks are separate from the tanks used to supply water for occupants, which are usually called domestic water tanks

Fire Pumping System

Fire pumps are usually reside in a pump room very close to the fire tanks. The key thing is that the pumps should be located at a level just below the bottom of the fire tank, so that all the water in the tanks can flow into the pumps with force.

Like all important systems, there must be backup pumps in case the main pump fails. There is a main pump that is electric, a backup pump that is electric, and the second backup pump that is diesel-powered, in case the electricity fails. Each of these pumps is competent of pumping the required amount of water individually - they are identical in capacity.

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Fire Hydrant Systems in Residential, Commercial and Industrial Building

In a building, a Fire Hydrant System is a precautions or emergency instrumentation required in some buildings that includes a series of parts that once assembled along give a supply of water to help fire authorities during a fire.

Putting it in a different way, a fire hydrant system could be a water system with an adequate pressure and flow delivered through pipes throughout a building to strategically situated network of valves for Fire Fighting System.

Fire Hydrant, in some circumstances, water from a clathrate fireplug system may be shared with different safety measures like automatic fire sprinkler systems or hose reels.

When planning a fire hydrant system execution objective should be satisfied. Hydraulic analysis is required to demonstrate that there's adequate water pressure and flow at the foremost hydraulically deprived hydrant. The pressure and flow needs vary consistent with the building classification, floor space and sprinkler protection.

Water Supply & Storage

Pipework & Valves

Fire Brigade Booster

Pumpset

Hydrant, Hydrant Valve or Landing Valve & Coupling

Layflat hosepipe

Block Plan

System elements

Water Supply & Storage

A water system for a fire hydrant system is derived from a reliable supply of water such as; street mains, static facility like a tank or dam. Water storage should additionally embrace a facility for automatic refilling (make-up water) because of losses from evaporation, leakage, periodic testing, etc. The capability or volume of the water system or storage should even be taken into consideration as a part of the hydraulic analysis.

Pipework & Valves

To direct the water from its purpose of origin (supply) to its destination (hydrant valve) needs a series of interconnected pipes at outlined sizes. the size of the pipe is decided by Government standards and hydraulic analysis. The control valves are utilized in combination with the pipework to manage a direct the flow of water.

Fire Brigade Booster

The booster assembly provides a degree of attachment for the fire brigade to supply further water to a fire hydrant system in within the event of associate emergency. the placement of the fire brigade booster ought to be chosen to confirm that it's without delay accessible and supply protection to fire-fighters. A booster is often mounted during a cupboard that features details of the pressure limitations and needs for the hearth hydrant system.

Booster Pumpset

In some circumstances wherever a hydraulic analysis has determined that the facility is shy for the building needs, one or additional booster pump-sets is also needed. A pump-set might comprise a mixture of electrical or compression ignition (diesel) motors.

Hydrant

The end-point of a fire hydrant system is that the Hydrant (also called a Hydrant Valve, Landing Valve) strategically set throughout a building in accordance with the provisions. In easy terms fire brigades use completely different hose connections. In these cases, the Hydrant should even be fitted with a connection or coupling compatible with the native fire brigade. Care should be taken to confirm every fireplug is instantly accessible and has adequate clearance to satisfy the need.

Layflat fire hose

Some buildings may additionally need as a part of the approved style the installation of ancillary instrumentation like a lay-flat hose.

Block Plan

A fire hydrant system block set up could be a ineradicable diagram mounted at intervals the booster cupboard, pumping station and preparation room that illustrates the first options of the fire hydrant system as well as the facility location & dimensions, location & capability of every water storage or tank, location & amount of every valve, location of every pump, pressure & flow rating of the pumps, location of the most electrical control room, location of all ignitable storage areas, year of installation, installing contractors name, the peak of the very best fire hydrant and also the lowest booster affiliation.

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Benefits of Home Fire Sprinklers Systems

Fire Sprinklers System is designed to detect temperature variations in indoor spaces, mechanically going in action no matter whether or not the home is occupied or otherwise. They defend homes even once the residents are away. However, they are doing not react to false alarms from smoke or candlelight, however sound an alert once there's a major rise in temperature, enough to trigger water flow.

