Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Refrigerator Repair:
Odor in 2 year old refrigerator
To whom it may concern, Please help in identifying my mother's refrigerator odor as best you can. I live out of state and only recently visited her and did detect a noticeable chemical-like odor.
This odor, according to her records, was first detected in mid March of this year. The refrigerator was purchased new in mid June of 1998.
The odor is stronger on some days and less noticeable on others. It appears to be more concentrated upon rising in the morning and opening the freezer after it's been closed overnight. Foods that were previously kept in plastic wrap or plastic bags in the freezer have absorbed the odor. No less then 4 authorized service men have been out from two companies in her area to inspect the refrigerator including the manager from the appliance store that sold it to her last year and none admitted to smelling anything out of the ordinary.
The day the store manager arrived, my brother even detected the odor in the next room. The manager asked to remove the inside back panel of the freezer for closer inspection and after doing so found nothing out of order. One repairman, during the first service call, had a head cold and another repairman perhaps didn't detect it during his inspection because it was not as strong on that day. My mother is afraid to eat the foods stored in any part of the refrigerator/freezer as she fears for her health. Some family members, myself included, have contacted the manufacturer of the unit and compiled a detailed letter that has been sent out. We're currently awaiting a reply. My mother wants the refrigerator replaced, but the service reports are working against us and her warranty is about to expire. She is getting sick of the runaround and as I said isn't eating well. I have tried, rather hurriedly I admit, to read all the helpful info. this site offers and came upon the Freon info.
Is it possible her refrigerator has a Freon leak and isn't there a gauge the servicemen should have used to detect it? What is your advice please? Your time and attention to this troubling matter is greatly appreciated.
Hi, I highly doubt that the odor comes from a refrigerant leak, for if there was a leak the unit would not freeze in the freezer section. You didn't mention if the temps were normal or not so I must assume they are. Also, throughout your lengthy email, you never mentioned what brand it is.
Actually though, odors in the inside of the refrigerator come from the food you store in it so I can see why the technicians can't solve this problem for her. As far as the odor being toxic and your mother afraid to eat the food out of it, rest assured it isn't. There is nothing toxic manufactured into refrigerators, even the refrigerant itself.
I can also tell you that I have never heard of any reports or concerns on potential toxic substances developing in the normal use of domestic refrigerators or freezers from any medical, environmental, or scientific source.
One of the biggest reasons for odor I have come across is the storage of potatoes, carrots or other starchy foods in refrigerators. Potatoes do not have to be kept refrigerated and cause the third reason for odor in the following article out of my book I'll which attach to this letter.
I hope this helps and let me know. Thanks,
Note: Section 5 article called "Complete Deodorizing Procedure" attached.
I left the manufactures name out because this may turn to a legal matter. As lengthy as my letter was, perhaps I should have been more through in explaining that we feel the odor is not food related.
Hmm........scientifically though, what else could it be?
1)No refrigerant leak.
None of the 4 ounces or so (depending on the model and make) refrigerant has leaked or the unit would not work.
2)No chemical change.
The materials used for the construction in the inside of the cabinet would not be chemically unstable, re: the molecules breaking down to form a different compound and giving off odor in the process.
Engineers, when designing a cabinet to store food items in are very careful of this. Imagine the trouble they would have to go through if the other 100,000 refrigerators they built just like this one were also to cause 4 service calls each?
I can't imagine why disclosing the manufacturer's name to me would make you liable in any way while discussing this problem, but if there was a major recall of a recently manufactured popular brand of refrigerator we would all know about it. Lets look at the big picture, wouldn't the media love to get hold of the headline "Stinky refrigerators recalled by xxx corporation"?
3)No chemical change due to high heat.
Molecules can be released and cause odor if an electrical component has a major short circuit and melts a polymerized compound. When this happens the problem can't be missed even once.
I don't wish to disclose the manufacturer at this point in time as we are battling for some closure to this troubling problem. I am wondering though, why that is of importance. Do different manufacturers use different refrigerants or have histories of such occurrences?
No, such occurrences have never been reported to my knowledge. Actually all brands have been redesigned recently to meet new standards for energy consumption. Your smell can't possibly be the refrigerant for the reason previously explained, also all new refrigerators use the same refrigerant called 134a.
Incidentally, you can inhale this substance and not know it. I've done it many times. There is no odor to it at all. If fact, domestic refrigerator refrigerant is still used as a propellant in puffers used by people with lung problems.
I know you don't want to hear this, but my opinion is that the smell in your mother’s refrigerator was caused by your mother. Perhaps, innocently enough, she may have forgot it even happened, but at some point some food item went rotten, then it was later removed. Technically, as far as I can see, there is no other reason.
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