There can be a lot of reasons why your refrigerator is not cooling and a lack of freon gas within it one of the most common issues. But it can be annoying when you don’t know how to diagnose the issue.
Let’s take a look at how you can check whether your fridge still has freon or is it time for a top up…
How Do You Know If Your Refrigerator Needs Freon?
The first thing you need to do is to check if your refrigerator even works on freon or not. Contact the company or go through the manual to be certain. You can check for the sound coming out of the fridge along with the cooling effect to get a better idea whether you need freon or not.
You can also check for the heat to get a better idea. To refill freon, contact a professional as it can be delicate to deal with.
What is Freon?
Before we go on to check whether your fridge needs more freon or not, let’s see what freon gas actually is. It is simply the name of the gas which is used for the heating and cooling processes of appliances. The gas flows through the pipes within the fridge which are also known as the condenser and evaporator coils.
What Type of Freon is Used in Refrigerators?
Refrigerators which have been manufactured since 1995 use a freon variant known as R-134a. Keep in mind that if you use the wrong variant of freon, it might end up ruining the compressor and the coils of your fridge, examples of other variants include R-12. You should also avoid combining different variants together.
Up until January 2020, you could buy this freon variant from local automotive hardware stored but since it has been banned due to environmental damage.
Do Refrigerators Still Use Freon?
Refrigerators which are manufactured now do not use freon due to environmental issues. On the other hand, they use HFC-134a which is deemed to be much more environmentally friendly.
Will Your Refrigerator Use Freon?
Modern appliances don’t usually use freon especially the ones which are manufactured after 1994. But always refer to your appliance guide to learn more about your situation. Your appliance might be using HFC-134a or r-600a.
For How Long Does Freon Gas Last In The Refrigerator?
Freon can basically last forever because it flows in an enclosed space in the coils. So unless the coils have been compromised, freon should last forever.
How To Check If Your Fridge Has Run Out Of Freon?
The first thing which you should check is the sound coming out of the compressor. Locate the compressor of the appliance and place your ears next to it. If there is a humming or hissing sound, then it means that freon is present.
Although keep in mind that lack of sound doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of freon, it could also indicate a problem with the compressor or the coils.
Keep one thing in mind though, before putting your ears next to the compressor, turn off the appliance’s temperature control once you have unplugged the machine.
You can also place your hand next to the compressor and if you feel some heat, then it means that the freon is working. Again, lack of heat doesn’t mean a lack of freon and there can be other reasons behind this.
After this, remove the cover from the evaporator which is usually located in the freezer. You can find this near your evaporator fan. Once you have removed the cover, plug the appliance back in and turn the temperature control back on. Close the door and let the fridge run for a few minutes. If you see some frost on the evaporator, then it might indicate a presence of freon. Otherwise lack of frost could also indicate a clogged system or lack of freon.
How Re-Fill Your Fridge With Freon?
Although you can refill freon to your refrigerator it is not recommended that you do so on your own, especially if you are not experienced with it. Contact the company and call a professional to get it done for you.
Using the wrong kind of freon will end up ruining your appliance, not only this but using the right kind of freon but filling too much or too little can also damage the appliance.
The process is also quite tricky and if done improperly can lead to health issues. It is also quite tricky to diagnose the problem correctly and it is possible that lack of freon might not be the real issue.
A professional will not only diagnose but also fix the issue and save you the headache.
Enjoyed this article? Make sure to check these next:
- How Long Does It Take A Refrigerator To Get Cold Once Plugged In?
- Refrigerator Won’t Cool But Freezer Works
- 5 Refrigerator Brands To Avoid Like The Plague
Conclusion…
Check whether your fridge works on freon or not, take a note of the issues you are facing with the fridge, for example, lack of cooling, over frosting, lack of sound and too much heat from the compressor can be signs of lack of freon.
Contact a professional in case it needs a refill.
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