Timely notification to residents and also the local fire department enable individual’s sufficient time to save their lives and precious belongings, and reply to the emergency.

As the system tends to instantly establish and control fires at their initial stages, sprinklers facilitate minimize harm by preventing fires from spreading. Both the heat and smoke from giant fires will prove quite devastating.

Large homes undoubtedly tend to benefit from installing sprinkler systems as they localize the damage, contrary to popular belief that sprinkler systems will cause extensive harm across the whole home with a generous spray of water. Fitting every space with a sprinkler will help stop the fire right at the supply, preventing it from spreading to adjacent rooms. Just in case multiple sprinklers are installed in a massive area, the one nearest to the fireplace are going to be activated initial.

In either case, water from the sprinkling system contains a restricted reach and impact, only enough to place out the fireplace. On the opposite hand, giant fires are usually tackled victimization powerful jets of water that are capable of destroying property on the far side repair.

Sprinklers not solely will improve aesthetics, particularly once one opts for recessed models, typically available in range of metallic finishes. They conjointly tend to extend the worth of homes, once it comes to putting them up for sale or renting them out.

Another vital benefit is that these progressive Fire Sprinkler System shield homes from damages caused by fire, bringing down the probabilities of home insurance claims. Insurance suppliers typically provide lesser premiums for homes with smoke detectors and fire sprinklers, which might facilitate save a considerable sum of cash.

How will the sprinkler system Work?

Understanding however fire sprinklers work can help settle for the very fact that water damage from these systems aren't as expensive because the damage caused by unattended fires.

Each sprinkler head holds a glass container filled with liquid glycerin, that expands once heated.

A fire within the room heats the air, forcing it up towards the ceiling. Temperature of air continues to extend with rising flames.

When temperature reaches anyplace around 135-165 degrees fahrenheit, the expanding glycerin causes the glass to break, activates the sprinkler head, and opens a valve within the hidden plumbing to unharness a focused downward spray of water to extinguish the fire.

These systems are supposed to quickly douse the fire, failing which they anyway buy enough time to reply to the emergency.

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Fire Detection and Alarm System has a number of devices working together to detect and warn people. Electromech Fire Fighters PVT LTD provides premium fire alarm and detection systems. EFFPL provides the best services among the firefighting industry.

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What is a Fire Sprinkler System?

A fire sprinkler system may be a series of sprinkler heads connected to a pipe that's full of water. That easy huh! If do not assume so.

A fire sprinkler system may be a well-designed system designed to place or management fires in properties. Every system is singly designed for the building during which it's visiting be put in. each side of the building and its contents is taken into account within the style. But, to know a sprinkler system, we want to get back to basics.

The Water Supply:

A sprinkler system is completely dependent on its water supply. The water supply will vary from a affiliation to the city’s main to the installation of tanks and large pumps. For the aim of this text, we are only going to deal with the city’s main supply.

The city’s main supply the water to the system via a suitably sized connection. This connection is normally device at the purpose of connection in order that it are often isolated if the need arises. The size of this connection is decided by the flow and pressure needed for the right operation of the system. This is often determined by the hydraulic style - more on that later.

It goes while not saying that the water supply is that the most important a part of a fire sprinkler system - no water supply, no fire sprinkler system.

I have been concerned within the style of various fire sprinkler systems over my forty years within the industry and it all starts with the water supply. The primary issue to determine before you proceed with either the design or installation is that the quality of the water supply. I’ve got known of instances once systems couldn't be put in because the water supply wasn't sufficient and wasn't capable of being improved by the use of pumps, reservoirs etc.

The control Valve Set

Once you have the water supply to the building you need a control valve set.

This contains another isolation valve for the purpose of quickly shutting them down the system within the event of a false activation or after a real activation in order to allow the system to be reset. It also allows for the system to be shut down for maintenance purposes.

At this point, there is also an alarm valve which is a modified check valve. This serves the purpose of keeping the system charged with water and, owing to its special design, allowing for a hydraulic gong (water motor alarm) to activate when the system operates. This gives a local warning of the activation.

Located on this alarm valve is a large drain port (which is also valved) which allows the system to be drained as and when necessary.

