Gasoline Smell From a Refrigerator

Finding the Leak

• Unplug your fridge from the wall. You’ll be snooping around underneath the unit to determine the leak’s source and it’s best to stay safe. Next, remove everything from the fridge. Pull the unplugged and emptied unit away from the wall and remove anything from the fridge’s top.

The Source

• Tilt the fridge backwards to gain access to the underside of the unit. You may need help with this step. After it's tilted back and resting against the wall, get on your hands and knees and look under the unit with a flashlight. Chances are the smell will be pretty strong. Even though the amount of Freon used in home appliance cooling systems is well below dangerous levels, you may want to wear a dust mask. Check out the coolant hoses to locate any small nicks, cuts or frays that are indicative of the Freon leak. If possible, use an electronic refrigerant leak detector to find the source faster.

A Quick Fix

• Mark the leaking area with string or a tie-tape. Mix a patch kit per the instructions -- these kits are usually sold at many home improvement, department and hardware stores -- and apply it directly over the leak site. Allow several minutes for it to dry before setting the unit back down and placing food back in the unit. Open some windows to allow the Freon scent to dissipate.

A Word of Caution

• The work isn’t done -- patch kits are meant only as a temporary solution. By law, Freon should only be handled by licensed refrigerator and air conditioning repairpersons, so contact your local technician to make an appointment.