Refrigerator repair in St. Petersburg, private craftsmen

What is freon?

Freon is a substance consisting of a mixture of ethane and methane in a certain proportion. It is inert for the environment. This refrigerant can be in liquid or gaseous form. When a substance evaporates, it absorbs heat and produces a cold reaction. There are more than 40 types of refrigerants. Home refrigeration equipment uses safe ones that are not capable of causing damage to humans and the environment.

It is worth noting that freon is used not only in refrigeration equipment. The substance is used to refill air conditioners and in medical aerosols. The component is contained in polyurethane foam and in paint and varnish products.

Contrary to popular belief that leaks can be detected by smell, modern freon is colorless and odorless. You can find out about such a malfunction only by changing the nature of the equipment operation:

• condensation on the walls;
• insufficient freezing;
• high temperature in the refrigerator compartment (food spoils quickly).

The following types of freon are used for home appliances:

1. R600a is a natural substance. Which does not provoke the destruction of the ozone layer of the atmosphere. The disadvantage is its explosiveness at a concentration of 31 g/. In refrigeration equipment, the substance is used in minimal quantities, therefore it is absolutely safe.
2. R134a is a safe gas. There is no chlorine in its composition, and no odor appears when it is released. Inert to the environment, non-flammable.
3. R12 – Not used in modern household appliances since 2010 due to cases of poisoning. When its concentration in the air exceeds 30% it can cause suffocation.
4. R22 is the most common type of freon used in old-style refrigerators (Soviet models). Toxic when exposed to open flame, has a chloroform odor.

Important! Exact information about which freon is used in a particular refrigerator model is presented on the compressor label. Also, the type of substance must be specified in the user instructions.

Freon in a modern refrigerator can be R600a and R134a. Other brands are not used because these are recognized as the safest.

Where is freon located and how is it refilled?

Freon is located in the chamber's evaporator (a system of pipelines through which liquid refrigerant circulates). It absorbs heat and releases cold; the air near the main line quickly cools. Freon circulation is ensured by the operation of the compressor. When heat is absorbed, the liquid is converted into gas. The gas passes to the compressor, condenses and becomes liquid again.

During operation of the refrigeration chamber, it is important to avoid:

• cleaning the freezer from ice with a knife and other sharp objects;
• food and ice getting to the bottom of the evaporator;
• installation near heating devices;
• washing equipment with hot and warm water.

Violating the rules for defrosting the chamber may cause depressurization of the evaporator. In this case, there is a risk of freon leakage; the liquid is quickly converted into gas, and a snow mound forms at the site of the defect.

Ice and snow falling off the surface of the freezer can cause damage to the evaporator. Damage to the pipeline occurs when massive pieces of ice fall to the bottom during defrosting. If you suspect a freon leak, contact a service center.

For reference! Modern refrigerator models contain no more than 200 ml of refrigerant. Its leakage is not dangerous to human life and health. At the first suspicion of a problem, the equipment is disconnected from the network.

You can refill freon yourself if you have experience in leak detection and professional equipment. You will need a special compressor station with pressure gauges; it has two meters (high and low pressure). For refueling you only need a low pressure gauge.

Using a leak detector, the location of the suspected leak is identified, after which the problem area is soldered. Before sealing, all waste refrigerant is pumped out of the tube using a pump. If the pipeline is severely damaged, it must be replaced with a new one. The filling station pipes can only be connected after the evaporator has been restored to functionality.

The process of filling refrigeration equipment with freon requires strict adherence to safety regulations, especially fire safety regulations. Work must be carried out in ventilated areas, ensuring proper ventilation. When contacting a service center, you need to clarify whether they provide a guarantee for their work.

Does it smell like freon?

Freon is an inert gas that boils at sub-zero temperatures and does not ignite when exposed to air. For modern refrigeration units, only safe options that are non-toxic are used, but certain varieties, when heated to 250 degrees, can release toxic compounds, namely phosgene. This substance was used to refill Soviet refrigerators, and after 2010 it was banned from use for domestic purposes.

Nowadays only freon R600a and R134a are used; they have no odor, so it is simply impossible to sense a leak. An unpleasant odor reminiscent of gas may come from a clogged drainage system. You can fix the problem yourself; just clean the capillary tube.

