Freon is an inert gas, odorless. At atmospheric pressure it boils at a temperature below zero. But the compressor creates such pressure that the refrigerant condenses into liquid, heating the circuits, before turning back into gas in the evaporator. The cooling process of the chambers requires a certain amount of refrigerant. Leakage reduces the cold performance of the device. The technician’s task is to find where freon has leaked from the refrigerator, eliminate the fistula and pump in a new portion of refrigerant.
Signs of a freon leak in the refrigerator
An insufficient amount of freon disrupts the thermal balance and uses less heat for evaporation. The cause of a refrigerant leak from a refrigerator is almost always due to a violation of the operating instructions:
- Improper transportation of the refrigerator, loading and installation with sudden jerks can lead to the destruction of welding seams.
- Speeding up defrosting by mechanically removing the ice using a knife or fork can damage the tubes in the freezer.
- Rare defrosting, accumulation of ice, and melting near the door contribute to rusting of the tubes in the heating circuit. Fistulas form at the bottom where moisture seeps through the seal.
- Natural aging of the material, corrosion.
- Manufacturing defects.
If there is not enough freon in the refrigerator, the compressor will work without stopping, and the chamber will be warm. A specialist with the necessary equipment can accurately determine both leaks and other faults. Similar signs may occur when the door is not tightly closed or the integrity of the gaskets is compromised.
To independently determine whether there is freon in the refrigerator, you should defrost and dry the device. If, after turning it on, the cold does not build up in the chambers, the condenser grille is cold, the freon has leaked out. What to do? Need refueling.
Why does a refrigerator need freon?
Freon is a refrigerant or freezing substance with which a refrigerator cools the food stored in it. The principle of operation is as follows: freon, which is in a liquid state, enters the evaporator, where it boils and absorbs heat from the surface of the evaporator, thus cooling the chambers of the unit. Having completely boiled, freon turns into gas, which is pumped out by the compressor and sent to the condenser. There the vapors are cooled and in a liquid state are again sent to the evaporator. This process continues until the air in the chamber is cooled to the required temperature. After this, the compressor is switched off for a while. Thus, it turns out that without freon the refrigerator will not work.
What does freon look like leaking from a refrigerator?
How to detect a leak yourself? In open areas, the puncture site will be indicated by a black spot - the gas has escaped, and the oil in the circuit is non-volatile, it remains around the fistula. If a tube rupture occurs in the foamed part of the refrigerator, the chamber wall will swell, indicating the location of the leak. A specialist in finding freon leaks in a refrigerator uses a leak detector - a device that works on the principle of a metal detector. Having detected the location of damage, the device beeps.
You can determine that freon has leaked from the refrigerator if the chambers are warm and there is a brown oily puddle on the floor near the compressor. The refrigerant evaporated at room temperature, leaving oil, decomposition products, and condensation as a trace. You can understand that freon has leaked from the refrigerator yourself as soon as puddles of melted food and the uniform noise of a running compressor are detected. If you touch the capacitor - the grille on the end part - it will be cold. This is the surest indicator that the freon in the refrigerator has run out.
How to solve a problem
What to do if the refrigerator has trouble freezing and cooling food? This substance has leaked. And in order for the gas to remain in place, it is necessary to take action to localize and find the place where it comes out.
To identify such areas, leak detectors are used. With this tool you can find microcracks on the tubes, or where they are connected. Check out the image of this tool in the photo.
Electronic leak detector
If nothing is found, then use compressed air. Air bubbles will appear where freon leaks.
When you identify the problem areas based on the signs, replace them or repair them using soldering. Then carry out procedures to remove oxygen and water. There shouldn't be a single drop left. The drier the system is, the better the equipment will work after refilling with freon.
It is important to remember that each refrigerator model has its own personal freon mass. After filling, use a leak detector to check if you have fixed the leak. Afterwards, continue repairing the unit. Solder the service tubes.
How to fix the problem in foam
If you do not have the proper skills and equipment, you will not be able to make repairs to the foamed part of the refrigerator. You may not find the problem because this gas, as you know, does not smell. What is the risk of freon leakage in such areas? The unit will have to be overhauled. And this will entail large financial expenses.
To find signs of breakdown, experts ask you to abandon the old-fashioned method, like soaping. This method is not effective. You will only lose time. Typically such leaks are located at joints. Where pipes and pipes connect. Therefore, you will have to find the breakdown in the foamed part. And this is very difficult.
Signs of a refrigerant leak in the foam
Why is a freon leak in the foamed part of the refrigerator dangerous?
- The inside walls of the refrigerator are peeling and swelling.
- The motor does not stop, it runs continuously.
- The thermal relay turns off the compressor.
- The display shows an error code.
