Are Refrigerant Leaks Dangerous? Why Are They Treated as an Emergency?

Refrigerant leaks can cause your air conditioning system to freeze up and stop working, but are refrigerant leaks dangerous? A refrigerant leak in your home can lead to concerns, some of them very serious. The HVAC experts at AirZone Air Conditioning & Heating created this guide to help you understand how serious these leaks are. For more information on the dangers of refrigerant exposure, call (813) 750-0191.

Basic Facts About Refrigerant

Air conditioning units generally use refrigerants to cool your home. Companies use two primary kinds of refrigerants. One of these contains a chemical called Freon, which can cause serious health impacts when inhaled.

Studies also show that Freon damages the ozone layer. For these reasons, the EPA requires companies to phase out refrigerants containing Freon.

Symptoms of Refrigerant Exposure

Many property owners ask themselves, “Are refrigerant leaks dangerous?” HVAC technicians treat refrigerant leaks as emergencies because inhaling Freon can cause severe health issues.

The short-term symptoms of refrigerant exposure often include:

• Trouble breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Irritation of the eyes and skin
• Coughing
• Headaches

Additional symptoms can occur if individuals experience repeated or long-term exposure to the refrigerant. Signs of refrigerant exposure in the long-term often include:

• Confusion or fatigue
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Irregular heartbeat

Long-term exposure to the refrigerant can also cause fluid to build up in your lungs, leading to additional medical issues.

Other Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

Property owners may notice a refrigerant leak before it begins affecting their health. AC units rely on refrigerant to keep your property cool, so contact an AC repair professional if you notice the AC unit failing to work correctly.

Refrigerant leaks can also cause the AC unit coils to freeze over, preventing your AC unit from functioning. AC unit repair crews often act quickly if you report frozen coils due to the health risk posed by refrigerant exposure.

Additionally, allowing the coils to remain frozen for a significant amount of time can cause more damage to an AC system. While you wait for AC repair crews to reach your property, you can protect your health by:

• Removing all children and pets from the home
• Opening your doors and windows
• Dispersing contaminated air with a fan

Taking the above steps can help limit exposure to refrigerants until crews repair the leak and get the AC unit working correctly once more.

Get Help Handling Refrigerant Leaks

Are refrigerant leaks dangerous? In short, the answer is yes. These leaks can pose a threat to your health, especially in cases involving long-term exposure. You can get help handling this kind of issue with AirZone’s 24-hour AC repair services. Contact the team at (813) 750-0191 so that technicians can assess your situation and begin repairs.