Chonburi: A warning has been issued to car owners regarding the potential dangers of using substandard refrigerants for air conditioning systems, following an incident that led to an explosion and fire at a repair shop. CCTV footage from a dynamo repair shop captured the alarming moment when smoke emerged from a vehicle's air conditioning compressor, leading to an explosion that engulfed the vehicle in flames. In the footage, a technician was seen checking the compressor while another technician worked under a pickup truck. Fortunately, the technician under the truck managed to avoid injury by quickly moving his head away from the blast.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred in a repair shop located in Nong Khang Khok Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi Province. Mr. Natthapol, the 29-year-old mechanic featured in the footage, recounted the events of the day. A customer's vehicle, which had its air conditioning refrigerant refilled in a northeastern province, was brought into the shop due to a failed AC compressor. After inspecting the system and draining the refrigerant, Mr. Natthapol crawled under the vehicle to remove the compressor. Upon disconnecting the hose, smoke billowed out, followed by an explosion. Although shocked and experiencing ringing in his ears, he emerged unscathed.
Mr. Natthapol suspects that the explosion was caused by the use of a substandard, likely gas-based refrigerant, which led to the compressor's failure and the subsequent fire. He emphasized the importance of using high-quality refrigerants to prevent such life-threatening incidents, marking this as the first occurrence of its kind in his career. The warning serves as a crucial reminder for air conditioning shops to prioritize safety by ensuring the use of reliable refrigerants.