Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:
Is this gassy odor toxic
I have read your information on Freon Facts. When I open my fridge, I smell a gas. I was wondering what this gas could be and if it is toxic. Thanks for the help.
Is this a refrigerator in a household or an RV?
The reason I ask is that RV refrigerators use ammonia, which you can smell. If you read the article you probably read that Freon does not have an odor, in extreme cases you can smell burnt refrigeration oil when a system with a large leak has been left running, but by then the unit wouldn't be working.
If your refrigerator did in fact have a leak it wouldn’t be working, due to such a small amount of refrigerant present. ( typically about 5 ounces )
So, your gassy smell is likely from something else. I find this happens most often when potatoes or carrots are stored for long periods of time in the refrigerator, usually in the crispers. When starchy vegetables wilt ( get smaller with age ) they give off a gas. The smell eventually comes not from the starch, but from the bacteria that starts growing on it. All this happens on a microscopic level so you won't see anything.
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