AC leak can lead to fire, explosion; here are tips to deal with cooling devices

Four of a family died at their home in Mariyammanahalli village near Hosapete in Karnataka last week following a suspected leak in their air-conditioner, followed by an electric short-circuit, the police said.

Police suspect the family members increased the AC’s cooling and carbon monoxide (CO), a gas present in the AC, must have leaked. Unfortunately for them, electric short-circuit happened around the same time and the family was burnt to death.

More such incidents of accidental deaths due to AC gas leaks have been reported recently, which point to safety precautions needed while operating air conditioners, especially at a time when the summer has already peaked and the demand for cooling devices is up.

On April 1, a 45-year-old mechanic died after an air-conditioner compressor exploded in Gurugram, causing a fire at his residence. The fire broke out around 8.30 am when Sanjay Kumar, an AC-refrigerator mechanic, was sleeping in his room on the ground floor while his wife and two children were on the first floor, police said. Hearing the explosion, the family members rushed to help but couldn’t enter the space due to heavy smoke. After getting information, a team of police and two fire tenders reached the spot and started a rescue operation, officials said, adding the charred body of Kumar was found in the ground floor room after three hours of effort.

Police said that due to heavy smoke and suffocation, the mechanic could not even cry for help. He was charred to death in the fire.

Why ACs could explode 

It is not very common to see an AC explode. Yet, accidents happen. Improper supply of electricity may cause the AC to blow up. For eg. load-shedding followed by restoration of power supply may result in such an accident, say experts. When summer is peaking, ACs can overheat due to excessive heat and cause fire which then causes the explosion of the pressurised gas.

Causes of overheating

1. Improper cleaning: The condenser coil inside the AC is the hotspot for dust and grime to settle. Heat generated during functioning is unable to find a vent and results in overheating.

2. Wiring trouble: Use of poor quality cables and plugs are the leading causes of short circuit.

3. Voltage fluctuation: It causes damage to home appliances and may also result in damage to the instruments in the long run.

4. Gas inside the AC: The most common refrigerant (gas) used in ACs is freon, which is non-flammable. These days R410a, called puron, is used, which is also non-flammable.

Detecting fault in an AC

Look for unusual noises such as squealing or grinding. These could mean the bearings have worned out and the cooling device needs servicing.

AC maintenance

1. Keep the air filter clean and reduce the load it has to bear in case of irregular cleaning.

2. Make sure the AC unit is positioned in a way that a portion of it is projected outside and the condensation water drains out quickly.

3. Make sure you do not use extension cord to run an AC because these devices consume a lot of electricity and are susceptible to over-heating and resultant damage.

Preventing fires

1. Unplug the cooling device in case of thunderstorms

2. Check the household wiring regularly to prevent short circuit.

3. Install surge protectors to prevent excess voltage from causing fires.

4. Circuit breakers in place can bear sudden surge in electricity flow and shut off the system thus protecting electronic devices.

5. Ensure the right gas is used to refill the AC unit.

Regular maintenance and a basic understanding of what may cause an AC to explode can prevent many accidents.