We also have a DBA (Direct Brigade Alarm) which is an electrical device that monitors the state of the Fire Sprinkler System. It notifies the fire brigade when the system activates and also has a defect function that warns the service agent of any pressure drop or other potential problems.

If the system is controlled above town’s main pressure then there will also be a small system booster pump. There are also many other smaller accessory valves.

The installation consisting of pipes and sprinklers

Above the control valves, the system covers the entirety of the building with pipe and sprinkler heads. Each pipe is hydraulically calculated to make the most of the available water supply. The pipe weaves from the valves to its final point in varying sizes. The larger pipes are called mains and the smaller pipes are called ranges.

Each pipe is supported with seismically designed supports to maximize its ability to face up to earthquakes and other destructive forces.

There are now many alternative types of sprinkler heads and these need to be selected carefully to make sure they will do the necessary job. For instance, a sprinkler in an office may look, and act, dramatically different from one in a storage warehouse.

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The firefighting equipment of the tigon. Powerful and distinctive

Industrial firefighting vehicles have to fulfill the best firefighting equipment needs. The tigon even exceeds these needs, since this special vehicle is capable of pump & roll operation and has 2 separate foam proportioning systems.

A rather uncommon feature for industrial firefighting vehicles, as this can be predominantly utilized in municipal vehicles and is that the normal demand for fire fighting vehicles. If even higher pump outputs are needed, the Volvo drive motor is powerful enough to drive even the latest inbuilt pump.

The roof turret of the tigon will – specifically additionally whereas driving – be ergonomically controlled from the control handle. The direction of the management handle determines the direction of the turret, with that the turret are often operated improbably sensitively and intuitively, whether or not you would like to stay your eyes on the road, as an example.

All turrets will be fitted with the CHEMCORE nozzle, with that dry powder may be output directly within the center of the water stream. This allow the right combination of the positive properties of water and powder.

Even at the vehicle design stage it absolutely was important that the firefighting technology may be utilized in a minimum of as many alternative ways in which because the chassis, so as to offer customers the best possible flexibility for (almost) every conceivable extinguishing application.

Choosing the correct extinguishing system

There is no single good extinguishing system for every type {of fireplace} and fire sizes. Once it involves procurance, a fire department is usually faced with the decision of selecting the right extinguishing system supported the potential dangers it faces.

EFFPL offers a broad portfolio of extinguishing systems for all applications supported the specified flow rates, extinguishing efficiency and vehicle ideas. Due to the upper discharge speed at the nozzle, the foam pipe of the NEPIRO nozzle produces a much more homogeneous and stable foam than normal-pressure extinguishing systems.

All manufacturers of firefighting equipment claim, or a minimum of strive, to concentrate closely to their customers. However what they really do with the information varies. Our mixture of tried-and-tested, advanced pump technology, combined with a contemporary, powerful motor and countless detailed improvements are specifically what our customers expect of our most recent pumps!

Our unique pump design combined with clever choices supports operators to prevent damage to the pump when they are distracted, which frequently happens in disagreeable situations. Another innovation is our new pump material, duplex stainless-steel.

Duplex stainless steel consists of a steel alloy of 2 steel teams. The primary steel cluster is characterized by high corrosion resistance (austenitic steel) and also the second by high resistance (ferritic steel). The alloy combines the benefits of each steel teams. The duplex stainless steel we use for our pumps is lighter and a lot of resistant to abrasion than bronze.

Fire-fighting equipment for indoor firefighting may be tested in fire containers equipped with acceptable measuring equipment to live temperature changes in the room. In some cases, we also do this in collaboration with customers who need to jointly value extinguishing procedures. This can be an exciting cooperation with experienced practitioners who need to additional develop current technology and tactics.

Leading Fire Fighting Systems Manufacturer, with combined normal pressure / high pressure pumps. The pump will extinguish with high pressure misting or normal, and, if need be, each at the same time. The high-pressure mist extinguishing method achieves the greatest possible extinguishing effect with the minimum amount of water.

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Fire Hydrant System Mechanism

Fire Hydrant System is put in to supply active fire protection and it's also the supply of municipal water system that is provided to the fire fighters to change extinguish fires rapidly in rural, urban and suburban areas. These systems also are referred to as grayback pumps or fire plugs. an insurance discount is applicable for the buildings close to the system {of fire|of fireside of fireplace} plugs as a result of the fires are often destroyed faster by the fire fighters within the insured property.

