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Impact of Refrigerant Leak
This might be wrong forum to pose my question, but I will try - in the hopes of seeking answers. If this is not the right forum. Please be so kind to suggest another.
I recently purchased a Samsung refrigerator (from a scratch/dent store) and we are not sure if it is leaking its R-600a refrigerant. My youngest child and I experience multiple symptoms when it is plugged in, but do not experience them when it is not plugged in and after we have aired out the house.
Some history:
We recently replaced an old refrigerator that was unknowingly leaking for a long time (as I experienced some symptoms for quite some time) which ultimately left to it leaving a brown sticky fluid on the floor - notifying us that there was something wrong with the old fridge. Before this visual trigger, we had no idea why we had the symptoms & I saw multiple doctors - thinking it was something biological. We used a small college fridge for several weeks after removing the old fridge - during this time symptoms slowing went away . . . . until the purchase of the Samsung refrigerator. Experienced symptoms are rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulty, a feeling of being spacy or drowsy, headache (son), and drainage in throat (sons). I have viewed the Safety Data Sheet for R-600 and many of these symptoms are similar to the ones listed. I must add that other individuals in the house do not have symptoms. In addition, with the old refrigerator my son/daughter experienced nose bleeds & I experienced ringing in the ear (I am thinking due to the over exposure over a long period) as well.
Questions:
Has anyone ever heard anything similar to what I am describing?
How would a person confirm if they are sensitive (or allergic) to refrigerant? I am thinking due to the long-term exposure that I have become ultra-sensitive to the slightest exposure to refrigerant -then I would be if I were not exposed for so long. Is that possible?
Do ALL refrigerators leak - even if it is a very slight mild leak?
Would a small college fridge emit such a very small leak (as compared to a larger fridge) that it would very un-noticeable even to a sensitive person?
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If the fridge is still working its not leaking refrigerant.
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In theory household refrigerators hold so little refrigerant that ANY leak will immediately render it inoperative.
R600 is basically butane and will be likely less than 6oz in the entire system. So a tiny leak will yet again make the refrigerator inoperative.
Like anything is possible. But I doubt it's a refrigerant leak that's bothered you.
More likely chemical off gassing of the paints and insulation used to manufacture the refrigerator. ( especially when you apply heat when it's running)
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Reply
Originally Posted by
rickl
If the fridge is still working its not leaking refrigerant.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thank you for your reply, I understand. Yes, it is still working. Maybe it is something else. Thank you again.
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Thank you. That could be it. Im not sure why we would have the same reaction with different fridges. Im not sure what to do if the repairman finds that there is no leak...
Thank you again.
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Dude ... If unplugging it made all of those symptoms go away ... I would toss the refrig and eat Cracker Barrel from now on
One thing you might do , check attic for Bats
The pile of bat shit they leave in the attic causes all sorts of ailments in humans ...
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Thank you for the suggestion. We will look in the attic. Thanks again.
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Don't know where you live, but if you have a gas furnace, or gas water heater, you might get them checked for carbon monoxide leakage
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Originally Posted by
oldfart
Don't know where you live, but if you have a gas furnace, or gas water heater, you might get them checked for carbon monoxide leakage
We do not have a gas furnace or gas water heater. We did purchase a Carbon Monoxide detector though - just in case.
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Originally Posted by
R-600
This might be wrong forum to pose my question, but I will try - in the hopes of seeking answers. If this is not the right forum. Please be so kind to suggest another.
I recently purchased a Samsung refrigerator (from a scratch/dent store) and we are not sure if it is leaking its R-600a refrigerant. My youngest child and I experience multiple symptoms when it is plugged in, but do not experience them when it is not plugged in and after we have aired out the house.
Some history:
We recently replaced an old refrigerator that was unknowingly leaking for a long time (as I experienced some symptoms for quite some time) which ultimately left to it leaving a brown sticky fluid on the floor - notifying us that there was something wrong with the old fridge. Before this visual trigger, we had no idea why we had the symptoms & I saw multiple doctors - thinking it was something biological. We used a small college fridge for several weeks after removing the old fridge - during this time symptoms slowing went away . . . . until the purchase of the Samsung refrigerator. Experienced symptoms are rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulty, a feeling of being spacy or drowsy, headache (son), and drainage in throat (sons). I have viewed the Safety Data Sheet for R-600 and many of these symptoms are similar to the ones listed. I must add that other individuals in the house do not have symptoms. In addition, with the old refrigerator my son/daughter experienced nose bleeds & I experienced ringing in the ear (I am thinking due to the over exposure over a long period) as well.
Questions:
Has anyone ever heard anything similar to what I am describing?
How would a person confirm if they are sensitive (or allergic) to refrigerant? I am thinking due to the long-term exposure that I have become ultra-sensitive to the slightest exposure to refrigerant -then I would be if I were not exposed for so long. Is that possible?
Do ALL refrigerators leak - even if it is a very slight mild leak?
Would a small college fridge emit such a very small leak (as compared to a larger fridge) that it would very un-noticeable even to a sensitive person?
How much refrigerant was in that system? 8, 12, 24 OZS!
Refrigerant is
Odorless
Colorless
I could release 24 Oz in the room and you'd never know.
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Originally Posted by
R-600
This might be wrong forum to pose my question, but I will try - in the hopes of seeking answers. If this is not the right forum. Please be so kind to suggest another.
