If the refrigerator in your home doesn’t feel as cold as usual, one of the causes is a Freon leak. Freon is a chemical compound as a fluid that usually functions as a room or vehicle cooler.
Freon leaks in the refrigerator usually occur because the evaporator or freezer is punctured or scratched by a sharp object when picking up sticky ice cubes. Another thing that causes a Freon leak is a cracked or perforated evaporator pipe, but this rarely happens.
Freon leakage is certainly very dangerous because Freon itself is a chemical compound that can be toxic to the body. Accidental Freon poisoning is rare, but when a person experiences Freon poisoning, it will cause symptoms such as:
- Out of breath
- Headache and dizziness
- Eyes, ears, nose and throat are irritated
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning skin
When you experience symptoms of Freon poisoning, the things you can do are:
- Immediately check yourself to the hospital for further examination
- Drink water to neutralize and increase metabolism
- Stay away from rooms that are exposed to Freon leaks
Signs of Leaking Refrigerator Freon
There are several characteristics that we can find when there is a Freon leak in the refrigerator. Generally, if there is a Freon leak in the refrigerator, it will be marked by the appearance of an unpleasant odor and less optimal cooling in the refrigerator.
However, there are still other characteristics that indicate a Freon leak. Know the following are some of the characteristics of a Freon leak in the refrigerator so that it can be handled faster.
1. There is an Unpleasant Odor
The presence of an unpleasant odor is a common feature of a Freon leak in the refrigerator. If the leak is large enough then the smell is quite pungent.
This of course will become a serious problem if it continues. Cooling will be less than optimal and can cause the body to be poisoned by Freon.
2. Food or Drinks in the Refrigerator Freezer Not Freezing
When food or drink is putted in the freezer, it normally freezes. However, when the food or drink does not freeze or freeze for a long period of time, you can be aware that there has been a Freon leak.
When Freon leaks, the freezer will not be able to cool and freeze because there are no compounds that freeze. Immediately check your freezer and repair if there is any of these characteristics.
3. There is a Hole in the Freezer/Evaporator
Another characteristic of a Freon leak in the refrigerator is to look at the freezer or evaporator section. If the freezer has holes or scratches from sharp objects, it can be concluded that there has been a Freon leak.
Freon exits through the hole which causes the freezer to stop cooling. If there are holes or scratches on the freezer, immediately turn off the refrigerator and repair it to minimize larger Freon leaks.
4. Cracked or Perforated Evaporator Pipe
Cracked or perforated evaporator pipes can cause Freon leakage. Usually the evaporator pipe is cracked or perforated due to hitting a hard object or has also been eaten by age.
How to Overcome Leaking Refrigerator Freon
Freon leaks in the refrigerator need to be repaired as soon as possible because it can cause serious problems such as health problems. To overcome the Freon leak in the refrigerator, there are several things that need to be considered first, such as:
- The refrigerator is off, make sure the plug is unplugged
- Remove all food and drinks from the refrigerator
- Clean the remaining ice cubes stuck to the freezer
- Never turn on the refrigerator when there is still a leak
- There are several ways to deal with Freon leaks in the refrigerator, such as:
1. Adding an Evaporator/Freezer
Evaporator with quite small holes (no more than 5 mm) and does not penetrate the other side of the evaporator can still be added so no need to change. There are two ways to add an evaporator to the refrigerator, namely:
Patch the evaporator using green glue. There is no need to lower the evaporator in this way, just smear the leaking part with this glue.
Patch the evaporator by using aluminum welding wire feed. This method is quite complicated because it requires lowering the evaporator but it is quite strong and durable.
2. Replacing the Evaporator/Freezer
Evaporators with holes large enough (more than 5 mm) need to be replaced. Especially if the leaking evaporator has been left for a long time, it is likely that there has been porous on the perforated side.
3. Changing the Compressor Oil and Capillary Filter
Compressor oil changes are carried out when the oil mixes with water due to a leak that occurs. Check the compressor oil, if the compressor oil is still in good condition then you can use it again.
Replacement of the capillary filter is carried out when there is damage to the capillary filter or a leak occurs during Freon refilling.
4. Refill Freon
After all the problems are resolved, then the last step is to recharge the Freon. There are several things that need to be considered before recharging Freon, such as:
- Use Freon according to refrigerator standards
- Do the vacuum process to remove the remaining Freon
- Pay attention to the amperage on the ampere pliers, adjust to the refrigerator standard
That’s all about Freon leaks in the refrigerator. If you don’t know how to fix a leaky refrigerator Freon, then it’s better to call an experienced technician.
The way to deal with leaking Freon may different from one refrigerator to another, considering that there are many types of refrigerators on the market. So it’s best to be careful while repairing it. Perform regular refrigerator maintenance, to avoid damage to refrigerator component