can breathing freon from a leak in indoor ac coils cause health issues? in a condo, have an outside ac unit with 'air handler' in my laundry room, with coils I assume freon runs thru from outside (they get cold). Had the fan motor replaced and the tech had to add a pound of freon, commented could be a leak in the "inside coils" and may need to add more freon in a couple of years. Didn't think anything of it at the time, but have allergies, and my congestion is worse now the ac is back on than during the 3 weeks when I had the windows open with fans, and that doesn't make sense. Wondered if I'm breathing freon, and that could be the issue?Technician says there is a leak in the evaporator coils indoors. Air is pushed through the cooling coils and into the living space of the home. We breath that r-410a coolant. The manufactured evaporator coil is 2 years old. We have spent over $1400 repairing low coolant problems without replacing the evaporator coils. We now see that is the problem that needs replacing.

A 2 year old unit..? The manufacturer Nordyne refused to warranty at 1 year 2 days. Family health not an issue if it isn't their family...same goes for the repair service company. They didn't mention that accumulation indoors is a heath issue for occupants. Where is our protection? Here is a link to an MSDS for it - you can read for yourself on the toxicity and side effects. Basically, has not been found to be toxic or cancer causing, but breathing it can cause a number of effects as is says under the Inhalation item, and when it contacts heated surfaces like a furnace or water heater flame is can for acids. It also carries a lubricant with it in the air conditioning system (commonly mineral oil) and vaporized oils are known to be a significant respiratory hazard, both chemically and because the aerosolized oil coats the lungs causing edema and gradual suffocation./_Uploads/dbsAtt...======However, if leaking a pound every yesar or few, unlikely to have a noticeable effect unless you are breathing right at the leak point.

I would say more likely, the respiratory effects are from inadequate filtration of dust and lint that is being recirulated in your home, or from mildew/mold growth on the evaporator coils. That is a common source of respiratory issues, as is forced air ventilation in general because it tends to pull inand recirculate more allergens from outside and inside than direct electric or steam/hot water radiator or baseboard systems.who has the best ac unit No it can not hurt you at all. 15 year old ac unitThe only way refrigerent can harm you is by inhaling it directly into the lungs, which can cause frostbite and kill you. window air conditioner units installationThe only thing its hurting is your wallet and the ozone layer.The only way its harmful is by burning the freon directly with a flame.

A furnace is not hot enough to burn leaking freon. Phosgene gas is produced when freon is burned. It will turn a yellow torch flame green during that process which I have seen many times before. If you breath in the fumes from the green flames "Phosgene gas" it can kill you instantly. Phosgene gas is also found in Mustard Gas which has been used as a chemical weapon since WW1.There is no way for a homeowner to come in contact with Phosgene gas unless the furnace or house is on fire and you are standing at or above the evap. coil at the very second the coil begins to melt releasing the gas. If you are not there right at that second trying to inhale the stuff it just gets burned up by the rest of the fire/flames.Freon is 100% safe to homeowners. Source: 15 yrs exp. I need my deck pressure washed and sealed. I need recommendation for MAnchester Tennessee area. who are top rated house painters in gresham oregon Replacing steam radiators with baseboard in an apartment. Is Fountain Valley Mechanical on your rate list

the ceiling are cracking in my house is it safe to live here? I have an acrid odor in my living area which I cannot find the source. It stings my nose and throat It diminishesSome people believe that AC ducts are destined to become moldy. While all AC ducts will likely grow some mold and will become discolored with visible mold or visible dust to some degree, it is not normal or healthy for ducts to become excessively moldy, or to produce a strong mold odor. Mold spores from AC ducts result in health problems and even mold odors in the absence of spores have been shown to cause health problems. Keeping ducts free of excessive mold is important. The information in this blog is intended to provide readers with information on: 1) Some reasons why AC ducts become moldy. 2) The importance of proper sizing of AC units. 3) In addition it draws attention to a very common indoor air quality problem called entrainment. Entrainment is when AC units pull contaminated air from inside attics or walls or other undesirable areas.

The following information is taken from a Broward County mold inspection we conducted on 11-17-07 it shows an actual example of how ducts became moldy and gives recommendations at the end. The property inspected is a one story single family Broward county house built in 1974. Client reported mold growing on AC vent registers. The mold started a few weeks ago. The client reported that a new larger AC unit was installed about 3 months prior to the mold starting. This inspection is for mold conditions at the AC registers only. In the above referenced area the inspector observed a new air conditioner. The serial number on the unit indicates that it is a 4 ton unit, thus is it rated to cool a 2400 sf house. This AC unit is just a little large for this house. The inspector also observed a new condenser / compressor unit. The serial number indicates that it is a 3.5 ton unit thus designed to cool a 2100 sf house. This is also slightly large for the house. You have a newer larger AC unit.

The size of this newer AC unit is a major reason for why you have humidity related cladosporium on your AC registers that were previously not moldy. The previous AC unit in use about 3 months ago was smaller than this AC system thus would have been more efficient at drying the houses air before cooling the houses air and shutting down. If an AC is to large it shuts off after the air is cooled but before the air is properly dried / dehumidified. Air that is not dehumidified and has a humidity above 60%RH to 65%RH can and often does cause humidity problems in Florida homes. The above photo is of cladosporium mold growing in your registers. Another reason why you have mold problems now is because of the two holes in your AC return. These holes in the wall studs allow the AC to pull humidity into the AC each time the AC turns on, this phenomenon is called entrainment and is a common cause of mold and humidity problems. Yes all metal studs have these holes, but it is not typical for these open holes in the studs to be exposed and in such close proximity to an AC return.

Where does the humidity in your walls come from? it comes room the attic, the attic in turn gets the humidity from outside via the soffit vents like the one in the above photo. Why did this problem not occur till recently? the older smaller AC was more efficient at drying air as stated above and thus was able to handle the humidity load created by these openings. More photos of mold on and around your AC registers. Note that the tiny black spots on and around AC registers are very typical examples of cladosporium spheasperium, or cladosporium cladosporidies mold. This mold problem is caused by elevated humidity in your ducts. This is not likely to cause a toxic reaction, but this mold may result in allergic reactions or act as an asthma trigger in sensitive persons. The real concern is if it is growing excessively deep in your ducts then you will have much more mold than you can see on the registers. Mold growth in the ducts can and often causes health complaints.

Excessive mold was not observed in your AC unit but you are recommended to have your ducts cleaned in accordance with NADCA standards or replaced.Note that the tiny black spots on and around AC registers are very typical examples of cladosporium spheasperium, or cladosporium cladosporidies mold. Based on this inspectors observations and conclusions your inspector recommends using good quality foil mastic tape or other methods to seal two openings in your AC return wall studs. Have a AC company install a humidistat and set it to around 50% to 60%RH always maintain indoor humidity between 30% and 60%RH. Most people live with a little mold in the ducts and have no problems. Mold spore levels in your air was very low. No mold odors were detected. Much of the mold appeared to be primarily in the ends of the ducts just behind the registers. Have an AC company clean the mold from the registers and from the ends of the ducts just behind the registers. Duct removal or good professional cleaning in accordance with NADCA standards is recommended if additional hidden mold is discovered inside the ducts during cleaning.