I recently purchased a Samsung refrigerator (from a scratch/dent store) and we are not sure if it is leaking its R-600a refrigerant. My youngest child and I experience multiple symptoms when it is plugged in, but do not experience them when it is not plugged in and after we have aired out the house.
Some history:
We recently replaced an old refrigerator that was unknowingly leaking for a long time (as I experienced some symptoms for quite some time) which ultimately left to it leaving a brown sticky fluid on the floor - notifying us that there was something wrong with the old fridge. Before this visual trigger, we had no idea why we had the symptoms & I saw multiple doctors - thinking it was something biological. We used a small college fridge for several weeks after removing the old fridge - during this time symptoms slowing went away . . . . until the purchase of the Samsung refrigerator. Experienced symptoms are rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulty, a feeling of being spacy or drowsy, headache (son), and drainage in throat (sons). I have viewed the Safety Data Sheet for R-600 and many of these symptoms are similar to the ones listed. I must add that other individuals in the house do not have symptoms. In addition, with the old refrigerator my son/daughter experienced nose bleeds & I experienced ringing in the ear (I am thinking due to the over exposure over a long period) as well.
Questions:
Has anyone ever heard anything similar to what I am describing?
How would a person confirm if they are sensitive (or allergic) to refrigerant? I am thinking due to the long-term exposure that I have become ultra-sensitive to the slightest exposure to refrigerant -then I would be if I were not exposed for so long. Is that possible?
Do ALL refrigerators leak - even if it is a very slight mild leak?
Would a small college fridge emit such a very small leak (as compared to a larger fridge) that it would very un-noticeable even to a sensitive person?
If you are having symptoms that you believe to be related to r600a refrigerant you should be much more worried about natural gas or propane leaks if you have such in your house because refrigerators don't hold enough to cause a problem but R600a refrigerant is closely related to propane and natural gas so you might have a leak. if you do have a leak you should smell it but some people like me can't smell those kind of things. Also it could be a side effect of reading the symptoms of R600a poisoning. I'm really bad about that I read the list and I start wondering if I'm feeling the symptoms. It's just human nature to try to fit the symptoms your experiencing with something you read about.
Sent from the Okie state usin Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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Originally Posted by
R600a
If you are having symptoms that you believe to be related to r600a refrigerant you should be much more worried about natural gas or propane leaks if you have such in your house because refrigerators don't hold enough to cause a problem but R600a refrigerant is closely related to propane and natural gas so you might have a leak. if you do have a leak you should smell it but some people like me can't smell those kind of things. Also it could be a side effect of reading the symptoms of R600a poisoning. I'm really bad about that I read the list and I start wondering if I'm feeling the symptoms. It's just human nature to try to fit the symptoms your experiencing with something you read about.
Sent from the Okie state usin Tapatalk
That does make since. It may be a propane or natural gas leak. I must start to think about what we have in or around the house that could fit this. My husband had in the bedroom a very small propane container/tank (like for a mini camp grill). But I have since removed it - in an attempt to get anything and everything possible out of the house that MIGHT be causing me issues. IF is was leaking, can objects such as couches, carpet, etc. absorb the contaminant? Sometimes when I lay on the couch or pillow my symptoms return, but after washing the pillow an lay on it they do not present themselves. Can objects absorb the chemical & can washing with soap and water remove them?
I cannot smell anything, but the symptoms are very much present. Before I even started to research fridge leaks the symptoms were here - so much that I was seeing doctors about it - thinking it was something wrong with me biologically.
Thank you for reading and your response! I will dive more into the possibility that the source may be something else & the combination of it with the old fridge & all (and it being absorbed by porous objects still in the home) was why I'm having symptoms.
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Originally Posted by
R-600
That does make since. It may be a propane or natural gas leak. I must start to think about what we have in or around the house that could fit this. My husband had in the bedroom a very small propane container/tank (like for a mini camp grill). But I have since removed it - in an attempt to get anything and everything possible out of the house that MIGHT be causing me issues. IF is was leaking, can objects such as couches, carpet, etc. absorb the contaminant? Sometimes when I lay on the couch or pillow my symptoms return, but after washing the pillow an lay on it they do not present themselves. Can objects absorb the chemical & can washing with soap and water remove them?
I cannot smell anything, but the symptoms are very much present. Before I even started to research fridge leaks the symptoms were here - so much that I was seeing doctors about it - thinking it was something wrong with me biologically.
Thank you for reading and your response! I will dive more into the possibility that the source may be something else & the combination of it with the old fridge & all (and it being absorbed by porous objects still in the home) was why I'm having symptoms.
I would look at other chemicals in your house like pest control chemicals and cleaners because R600 and gas are some of the least toxic chemicals in your home. One common pest control spray in my area is a neurotoxin branded tempo and is sprayed indoors for spiders. Also some of the more mild sprays like fly spray (pyrethrins) commonly cause problems in humans. So there are a lot of things to consider. Whatever you do don't force fit the symptoms because you may totally miss the actual cause.
For example i know of one person who didn't eat shrimp for over 20 years because they had serious allergic reactions every time they ate it and when they eventually went to a doctor they discovered that they were allergic to horseradish not shrimp at all.
Sent from the Okie state usin Tapatalk
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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