The cause of an unpleasant odor is often due to insufficient maintenance of the equipment. Defrost the unit and wash it using gentle detergents. If you use deodorants or other fragrances in your refrigerator, replace them with new ones. Such devices have a certain service life, so they need to be changed in a timely manner. After their expiration date, an odor similar to ammonia or acetone may appear.

Attention! If you smell burning or burning rubber, do not try to find and eliminate the cause yourself. Most likely, due to a lack of refrigerant, the equipment compressor failed.

How to find out if there is a freon leak

A freon leak is an event that disables refrigeration equipment. The well-functioning cycle is disrupted, and heat treacherously creeps into the refrigerator compartment. Refrigerant is one of the most important elements of refrigeration equipment, so its safety must be monitored. But still, how do you know that a freon leak has started?

We must remember!

• Freon has no odor
• Freon is colorless

There is no need to think that a freon leak is a picture similar to a wounded animal bleeding. Don't expect the refrigerator to flow and ooze freon. If something comes out of the refrigerator, it will most likely be water. So the beginning of a freon leak may be invisible and unobvious.

Freon leaks due to a broken evaporator pipe. How it broke is another question. This could be a manufacturing defect, mechanical damage by the owner of household appliances, etc. When the evaporator tubes are damaged, the freon pressure gradually decreases. This, in turn, leads to a slowdown in the condensation process. The temperature in the refrigerator will rise. Perishable foods will quickly become inedible: milk will turn sour, ice cream will melt. When dumplings, berries and semi-finished products begin to melt in the freezer, water will flow from the refrigerator. Even a child can understand this.

How often should you change freon?

Regular refilling of freon is the key to full and uninterrupted operation of household and industrial refrigeration equipment. In industrial refrigeration equipment, the refrigerant is replaced annually; home units most often last until the first breakdown, but acting according to this scheme is not the best solution.

Replacing freon in a refrigerator is a necessary maintenance item, without which the unit may fail. You can determine whether it is necessary to pump in freon by the operation of the equipment. A lack of refrigerant leads to a decrease in the intensity of its cooling ability. Therefore, I recommend paying attention to the operation of the refrigerator. If it becomes worse at freezing or its compartments become warm, you need to seek help. You can fill the unit with freon yourself if you have the necessary equipment. Its separate purchase for the purpose of one-time periodic use is not justified due to the high price.

How to understand where exactly the freon leak is

Signs of refrigerant leakage can be detected by external signs. If there is a crack on the evaporator, a crust of frost or ice will form at its location - this is the main sign of a leak that can be detected independently.

A bulging rear cover of the equipment may also indicate a problem. Move the refrigerator away from the wall and inspect this surface carefully. Blistering is the result of ice forming in the space between the walls. A breakdown is dangerous and expensive to repair. Often you have to look for a replacement back cover.

Do I need to remove freon from the refrigerator before refilling?

If the evaporator is broken, most likely the bulk of the refrigerant has already evaporated from there. If a small amount of the substance remains in the tube, this is not a problem; a small residue will come out along with the air after purging and pressure testing.

Attention! If there is no leak, but work is planned to replace the compressor, we first release the gas. The hose is removed from the room so that the gas escapes outside.

Excessive concentration of freon in equipment is no less dangerous than its deficiency or absence and is not difficult to detect. After filling with freon, turn on the refrigerator for 1-2 hours and periodically monitor its condition. If the capillary tube heats up, and the return tube connected to the pipe is covered with frost, there is a lot of refrigerant. It needs to be reduced to 0.08 MPa.

Video material

Keep your household appliances in order and then no foreign odors will bother you. And if you have any doubts about gas leaks from refrigeration equipment or air conditioning, then contact a specialist. Take care of your home helpers, and they will reward you with comfort.

Is it possible to turn on a refrigerator without freon?

A refrigerator that is not charged with freon may well work for some time, but with a loss of performance. Due to the lack of refrigerant, the temperature in the chambers will noticeably increase, and eventually it will become equal to the ambient temperature. The question is often asked, is it possible to use the unit if a freon leak is suspected? No, you absolutely cannot do this. A shortage or absence of refrigerant will cause the compressor to work continuously for several days. Ultimately, the motor burns out, and the user will be faced with a choice: buy a new refrigerator or agree to expensive repairs.

What does the refrigerator smell like?

