I was defrosting my freezer and I had to get it done right away, so I was tapping the ice lightly with the claw of my hammer. I suddenly heard a hissing sound and white air came hissing out. After getting the rest of the ice out of the way I found I had punctured a small hole the size of a pencil eraser in the freezer. I closed it up the best I could right now with glue and some freezer putty but I am sure it won't hold long as the air coming out of the freezer is strong enough to push past the putty. Also I am not sure if it was the glue, the putty or the air, but something put a light coating of something white on my fingertips and it won't come off. Help please! I am also pregnant and need to know if breathing that air was harmful!
2007-01-15 09:37:57 · 2 answers · asked by macaan87 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Not only is it harmful (that was the refrigerant, not air - either ammonia or freon), but you have now damaged your freezer and it probably won't work anymore without repair.
If the hole can be professionally repaired, then they will have to recharge the system afterwards.
If it can't be, then you have to buy another one.
Sorry!!!
Only use heat or hot water to quickly defrost.
If you breathed alot of it and lost your breath or started choking, then please consult your ob/gyn as soon as possible. It isn't lethal, but it isn't good for you at all !!!
2007-01-15 09:44:33 · answer #1 · answered by Goyo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You broke open a tube with freon in it.
Freon is chemically inert, so it is okay to breath the air nearby, but you've wrecked your freezer.
The white coating is probably a drying agent that runs around with the freon. It is harmless.
2007-01-15 09:46:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