The Role that fireside Plugs Play

The system of using of fireside plugs start to the seventh century. Throughout that point, the hearth fighters won’t to bore a hole by digging right down to the most water system space to fight fires by conveyance out the water from the planet. a short lived well would get created out of this action so the hearth engines or bucket brigades were wont to transport water to the destination of fire. Redwood stoppers were used to plug the holes and from there the system came to be known as fire plugs.

The Modern concept

Now, in times the identical thought has been improved by creating holes at regular intervals throughout the cities that are equipped with risers and from the road level accessibility is ensured to the wood fireplace plug purpose.

Role of the Hose

Fire Hydrant Systems features a hose connected thereto to and to produce with a powerful flow of water the valve is opened. The hearth engines even have hoses connected to them that are used for enhancing the water pressure with the assistance of a strong pump. A rib association is additionally wont to connect a hose that is a right away fast connective. A system of fireside plug shouldn't be closed or opened too quickly to avoid water hammer which may harm the near equipment’s and pipes. The water is incredibly serious within a charged hose affiliation and also the high water pressure may end up in stiffness which cannot flip tightly whereas controlled.

The Valves

The valves of the fire plugs are invented for the functioning of full on flow. In dry barrel hydrants, the valve arrangement consists of the dry valve that is operated for anything besides full operation because the partial gap of the valve may end up in substantial flow. A hose with a connection of the fire truck, or a closed nozzle valve or closed gate valve is usually connected with the hydrant before gap the most valve of the hydrant.

The alternatives

The places wherever municipal water systems don't seem to be available, particularly within the rural areas, for fighting fires dry hydrants are used for supply water. A pip age is appreciate the dry hydrant. It’s usually un-pressurized and a pipe is put in for good with one finish below the water level of the pond or lake. A filter is gift in this finish to limit debris from penetrating into the pipe. A tough sleeve connective is present on the other end that is placed higher than the bottom. Water is written from the pool or lake once the pump of the hearth engine needs water to extinguish fires. To understand more about these Fire Hydrant Systems of fire one will browse the internet.

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In the Fire Fighting Systems EFFPL is leading and FM Global Approved Fire Fighting Contractors in India. EFFPL is amongst the best Fire Protection Contractors and Fire Fighting System Integrators. EFFPL uses fire extinguishing systems such as water, foam, gas and chemical to supress fire in all sort of buildings.

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EFFPL are Fire Protection Contractors who offers a wide rangne of high quality Fire Protection Systems for many provisions. EFFPL are Class A Fire Fighting Contractors because they have got identical systems for your miscellaneous needs.

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What is Fire Fighting Systems?

A Fire Fighting Systems is probably the most important of the building services, as its aim is to safe human life and property, strictly in that order.  

It consists of three basic parts:

·         a large store of water in tanks, either underground or on the top of the building, called fire storage tanks

·         a specialised pumping system,  

·         a large network of pipes ending in either hydrants or sprinklers.

A fire hydrant is a vertical steel pipe with an outlet, close to which two fire hoses are stored. During a fire, firefighters will go to the outlet, break open the hoses, attach one to the outlet, and manually open it so that water rushes out of the nozzle of the hose. The quantity and speed of the water is so great that it can jamming over the firefighter holding the hose if he is not standing in the correct way.  As soon as the fire fighter opens the hydrant, water will gush out, and sensors will detect a drop in pressure in the system. This drop in pressure will trigger the fire pumps to turn on and start pumping water at a terrible flowrate.

A sprinkler is a nozzle attached to a network of pipes, and installed just below the ceiling of a room. Every sprinkler has a small bulb with a liquid in it. This bulb normally stops the flow of water. In a fire, the liquid in the bulb will become hot. It will then expand, and brash the glass bulb, removing the obstacle and causing water to spray from the sprinkler. The main difference between a hydrant and a sprinkler is that a sprinkler will come on automatically in a fire. A fire hydrant has to be operated manually by the trained firefighters. A sprinkler will usually be activated quickly in a fire - possibly before the fire station has been informed of the fire - and therefore is very effective than the hydrant.  For this reason, a sprinkler system is considered very good at putting out fires before they spread and become unmanageable.