Even an experienced performer works about three hours to fix such a refrigerator problem. Therefore, experts do not recommend risking your health, knowing that it is dangerous.
How to check for freon leaks in a refrigerator
When users complain about the unpleasant smell from the refrigerator and associate it with a freon leak, they are right. Yes, the gas is colorless and odorless. But the refrigerant gradually evaporates into the microscopic hole. The climate in the cell changes. Microparticles of pathogens appear, creating an unpleasant odor. This is due to high humidity. What to do if you suspect that freon is coming out of the refrigerator?
- Check how often the compressor stops or whether it runs continuously.
- Check the integrity of the door seal and the tightness of the circuit connection. Take a sheet of thick, high-quality paper, cut a strip of 5 cm and stretch it through the closed door. It drags with difficulty - the seal is normal.
- The compressor does not stop, there is no cold, check the voltage in the network. The compressor performance is 0 if the network is 185 V. The motor will work, but there will be no compression.
If other causes are excluded, contact a specialized center for diagnosis. A specialist knows how to determine the presence or absence of freon in a refrigerator.
Internal freon leak in refrigerator
The most expensive repair if freon has leaked from the refrigerator is considered to be changing the refrigerant circuit. The price of the work depends on the location of the leak. If it is a door heating circuit, it is turned off and the tube is laid along the rear wall. If a fistula has formed in the body, it is necessary to remove the insulation, re-lay the circuit and foam it.
The work is expensive, but even in a workshop it is impossible to recreate the factory circuit. Repairs that damage the thermal insulation change the thermodynamic properties of the chambers. Some companies, for example, Liebherr, consider refrigerators with a freon leak in the foam part beyond repair. Within 10 years of operation, they, according to the conclusion of their own service center, can change the device, contrary to Russian trade rules.
Fix a leak in a two-compartment refrigerator
How to fix a freon leak in the foamed part of the refrigerator
Please note that in this article we will talk about modern two-chamber refrigerators, and about refrigerators that were produced in the late eighties and early nineties, I will write a separate article, in view of the fact that repairs are carried out completely differently.
If in your unit the freezer compartment is located at the top, and in the refrigerator compartment on the back wall, water flows down the plastic, it is almost impossible to eliminate the leak using this technique, there are of course exceptions, for example, when the freezer was dug into a visible place. I have a video on my channel in which I solder a freezer evaporator after it was pierced with a knife, you can watch this video a little lower, but now let’s talk about those refrigerators that not only can, but also need to be repaired, we’ll talk about bottom location of the freezer. In these refrigerators, in case of a leak, you can install a weeping evaporator in the refrigerator compartment, and it is also quite possible to remove the evaporator from the freezer compartment and check it. In general, below we will consider exactly how to determine whether there is a leak and how to install a plate on a two-chamber refrigerator. Now let’s return to the topic of those units that are not repaired, as I said above, sometimes it happens that a freon leak occurs in a visible place, in this case it is possible to solder the leak and fill the refrigerator with refrigerant, you can watch a video about this, right below this paragraph Watch the video on how to seal a freezer and fix a leak in the foamed part of the refrigerator
Photo 1. Atlant refrigerator, which is not worth repairing
Two-chamber refrigerators, in which the freezer is located at the top, are considered disposable. Be careful, if they offer to refill you with freon and convince you that it will work like new, do not believe it or agree. In 90% of cases, the refrigerator will work for a maximum of a month after a simple refill. You must understand that if the refrigerant has leaked once, it will happen again next time.
Eliminating freon leaks in a modern two-chamber refrigerator
Now let’s get down to the fun part, namely installing a weeping evaporator. Here you must understand that such actions can only be carried out in those refrigerators in which the freezer compartment is located at the bottom. Installation of a weeping evaporator is possible in almost all brands, without exception, even in such brands as Samsung, LG, Liebherr, not to mention Indesit, Atlant, Nord. Let's take as an example the installation of a cryka in a Nord or Atlant refrigerator, to be honest, I don’t remember on which unit, I did it, in my opinion it’s still a Nord. Despite the fact that this article is mostly informative, I think for novice craftsmen, this instruction will be quite useful in their work, and a simple user will probably be interested in knowing what their refrigerator will look like after such a repair. First, let's list what indicates that your refrigerator has a refrigerant leak.
- The condenser at the back of the refrigerator is cold → this is due to the fact that the refrigerant condensation process does not occur in it, the usual consequences of a lack of refrigerant or a clogged capillary and filter
- The refrigerator does not turn off → Many people in this case blame the thermostat, but in the vast majority of cases, this behavior of the unit indicates a leak or a clogged capillary
- The upper compartment has stopped cooling → The average consumer does not even realize that the refrigerator and freezer are one system and if a leak occurs in any part of this system, then the cold first leaves the refrigerator and only then does this problem reach the freezer
I have probably listed all the signs that there is a freon leak. Here we need to talk separately about the capillary and filter in the system. Determining whether these two parts are clogged or not is only possible when you open the system. Another thing, in some cases, a leak may occur in the defrost circuit, usually this occurs between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, under the intermediate strip
How to determine a freon leak in a two-chamber refrigerator
Let me start with the fact that in units in which the freezer is located at the bottom, it is possible to check it. It is very rare, but it still happens that a leak occurs in the freezer compartment and in order not to do the work in vain, you need to remove the evaporator from the housing, pump it with air and dip it in hot water. In my practice, there were only a few cases when there was a refrigerant leak, precisely in this compartment, I mean that it happens rarely, but it is advisable to check
If no refrigerant leak is detected in the freezer evaporator, proceed to the next step, you need to check the defrost circuit. This is a tube that runs along the body of the refrigerator and passes between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Its function is to heat the area of the body to which the sealing rubber is adjacent, this is necessary so that the condensate evaporates. In the photo below you will see an intermediate bar that stands between the two compartments; it is under it that freon leaks. Pay attention to the condition of this strip; if it is very rusty, then it is quite possible that a leak occurred right here. To check, you need to pump air into the defrost circuit, then use either a soap solution or special reagents to determine the leak
What is a crying evaporator
After we checked everything using the method of elimination, we were left with only one crying board. I’ll now tell you a little more about this component. Let's see what a weeping evaporator is - this is a part that has the shape of a metal sheet and thanks to which products are cooled in the refrigeration chamber. It works on the principle that it freezes and then melts. Probably many people have noticed that water is flowing down the back wall of the refrigerator compartment, or vice versa, the entire back wall is covered with a light coating of frost, this is due to the fact that while the motor is running, this evaporator begins to gain cold; when the motor is turned off, the evaporator begins to gain positive temperature. temperature, as a result the frost melts. In almost all two-chamber refrigerators with a weeping defrosting system, the process of turning off the engine is controlled by the weeping board, that is, if its walls do not have the required temperature, then the thermostat will never in life give a signal to turn off the refrigerator. In the photo on the side you can see a crying evaporator, before it was installed, almost the same one behind the plastic. In our case, we will take it outside and this will help the refrigerator to work longer than when it was bought from the store
Installing a crying evaporator on a two-chamber refrigerator
Finally, we have come to what needs to be done in order to eliminate the leak in the foam part of the two-compartment refrigerator. Previously, like many craftsmen, I cut out the pentane from the back of the unit in order to remove the evaporator from there or find a leak and solder it. But then the following happened, after everything seemed to be done perfectly, repetitions returned to me. The fact is that after soldering this evaporator, sometimes another leak occurred, as a result the work had to be redone. With the second option, I mean replacing the wedge and installing it in the old place, it was also not all smooth sailing. The main difficulty was that it was very difficult to glue the plastic to the board, and not only the cold, but also the service life depends on this
Now let's see what to expect after a weeping evaporator is installed on your refrigerator, or rather, what we will achieve and how in the future it will affect the operation of your refrigerator
- The capillary tube usually changes along with the plate - this is a definite plus, since during operation of the refrigerator it very often becomes clogged
- A weeping evaporator, which is vented outside, lasts much longer than the one behind the plastic - this is a law of physics. The fact is that it is aluminum and if it is in a confined space, and even constantly in water, then after a short time it will rot, in principle, this is what happens during factory installation
- When this work is done, just in case, the defrost circuit is usually disconnected, believe me, this must be done. From practice I will say that after this appendicitis is cut off, refrigerators rarely rust, in any case, 7-8 years pass without problems
Next in order
Preparing the refrigerator for installing a crying evaporator
Step 1. You need to cut three holes, as shown in the photo. In the top two, we insert the tubes from the evaporator. We need the lower hole to assemble one pipeline with a freezer
Step 2. We prepare the weeping evaporator, that is, we bend the tubes so as to create loops, I do this so that in the future it will be possible to move it in different directions. Thanks to this, the evaporator can be easily positioned in the center
Step 3. You need to cut off the capillary near the filter, and also cut it at the entrance to the freezer. The fact is that our crying evaporator already has a capillary built into it, so it’s better to remove the old one. The defrost circuit must be unsoldered from the capacitor and the motor; subsequently, these tubes will need to be soldered so that oil does not leak from them
Step 4. Insert the evaporator into the housing and use self-tapping screws to fix it on the back wall
Step 5. You need to stretch insulating hoses onto the pipelines; they are sold in specialized stores, usually where you buy the board. The thickness of the insulation wall should be as large as possible, optimally 1 cm, minimum not less than 5 mm
Step 6. We assemble the pipeline of the new weeping evaporator with the freezer evaporator. The tube from the old weeping machine must be sealed so that oil does not drip from it; if this is not done, the freezer will stink of oil
Step 7. Foam all 3 holes and wait for complete drying
Step 8. The last thing to do is to connect our entire new system to the compressor. There is nothing unusual here, that is, everything is done the same as in ordinary refrigerators. We solder the free tube from the weeping board to the suction fitting on the engines, and solder a new capillary tube into the drying filter. Since we have disconnected the defrost circuit, the capacitor is directly soldered to the motor. Here it should be noted that if the capacitor is very small, as we usually see on Indesites, then it will be necessary to add either a copper tube or install another capacitor
Now you can enjoy the result that you see in the photo below
As a result, we get the same system as before, only more improved. Yes, I was not mistaken, thanks to the fact that our weeping board is brought out, as shown in the photo above, it becomes less susceptible to corrosion. Add to this the fact that we changed the injection system, that is, the capillary tube, and also disconnected the defrost, that is, we practically changed the entire main filling. It is this option for replacing a crying evaporator that is guaranteed to work for quite a long time. I have refrigerators that have been running for over ten years. This procedure is done with almost all refrigerators that have a weak cooling system, both domestic and foreign.
Note. Under no circumstances should you try to do this work yourself; this work requires skill and professionalism and cannot be done in half an hour.
Fixing a freon leak in a refrigerator
Various methods of restoring tightness are used in the circuit. An aluminum evaporator uses solder to an aluminum base to repair punctures.
The junction of a copper tube with an aluminum one is performed by argon welding on a special installation. It is possible that gas escapes at the junction of the fitting and the compressor, and the rest of the circuit does not require repair. The technician has several ways to determine the location of the freon leak in the refrigerator. The repairman's actions occur in the following sequence:
- fault diagnosis;
- detection of cracks and fistulas in the cooling circuit tubes, troubleshooting at home or in the workshop;
- vacuuming the system to remove condensate and freon residues;
- filling the circuit with gas in a certain volume;
- checking the system for tightness and cooling ability.
If, after pumping in the refrigerant, the cooling effect has decreased and the suction tube into the compressor is frozen - a lot of freon has been pumped in - recharging is required at the expense of the technician.
Why do you need freon
Not all people know what function the refrigerant performs. Freon is the main working substance that removes heat from the compartments of the refrigerator. Therefore, the required temperature is maintained in the internal chambers.
If there is not enough gas or it leaks, the equipment stops working normally or fails completely. It is important to be able to detect freon leaks and know through which places it comes out.
To better understand why refrigerant is needed, you can familiarize yourself with the operating principle of a household appliance motor:
- the compressor relay turns on, closing the electrical circuit, when the temperature rises, and when the cold blower operates, the required pressure is created in the system so that the gas enters the condenser radiator;
- the refrigerant becomes liquid and a large amount of heat is generated, dissipating into space thanks to the radiator grille;
- after passing through the evaporator, the substance ends up in the pipeline, where the pressure equalizes and gradually decreases;
- liquid refrigerant enters the radiator and is heated to a predetermined temperature, and then turns into steam;
- The condenser cools and the temperature in the refrigerator decreases.
Some believe that freon is harmful to the human body. However, it only becomes dangerous if there is a large gas leak. There is a small amount of it in the refrigerator. For example, Atlant devices contain 60-135 g of freon. The exact amount of refrigerant depends on the model of household appliance.
View » Why the red “attention” light is on in the Atlant refrigerator: reasons for the signal, what to do to fix the problem
Freon leak in the refrigerator - is it worth repairing?
Compared to replacing the compressor, finding a crack and restoring the circuit is much cheaper. The refrigerator gets a second life. There are cases when an evaporator, repaired 15 years ago, still works in an old refrigerator in exile in the country. Freon cannot just leak out of the refrigerator. The cold circuit is sealed. Over the years, a leak may develop at the junction between the copper and aluminum tubing. In Russian models, leaks are often found in the door heating circuit. Inexpensive repairs return the device to full functionality. That’s why, as soon as you find out that freon has leaked from the refrigerator, you need to call a technician as soon as possible. This operation cannot be performed independently - the risk of adding several more to one problem is too great.
How to find a freon leak in a refrigerator yourself
If the compressor doesn't stop running, remember how it all started. Perhaps there was meat in the freezer, and you tore it off the wall with ice. Or maybe, in an effort to defrost the chamber faster, they “gently” pushed the ice crust away from the surface with a knife. At that moment, a slight hiss was heard, and soon everything became quiet. Was? Then the cause of the leak is obvious. The problem itself will not be solved; soon all the gas will be released, and the food will begin to spoil. It is necessary to call a technician to repair the damage or replace the evaporator.
