[jcarp]

What do I do about a ruptured freon line to a refrigerator? It is old and was being thrown out but the smell is awful

[tickle]

You are dealing with a dangerous substance and you should have called someone the minute you knew the leak was there. In Canada we can't throw old fridges out, a technician has to drain the freon first, dispose of it and then the fridge goes.

Freon and Your Health in the Home

[applguy]

"Freon" is a nearly odorless gas. It is also not toxic unless it is burned. It can be harmful by displacing oxygen from the area, making it obviously hard for you to breathe. "Freon" is a word many people use in place of "refrigerant". There have been, and still are, MANY different formulations of chemicals used as refrigerants. Many older appliances didn't use "freon" as most people know it; they were known to use different chemicals such as ammonia, which may be why you find the odor so offensive. My recommendation is open windows and use several fans and evacuate the area for a day or two. Once a line breaks open, there's not much you can do about it, and calling someone won't help you much, either. Now, if you knew the line was going to break in advance, that would be a different story. Good luck.