Huffing Freon

[mrlighturfire]

What people will do to get high.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/939433/391/Man-charged-with-huffing-freon-from-neighbors-AC-units-

[Damien]

"In all three cases responders found Krueger laying unconscious next to the air conditioning units in an unresponsive state."

Smart guy!

"If found guilty of felony theft Brentyn Krueger faces up to five years in prison and a potential $10,000 fine."

And why isnt his punishment as stiff as if You or I released refrigerant into the atmosphere?

[code1]

What a idiot!!!!!

[Snapperhead]

What ever happened to good ol Whip Cream huffing ?

[Redwood650]

A local tech made some money!!!!!

[icemeister]

What ever happened to good ol Whip Cream huffing ?

Ah yes...Whippets!

Back when in worked for a supermarket chain, I recall seeing lots and lots of opened whipped cream cans which were tossed on top of the dairy walk-ins. ;)

As for huffing refrigerant, here's a situation I had about 15 years ago at a convenience store:



I got a "no ice" call from a busy convenience store and after I did a quick check it became apparent the system was seriously low on refrigerant. It was a Hoshizaki KM-500MRH as I recall. I did a thorough leak search on the unit the remote condenser and the line set in between...nothing.

So I just recovered what remained, weighed in the proper factory charge, fired it up, checked operation, collected my money and left.

About 2 weeks later they call and once again the ice machine is down. I get there and find the same scenario. I leak checked once more and recharged. This time I strongly suspected there was some huffing involved here. At about that time, the night manager had just clocked in.

I got to chatting with him in the back room where the icemaker is located. This guy was in his early 20's and seemed quite interested in what was wrong the machine. I then explained that I suspected an employee must be huffing refrigerant as it was the only reasonable explanation I had. He became even more intent on listening and asking questions.

Then I related to him what a serious issue this was in the industry and how many kids have died from asphyxiation from huffing refrigerant. His eyes opened wide with almost a shocked look. I felt I had found the culprit.

Sure enough, I never had another refrigerant related call on that machine again. ;)

[mrlighturfire]

A local tech made some money!!!!!

Just wondering if any of those calls were mine or not. Lol. A couple people they interviewed I never recognized though. I think he kept just to his nieghborhood it sounds like.

[shaygetz]

When I was in apartments, the first thing I looked for was the all too familiar Wal-Mart bag, sitting in the condensate pool by the condensor, its interior coated with refridgerant oils, the service port caps missing. Some properties had a daily problem, others were more spread out. Oddly enough, now that I'm over 4,000 units, I only have a problem with one unit on one property---and danged if the little booger hasn't figured out a way to wring off the tamper resistant caps...:gah:

Figure I'll find his cold, dead body, propped up next to the condensor one fine morning soon enough.

[second opinion]

What people will do to get high.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/939433/391/Man-charged-with-huffing-freon-from-neighbors-AC-units-

That it was added to the 2011 IMC requiring locking caps on accessable refrigeration equipment.

Three mothers potitioned ICC because there kids died from "HUFFING"

[Mille Racer 69]

A big problem in Oakland right now. A young guy was found dead next to an AC.
Companies are actually outing cages around units now.
Let them kill themselves, a good way to weed out economic leeches and knuckleheads.
Which is why I also believe why wearing seatbelts should not be the law. If you are stupid
enough not to wear your seatbelt you deserve what's coming.

[john.0522]

I love those tamper resistant caps I make more money when they file a hole in the copper.

[doc havoc]

Quick! Turn him in to the EPA! You could receive a $10,000 bounty. I'm sure some of that refrigerant was released to the atmosphere. Idiot.

[shaygetz]

I love those tamper resistant caps I make more money when they file a hole in the copper.

The threaded bass sleeve inside is actually quite weak where the threads are cut...whatever this kid uses, it leaves no jaw marks or dings of any kind, just a forlorn looking green cap in the mud, with just a single, cleanly broken thread of brass left in it near the top...leaving a spiral of brass around the service port that can be just a dinger to get off...:gah:

[bja105]

Last year, our best installer's son started as a helper. He worked a few months with us, until he was found dead in the bathtub with a jug of 22 next to him and a hose in his mouth(according to the story at the shop). We are still stunned. The father is one of the best people you will ever meet, and I feel awful for him.

[zman88]

Ah yes...Whippets!

Back when in worked for a supermarket chain, I recall seeing lots and lots of opened whipped cream cans which were tossed on top of the dairy walk-ins. ;)

As for huffing refrigerant, here's a situation I had about 15 years ago at a convenience store:



I got a "no ice" call from a busy convenience store and after I did a quick check it became apparent the system was seriously low on refrigerant. It was a Hoshizaki KM-500MRH as I recall. I did a thorough leak search on the unit the remote condenser and the line set in between...nothing.

So I just recovered what remained, weighed in the proper factory charge, fired it up, checked operation, collected my money and left.

About 2 weeks later they call and once again the ice machine is down. I get there and find the same scenario. I leak checked once more and recharged. This time I strongly suspected there was some huffing involved here. At about that time, the night manager had just clocked in.

I got to chatting with him in the back room where the icemaker is located. This guy was in his early 20's and seemed quite interested in what was wrong the machine. I then explained that I suspected an employee must be huffing refrigerant as it was the only reasonable explanation I had. He became even more intent on listening and asking questions.

Then I related to him what a serious issue this was in the industry and how many kids have died from asphyxiation from huffing refrigerant. His eyes opened wide with almost a shocked look. I felt I had found the culprit.

Sure enough, I never had another refrigerant related call on that machine again. ;)
Sounds like we have been chewing the same dirt. What chain did you work for? Previously you mentioned a Hussmann TD system you worked on. I think I have inherited that very system. Lucky me!
RSVP

[LibertyTree]

Darwinism at its best... I guess its the law in some states for techs to have locking mechanisms on their refrigerant jugs now. I just saw such mechanisms on the shelf at Johnstone the other day.

[sholderle]

Went on a very similar event while working on a medic, except the person was inside a service van with a jug tipped upside down, and the person froze their lungs..

[tallertech]

I was contacted by a local news reporter a few weeks ago to do a story on huffing. It must have been a slow news week. Please don't laugh!!! ... I always get nervous and the edit out all my brilliant insight and leave only the dump-bubba AC man sound bytes. Ugh.

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video?clipId=6258059&autostart=true

[Snapperhead]

I was contacted by a local news reporter a few weeks ago to do a story on huffing. It must have been a slow news week. Please don't laugh!!! ... [/URL] Atleast your name isnt Dr. Gaylord !! Poor guy , I'd change my friggin name

[blownfuse99]

I tried this once but I could not get my sub cooling right.....

[Snapperhead]

I tried this once but I could not get my sub cooling right..... Where did you have the temperature probe :eek2:

[coolwhip]

Where did you have the temperature probe :eek2:

LMAO!:grin2: