Refueling the refrigerator with freon by own hands

No one today can do without a refrigerator, and if it breaks down, you have to solve the problem of repair urgently. But since household appliances never warn about their "desire" to pick up, and refuses to function as usual at the most inopportune moment, the issue of self-repair due to lack of money remains for many urgent. Uncomplicated faults can indeed be eliminated on their own. But refilling the refrigerator with freon by oneself is not the safest and easiest occupation, therefore it is desirable to trust it to professionals. If you are confident in your abilities and think that you can handle your own hands, then in this article we will share tips on refueling the refrigerator, as well as describe in detail the rules for working with freon.

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What is Freon?

The design of any refrigerator uses freon, which acts as a coolant. It is this gas that during evaporation absorbs heat energy, thereby provoking a significant lowering of the ambient temperature.

Important! Freon, which acts as the most popular refrigerant gas, needs special exploitation, but it does not pose a particular danger to human health. It can be harmful only the substance used in very old models of such equipment.

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What malfunctions do I need to replace freon?

Replacement of freon in the refrigerator should be performed in case of any problem with the tightness of the cooling system. Most often, users of modern aggregates have to replace the refrigerant when the following situations occur:

1. Freon leak. Typically, the refrigerant begins to seep in places of factory soldering or in a corrupted evaporator. With this fault, you need to find and repair the leak, and only then refill the equipment with freon.
2. Discharge in the capillary pipeline. Clogging of the components of the refrigerator can occur due to the burnout of engine oil, which is constantly circulating through the system. Such impurities are usually not captured by the drying filter. Occurrence of a blockage in the capillary pipeline prevents the free movement of the refrigerant, which can lead to breakage of the compressor. After eliminating the clog, the refrigerator must be refilled with Freon.
3. Replacing the compressor motor. If you have performed the replacement of the compressor, then after completing the work, it is necessary to fill the refrigerator with refrigerant.

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Equipment and materials

Having decided to independently change the refrigerant in the refrigerator, it is necessary to realize that this procedure requires certain investments.

Important! If you first decided to repair a household appliance, then such a decision would be impractical. The purchase of all devices will cost more than professional repairs by a qualified craftsman. And the result of the work is also not difficult to guess.

For work you will need the following:

• digital tester;
• electronic type leak detector;
• digital thermometer;
• vacuum pump;
• clamping tongs;
• protective screens for gas-flame work;
• pliers;
• Schrader valve;
• Freon;
• set of wrenches.

Important! Remember that if the problem in the operability of the refrigerator is associated with the leakage of freon, the replacement of the refrigerant will give a short result.

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Finding refrigerant leaks in the refrigerator

Modern leak detectors are tuned to a certain brand of freon, and therefore it will not help you in the search for other damages. Before you start refueling the refrigerator with a refrigerant, make sure that the circuit has no leaks.

Important! Spare no effort to conduct additional operations, because otherwise, the filled freon will flow out in no more than 2 weeks, which will lead to the need for a repetition of the procedure.

After carrying out refueling of the refrigerator with a refrigerant, it is necessary to conduct a test start of the system, not experienced by the service branch pipe. If everything is done correctly, then the arrow of the left gauge should point to zero or be next to it. After refueling, recheck the system using a leak detector.

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How to refill the refrigerator with freon?

Before filling the refrigerator yourself with freon, it is necessary to understand the features and principles of the filling station operation. This universal device is often used to serve household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

For working with a refrigerator you only need one of the two pressure gauges installed at the filling station - a low pressure device. Connection of the filling station to the refrigerator circuit is made according to the following algorithm:

1. The left branch pipe of the device is connected to the Schroeder valve, which is on the refrigerator compressor.
2. Connect the right branch of the filling station to the vacuum pump.
3. Connect the middle nozzle to the refueling cylinder, connect to a freon cylinder.

Important! When connecting the device, the cranes of the filling station and the cylinder must be reliably closed.

To refill the refrigerator freon you need:

• open the taps;
• switch on the vacuum pump, after which the low pressure gauge should drop to a minimum of -30.
• after reaching the set value, disconnect the vacuum pump.

Important! Control over the refrigerant charge is carried out in accordance with the value indicated on the household appliance tag. On the filling cylinder, you will find special labels, and therefore when connecting the system, you should wait until the necessary mass of freon enters the equipment circuit. After completion of filling, all valves must be closed.

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Safety rules

Before filling the refrigerator with freon at home, be sure to read the following rules for safe work with refrigerant:

1. The cooling gas must be filled in when the domestic appliance is switched off.
2. During operation, all equipment must be grounded.
3. Regularly ventilate the room at least once every 15 minutes.
4. It is forbidden to smoke and turn on heaters while working with gas.
5. If necessary, solder the joints of the circuit, adhere to all fire safety rules.

Important! Despite the fact that the refrigerant is odorless, it can have a detrimental effect on the human body and lead to significant health problems.

In this article we told you how to make an independent replacement of freon in the refrigerator. Sincerely we hope, that thanks to the resulted recommendations you can safely and qualitatively carry out maintenance of the household appliance.