What have I done to my fridge???

Ann22

Hi there, I was chipping away at the ice in my freezer (the 'roof' part) about half an hour ago and all this gas started hissing out of it. It's a drawer freezer at the bottom of my fridge. Think I made a hole in it. There's still a noise coming out of it but I can't see or smell the gas now. Is it dangerous?? I have to leave the house shortly, should I plug it out? I don't know what to do. If I don't get a reply before I leave I'll leave it plugged in and close the door of the room it's in. I have two little dogs, I don't want them to breath in dangerous fumes. I assume I need a new one now do I?

sundodger5

Ann22 wrote: »

Hi there, I was chipping away at the ice in my freezer (the 'roof' part) about half an hour ago and all this gas started hissing out of it. It's a drawer freezer at the bottom of my fridge. Think I made a hole in it. There's still a noise coming out of it but I can't see or smell the gas now. Is it dangerous?? I have to leave the house shortly, should I plug it out? I don't know what to do. If I don't get a reply before I leave I'll leave it plugged in and close the door of the room it's in. I have two little dogs, I don't want them to breath in dangerous fumes. I assume I need a new one now do I?

New fridge anyway. The gas is freon afaik not sure if it is toxic or not.

Ann22

sundodger5 wrote: »

New fridge anyway. The gas is freon afaik not sure if it is toxic or not.

Thanks sundodger. I googled it, says it's non-toxic but you're right, I'll need a new fridge. That's all I need now and a hape of schoolbooks to buy:(.

The Red Ace

not necessarily a replacement, depends how big the hole is and if you plugged it out before it defrosted, if the hole is small and water didn't get inside it can be sorted if you have a refrigeration guy nearby, it probably has r600 or r134a gas, wont do the dog any harm

Ann22

The Red Ace wrote: »

not necessarily a replacement, depends how big the hole is and if you plugged it out before it defrosted, if the hole is small and water didn't get inside it can be sorted if you have a refrigeration guy nearby, it probably has r600 or r134a gas, wont do the dog any harm

I plugged it out for a while but stupidly plugged it back in before I left the house. I closed the door to the utility room so the dogs wouldn't get in just in case. The smoky gas stopped after a few minutes but there was still a funny noise. My husband came home after 5 and plugged it out then blocked the hole with silicone. After it dried he plugged it back in but then air hissed out of the repaired hole through the silicone. So that didn't work. Think it's banjaxed:(.

The Red Ace

plugging it with silicone is no good as it has lost all its refrigerant which makes the ice, and there is a huge internal pressure within the veins of the evaporator, a special heat stick can do the repair in the hands of a competent engineer and then have it recharged , a phone call to any local guy who has the ability to repair it for a price should let you decide whether to repair or not, don't feel too bad about it I come across it often and it has taught you a lesson you wont forget

Ann22

The Red Ace wrote: »

plugging it with silicone is no good as it has lost all its refrigerant which makes the ice, and there is a huge internal pressure within the veins of the evaporator, a special heat stick can do the repair in the hands of a competent engineer and then have it recharged , a phone call to any local guy who has the ability to repair it for a price should let you decide whether to repair or not, don't feel too bad about it I come across it often and it has taught you a lesson you wont forget

I defo won't do it again. I was hammering away at it with a butter knife, using an ice cream scoop as a hammer:o Doh!