Fire Storage Tanks:

The amount of water in the fire storage tanks is determined by the danger level of the project under consideration.  Most building codes have at least three levels, namely, Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard, and High Hazard.  The relevant building code lists which type of structure falls in each category.  The quantity of water to be stored is usually given in hours of pumping capacity. In Fire Fighting Systems with a capacity of one hour, the tanks are made large enough to supply the fire with water for a period of one hour when the fire pumps are switched on.

The water is usually stored in the concrete underground tanks. It is essential to ensure that this store of water always remains full, so it must have no outlets apart from the ones that lead to the fire pumps. These tanks are separate from the tanks used to supply water for occupants, which are usually called domestic water tanks

Fire Pumping System:

Fire pumps are usually resied in a pump room very close to the fire tanks. The key thing is that the pumps should be located at a level just below the bottom of the fire tank, so that all the water in the tanks can flow into the pumps with force.

Like all important systems, there must be backup pumps in case the main pump fails. There is a main pump that is electric, a backup pump that is electric, and the second backup pump that is diesel-powered, in case the electricity fails. Each of these pumps is competent of pumping the required amount of water individually - they are identical in capacity.

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Keeping it cool: Car AC servicing simplified

We're already a fair way into summer with the dreadful month of May just around the corner. Of course, air-conditioning comes into sharp focus during these scorching times and none more so than the units in our cars, given that temperatures inside the cabin can shoot up to as high as 60 degrees Centigrade on some of the hotter days. To help the car’s air-con unit deal with high cabin temperatures, it is vital to get your car's AC unit serviced.

What you should be aware of is that ‘Car Ac Servicing’ is a broad and general term, and the system itself is quite complex with a lot of parts working together. These parts are the evaporator, blower, expansion valve, compressor, drier and condenser. With so many parts, most car owners aren’t able to decipher what the actual trouble is when they sense that there is insufficient cooling. To make things easier, we have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions. This will give you the sufficient know-how to question the mechanic and find out if he has done a thorough job.

What are the common issues that plague the AC unit?

There are a number of things that can go wrong with an automotive air-conditioning system. Dirt and moisture are the main culprits. Unfortunately, both of these are abundant in our country. A common issue is blockages in filters and condenser caused by build-up of dust and dirt which prevents the flow of air over the cooling coils. Another area where dust accumulates is the blower or fan unit of the AC. Bits and pieces of papers and waste are also known to make their way into the blower.

Another common issue is the leakage of refrigerant. The R134A-grade refrigerant currently in use in cars sold in India has a low boiling point and can leak from different places in the air-conditioning system. These are joints in the piping, pressure release valve and front seal of the compressor. The refrigerant can be topped up using specialized equipment called Recovery Recycling and Gas recharging machine. The R134A doesn’t cause damage to the ozone layer but does need to be handled with care when being replenished.

Then there is the compressor. Among the more expensive parts of the system; things that go wrong with it are the wearing of magnetic clutch and pistons, and leaks in the oil rings. All these are generally down to excess load put on it during use. Usually, this happens when the car owner has ignored manufacturer-recommended AC maintenance schedules. This ends up causing the entire system to work under excess load conditions and it’s the compressor that gives way more often than not. Another common problem noted is of rodents finding their way into the blower unit.

What happens during a routine AC service?

Since the air-conditioning system has to deal with dust and dirt in the environment, some parts like the condenser coil placed at the front of the vehicle and the blower fan placed behind the dashboard, need cleaning. To access these parts, some other parts have to be undone. Depending on the car model, the bumper is removed to access the condenser unit, usually placed below the radiator. The condenser is responsible for releasing the heat from the cabin to the atmosphere. This is cleaned with a high- pressure water jet to rid the dirt and dust.

Checklist:

·         Ensure the AC technician completes the following tasks

·         Replaces the air filter

·         Cleans the blower unit of the AC or fan and the condenser coil

·         Replaces the compressor oil

·         Flushes the AC system and tops up the refrigerant

·         Checks if the electrical connections are fine

Ref:autocarindia.com/auto-features/keeping-it-cool-car-ac-servicing-simplified-401467