Is there anything dangerous about the refrigerant in my central air conditioning or heat pump system?
The refrigerant (HCFC-22) in residential central air conditioning and heat pump systems is nontoxic, nonflammable, odorless, and sealed within the system. Nonetheless, like any substance, it can be abused. You should be aware that some people have died from deliberately inhaling or “sniffing” pure gas (e.g., after buying and “sniffing” cans of refrigerant like those used to recharge automobile air conditioners). Inhaling such concentrated refrigerant vapor can cause cardiac irregularities and cardiac arrest– a fatal heart attack. Although a large release of refrigerant vapor could displace oxygen available for breathing and cause suffocation, this is virtually impossible with residential systems because of the relatively small amount of refrigerant used in the 24,000 to 36,000 Btuh (2-ton to 3-ton) units of most residential central air conditioning systems.
The refrigerant (HCFC-22) in residential central air conditioning and heat pump systems is nontoxic, nonflammable, odorless, and sealed within the system. Nonetheless, like any substance, it can be abused. You should be aware that some people have died from deliberately inhaling or “sniffing” pure gas (e.g., after buying and “sniffing” cans of refrigerant like those used to recharge automobile air conditioners). Inhaling such concentrated refrigerant vapor can cause cardiac irregularities and cardiac arrest—a fatal heart attack. Although a large release of refrigerant vapor could displace oxygen available for breathing and cause suffocation, this is virtually impossible with residential systems because of the relatively small amount of refrigerant used in the 24,000 to 36,000 Btuh (2 ton to 3 ton) units of most residential central air conditioning systems.
Related Questions
- The heat pump system is a monoblock system charged with HFC refrigerant, do I need the F Gas qualification to install or maintain it?
- Is there anything dangerous about the refrigerant in my central air conditioning or heat pump system?
- How can I get a rebate for a new central air conditioning system or central air-source heat pump?
