[kendravixie]

During the heat wave this summer, my air conditioner gave out. Not only gave out, constantly froze over.

My apartment complex, whose responsibilities include the AC unit, heater, and other basic utilities and their upkeep, fixed the problem _temporarily_.

They stated that they had arrived at a permanent fix after sealing a leaking pipe at the indoor unit.

However, while I was at work for the day and my significant other was visiting, he noticed that a technician had come by to refill my freon nearly 100% of its capacity.

The apartment complex has constantly been refilling the freon every few days while I'm either away or at work and have NOT fixed any freon leak nor have they replaced the unit!

Is freon leaking a health hazard? Should I inform authorities? This particular problem has been ongoing for nearly two weeks and I have not seen anyone replace the unit, only refill the freon back to 100% of its capacity (nearly the entire tank or holding area for the freon)!

To my knowledge, that much freon should only be replaced every few years, not days!

Help? Who do I contact? Links? Health Warnings? Authorities?

[ScottGem]

I assume this is an individual unit through the wall or in a window. I would get a licensed A/C repairman to give you an estimate on what needs to be done, then present it to the complex management.

[RickJ]

I like Scott's angle, but let me give my piece from my landlord and maintenance guy angle.

Freon is expensive. In a short time refilling the system every few days will quickly become more expensive than repair. Your landlord knows this and he's in the business to make a profit... so I will first guess that "every few days" is probably not correct.

You have a potential unauthorized entry issue going on here, so I would right away go right to the landlord:

"I know you've had to continually (or whatever is the right word that you know to be right) add coolant to my system - and entering my apartment without the proper notice. What is up? What will it take to fix it right and how long will it take?"

That may speed things up a bit.

[caibuadday]

During the heat wave this summer, my air conditioner gave out. Not only gave out, constantly froze over.

My apartment complex, whose responsibilities include the AC unit, heater, and other basic utilities and their upkeep, fixed the problem _temporarily_.

They stated that they had arrived at a permanent fix after sealing a leaking pipe at the indoor unit.

However, while I was at work for the day and my significant other was visiting, he noticed that a technician had come by to refill my freon nearly 100% of its capacity.

The apartment complex has constantly been refilling the freon every few days while I'm either away or at work and have NOT fixed any freon leak nor have they replaced the unit!

Is freon leaking a health hazard? Should I inform authorities? This particular problem has been ongoing for nearly two weeks and I have not seen anyone replace the unit, only refill the freon back to 100% of its capacity (nearly the entire tank or holding area for the freon)!

To my knowledge, that much freon should only be replaced every few years, not days!

Help? Who do I contact? Links? Health Warnings? Authorities?

Adding freon to a leaking system without attemptto repaire the leak violate federal law ,EPA. Let the local building official know, or remind the tech that could lost his license and fine

[hvac1000]

adding freon to a leaking system without attemptto repaire the leak violate federal law ,EPA. let the local building official know, or remind the tech that could lost his license and fine

Please read the EPA rule on this. It is not illegal on systems under 5 ton. Now I did not say it was not stupid to keep adding refrigerant but there is an exception on smaller units in the code. In our area the building official could not care less about refrigerant leaks. The building official has no legal authority on this issue.

I bet the manitaince man at the complex is not certified also.

Thought I would also mention I am certified by the State of Ohio and Nationally as a Building Inspector. HVAC Mechanical Inspector, Electric Safety Inspector and also I am a Chief Building Inspector for my jurisdiction.