If you decide to throw out a fridge or freezer that is no longer working, there may still be refrigerant inside the appliance. If the appliance is not disposed of properly, then the refrigerant may escape into the atmosphere, which will contribute to global warming. Before you place the appliance in your hard rubbish collection or take it to the tip, you’ll need to have the refrigerant ‘recovered’ from the appliance by a licensed technician. The recovered refrigerant is forwarded by the licensed technician to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) which is the sole facility in Australia approved to destroy refrigerants in an environmentally friendly manner.

If your fridge or freezer is a household appliance, a mechanic who holds either a domestic or full refrigeration and air conditioning licence is the best person to assist you in getting your fridge or freezer repaired. If the fridge or freezer is a commercial appliance, only a fully licensed refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic can complete a service or repairs. They have the right qualifications to help reduce the risk of a future refrigerant leak, and they are recognised to have the skills required to undertake this type of work — they hold a full RAC Refrigerant Handling Licence.

If your fridge or freezer isn’t keeping things as cold as it should be, there could be a refrigerant leak. All fridges and freezers use refrigerant, which, if leaked into the atmosphere, will contribute to global warming. By law, if a leak exists, all affected parts must be repaired or replaced by a licensed technician before it is refilled with refrigerant.