Freezer section of fridge freezer - punctured with hole?

Question

I know it was stupid, but I punctured a hole in my freezer [part of a fridge freezer] when cleaning it. I know that the hissing was a release of gas, and have opened the windows, I also know I have to buy a new one. Saying that, the new one doesn't arrive until Tuesday.

I have opened windows, removed the food and turned the fridge freezer off. But the flat is tiny and I am worried that I will become ill from it being in such a small space as it really smells. I am on the top floor so there's no way of me removing it alone.

What I want to know is: If its ok for it to be in the flat until Tuesday?

Just need some advice to how potent the gas is, if I will get ill from it being in the same space as me for three days?

Also, if I could maybe keep the fridge freezer on, so I can at least keep the fridge in use, or is this not a good idea?

And will all food [which I did put back int he freezer for an hour, its now removed], even sealed frozen food be contaminated?

. Ta very
VQ

Answer 1

You have nothing to worry about. The small amount of refrigerant that was in there has already leaked out and is gone. There is no danger to you. It's gone, the fridge is dead. It all leaked out within minutes of you puncturing it.
And the refrigerator won't work either. It uses the same cooling for the freezer so both are shot. Get some coolers of ice or use your neighbor's fridge.
And don't use a lighter to check for the gas. It there is any refrigerant in the air, the flame will produce phosgene gas, which can be deadly.

Answer 2

What exactly was the type of gas used in the refregerator? I ask this because it is not always the same freon that air conditioning unit uses. I also know, since you mentioned your apartment as 'flat', you are not in US. Different part of the world requires different type of gas to be used.

In some countries, they use gas very similar to propaine (ie. flamable), and in some contries, it is R22 (old freon for non-automotive A/C use)

Somewhere in back of the old (the one you damaged), there should be a sticker indicating the type and the quantity of the gas in the unit. It should have a number starting with "R-". Find out and look it up on the internet.

Most gas they use are dangerous to you ONLY if you directly inhale it or if you are in the sealed environment. The mode of danger it will cause to you is suffocation by the gas replacing oxygen.

You should be OK based on what I read here.

Answer 3

Freezer Gas Leak

Answer 4

Ventilate your room. The gas is the refridgerant called Haloalkane. The name Freon is a registered trademark belonging to DuPont of the refrigerant gas.
Do not over worry, it will be safe to leave it in your flat until tuesday but your fridge and freezer may be inoperable because the gas that takes the heat out of the compartment has escaped. Keep the area ventilated for a few hours but most of it would of evaporated by now. Sealed food will be safe. The smell of the gas is likely to be unpleasant but ventilate and it will disappear.

Answer 5

the chances are you knacked the freezer,open all the windows,the gas will eventually end,it shouldnt contaminate the food,but open food from freezer dump the freezers naff,so all food needs to be consumed soon,you are not in any danger just leave windows open till all gas smells etc go,dont move fridge till you have to,if you move more gas etc will come out! did the gas leak into the inside of fridge? if so check food,if open discard,sealed should be ok,but if un sure discard,hope this helps :)

Answer 6

The gas is proally freon, This is dangerous to inhale so you will want to cover up the hole. get some type of silicon, hot glue, somethign to fill in the hole and seal it up. once the smell is gone you are save. oh, and unplug the fridge.
if it was me i wouldent eat the food that was in the freezer for an hour.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

its ok to leave it there till tuesday all the gas is out of it they dont hold that much tape the door shut and let the people that are bringing you a new one get rid of it. freon is a heavy gas it all went to the floor its also non flamable. a good way to check is use a lighter if the flame is a dull blue flame theres freon in the air if its a good orange flame theres nothing in the air

Answer 9

Make sure you disconnect the power to the freezer compressor (if it has a seperate compressor) or you will burn it out. If you can disconnect and it has a seperate compressor then you can continue to use the fridge. You will need to pull the fridge freezer out and make sure you disconnect the power before you disconnect the freezer compressor cables.

Answer 10

put it outside, you'll need some one to remove it safely