We have found that your concerns about the smell of freon are unfounded, which means you need to look for the cause elsewhere.

Causes of odor in the refrigerator:

• Smell of plastic in the new unit.
• Stale or improperly stored food.
• Dirt and bacteria.
• Blockage in the drainage system.
• Dirty deodorizer. Modern models of devices include a bio-deodorizer that absorbs odors and may have antibacterial properties. Perhaps this element does not cope with its function, as it needs cleaning. For information on how to carry out this procedure, read the instructions for the device.

Is freon dangerous for humans?

The toxicity and high risk of explosion of refrigerants used in refrigeration units is a myth. This substance is safe for humans and the environment and is contained in the circuit in small quantities. To operate a modern unit, you need from 30 to 100 grams of refrigerant. This mass is more than enough to create the required pressure, and filling above the norm can cause module failure.

From an explosion hazard point of view, the component is also not dangerous. If the operating rules are followed, an explosion is impossible due to the low concentration of the substance. A cylinder with refrigerant can be dangerous, and only if it is located near sources of open fire.

Freon poisoning

A freon leak in a household refrigerator cannot cause poisoning and, if detected in a timely manner, does not harm the unit itself.

Freon is dangerous only in large quantities, therefore the risk of gas poisoning is increased for people working in cold storage plants, especially if the ventilation system is broken. The consequences of such intoxication are reversible, but quite dangerous, so you need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

• state of alcohol or drug intoxication;
• spots before the eyes;
• convulsions;
• allergic reactions;
• nervous excitement;
• confusion;
• irritation of mucous membranes;
• 1st and 2nd degree skin burns.

Attention! The severity of the victim’s condition directly depends on the number of chlorine atoms in a particular freon. In mild cases, dizziness and headaches appear, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema is possible, which can result in death.

Freon - belongs to a group of substances that require special rules when working with them. It is impossible to ignore such instructions, especially in large production. If a substance is contained in large quantities it is dangerous. At the first suspicion of intoxication, you should seek medical help and undergo treatment.

Characteristics of freon and its properties

Next we will tell you what freon is. This substance is a mixture of ethane and methane. It has no color. It is capable of boiling at temperatures below zero. The substance used in the refrigerator is not toxic when it comes to modern models. The equipment, which was created in Soviet times, contained phosgene, a gas that is harmful to human health. Since 2010, its use has been completely discontinued. Modern refrigerant is not similar in its properties to previous varieties.

Since the 20th century, more than 40 types of freon have been used in refrigerators. When studying their impact on the environment, it was found that some of them negatively affect the state of the ozone layer of the atmosphere. When heated above 250 degrees, some types of refrigerant release toxic substances. This is one of the reasons why it is not recommended to place the refrigerator next to a stove or heating appliances. What freon smells like depends on its type.

Results

Freon is an inert gas, a mixture of methane and ethane in different proportions. It is used to refill various refrigeration equipment. It is odorless and colorless, so it is impossible to detect its leak visually. If there is not enough refrigerant in the circuit, the performance of the unit will decrease.

After determining the reasons, they begin refueling, but first, you need to identify where there is a hole on the evaporator. It is very easy to detect. There will be a crust of ice or frost on the area. If the tube is broken in several places, there is no point in restoring it; buy a new evaporator - it will last longer.

Often the user is concerned with the question, how dangerous is a freon leak? At home, there is absolutely no danger, because non-toxic gas is used for refueling. Poisoning is possible when working at refrigeration plants and factories producing climate control equipment, where this gas is present in large volumes.

Video: how to properly fill a refrigerator with freon with your own hands

Video: refilling a household refrigerator

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What color is the freon in the refrigerator?

Modern refrigerants used in refrigerators are colorless. But only when they are perfectly pure, without impurities. During a leak, freon may take on a different color. Oil, carbon deposits, etc. are mixed with it. Depending on the color, you can tell what caused the refrigerant contamination.

In this table we have described the main reasons for the acquisition of color by freon. In some cases, it may not be colored, but in others, vice versa. The changed color of the refrigerant signals you: “It’s time to do diagnostics and prevention!”

Some craftsmen add oil-soluble dye to the coolant. With its help, you can make it easier to find freon leaks in the refrigerator. But high-quality dye is visible only under ultraviolet light. Cheap analogues can paint the refrigerant any color and are visible to the naked eye.