R600a fridge freezer - have I caused a leak? Is it dangerous?

angelpye

Hi all I am in need of a little advice.

I decided to clean out my frost free fridge freezer as the fridge had not been keeping food cold properly for a couple of months. So yesterday I turned it off, pulled it out :eek:, hoovered and cleaned the back, scrubbed it inside and out ( all with recommended methods) and then noticed a huge block of ice on the inside through the grid at the back of the freezer. (Its a candy CPCA2770FFK) So, I removed the four little screws on the panel but couldnt prize off the panel. I then noticed the two screws at the top so removed them which made it all give enough to remove the back lower panel (the top bit is attched to the fan so couldnt remove). Got the big chunk of ice out and left it all to defrost.

Anyway when I was putting the screws back I got confused:o and put a screw (whichbelonged to bottom back panel) in the top and as I turned it in I heard a short hiss:eek:. Now could I have punctured the gas chambers?

This was late last night so after reading online I switched it off, opened the window and nervously went to bed. I couldnt smell anything but thought I felt briefly light headed.

What do you guys think I should do next? In the wee hours I read reports about exploding fridge freezers with the same gas :eek:. Do i switch it on? Do I get someone out to check - how much will that cost? surely someone out there knows?!

totalsolutions

Loss of gas then. New freezer then. Should have left it to defrost in the warm weather. Little chance of repairs and re gassing. No harm turning on for 5mins to see if it starts to chill.

ormus

as above.
sounds like new freezer to me.

angelpye

totalsolutions wrote: »

Should have left it to defrost in the warm weather.

That I do know

angelpye

totalsolutions wrote: »

No harm turning on for 5mins to see if it starts to chill.

I have switched it on. It has been on for a few minutes and there is definately some chilling going on in the freezer - not sure about fridge yet. Am I right that the oil gets converted to gas when its on so could now be leaking? Should I be able to smell anything?

ormus

afaik, theres no real smell to modern refridgerator gases.
and they are non toxic to humans.

large commercial fridge units still use ammonia.

moonrakerz

ormus wrote: »

and they are non toxic to humans.

...........unless heated to very high temperatures - like passing though a cigarette !

cybergibbons

R600a is isobutane, and is highly flammable. Please be careful, it has a fairly wide range of explosive limits. It isn't toxic though.

angelpye

cybergibbons wrote: »

R600a is isobutane, and is highly flammable. Please be careful, it has a fairly wide range of explosive limits. It isn't toxic though.

The fridge had started to feel quite warm at the front (the section seperating the frdge and freezer and near to where I put the screw in) so I turned it off again . The fridge didnt seem to cool down at all so I am thinking that it is probably dead anyway - it was ten years old and I only shut it down to see if it could be revived before replacing. Guess that is what I have to do. Today will be a BSD! (That could be interpreted to mean two things )

Thank you for y:Dour comments - you are all always so helpful :T

ic

Might you be covered by accidental damage on your house contents policy?

angelpye

:(Afraid not but have budgeted for replacement of these things - only prob is that my washing machine now makes a scrapping sound since a bra wire went through. As my laptop also had to be repaired recently I am hoping the wicked 3 is satisfied!