How to Fix Freons Leak in Refrigerator? (Detect & SOLVE)

If your refrigerator’s cooling power has drastically gone down or it’s power consumption has drastically gone up, more often than not the culprit is freons leak in refrigerators. Freon is cooling gas that takes heat out of the fridge and provides cooling. If you can just fix freons leak and refill this refrigerant gas into your refrigerator, it’ll be back in its original glory to provide cooling.

So, how to fix freons leak in refrigerator?

Here’s What to do to Fix Freons Leak in Refrigerator

To fix freons leak in refrigerator, you need to call a refrigerator repair technician rather than trying to do it yourself. Unlike cars, where you could put a leak sealer, you can’t stop freons from leaking out using any sealent. Also, most people lack the specialized equipements to fix freons leak in refrigerator.

It saves money, time and hassle to know how to verify if your fridge is leaking freons. Also, as the gas is harmful for environment and your own health, it’s life saver to know how to slow down the leaks and fix freons leak ASAP.

And, that’s what this article is about. Read on!

Table of Contents show

What Happens when Freon Leaks from Refrigerator?

Freon is one of the most widely used components in refrigerators. It’s used in the heat transfer processes because it can keep the internal compartments of your fridge cool. But freon is meant to be used in a closed system.

As a result, if there is a leak resulting in freon loss, your refrigerator will not function properly. It also might affect your health if the leak is not diagnosed quickly and also increase your electricity bills since the motor will always be working.

Issues that arise if freon leaks

Here is a list of issues that can be seen if freon is leaking, you can also consider these as hints pointing towards a malfunction in freon. Furthermore, if freon leaks you should know that it is not a harmless gas that one can ignore. It can have a serious and harmful impact on your health, which is why you should be aware of these warning signs and issues of freon leakage –

Your food is not chilled as it used to be or your veggies are rotting before time this is because the cooling will be less due to a freon leak.
The motor of the refrigerator is continuously running – take note of this because if this continues your refrigerator system might break. down because of the pressure motor will be putting and your bills will also increase due to heavy energy consumption.
Odd musky gas-like smell near the refrigerator.
Unexplained breathing problems, nausea, or dizziness.

Is Freon Leak Dangerous?

Freon poisoning, also known as refrigerant poisoning, occurs when you’ve been exposed to cooling chemicals and agents for an extended period of time. The danger of freon is that it can be inhaled directly and prevents oxygen from reaching your cells and lungs if inhaled deeply. Even small amounts of leaks can cause symptoms, some common symptoms include:

headaches
irritation in the eyes and sour throat.
dizziness
vomiting.
chemical burn on the skin
nausea.
coughing

Freon has been identified as one of the most harmful pollutants to the environment. The earth’s protective ozone layer is destroyed by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and halons present in freon, which shields the Earth from damaging ultraviolet (UV-B) rays released by the sun

The chemical elements in freons deplete the ozone layer as it travels through the air. Depletion raises the amount of UV light reaching the Earth’s surface, posing major health concerns to humans.

CFCs and HCFCs present in Freon also warm the earth’s lower atmosphere, causing global climate change.

What are the signs of a freon leak in the refrigerator?

Even though freon is essentially odorless, if you detect a chemical odor in or around your refrigerator, you should see a professional about the probability of freon leaking.

Chemical Smell

Your refrigerator should not emit any scents during normal operation. Because freon is a colorless gas, you won’t be able to see it. An odor could signal a problem, but more concrete detection measures are required to be certain.

Oil Residue

If your refrigerator is leaking freon, an oily residue may emerge on the floor. Because it’s a gas that can’t be seen, it’s not freon, but it’s a by-product of a freon leak. Because this oily substance can form far away from the leak, cleaning the bottom of the fridge and the area around it can help with the investigation.

You’ll have a better notion of where the leak is coming from if you notice the residue gathering again.

Continuously running motor

A refrigerator that has lost its freon will continue to function. The engine in your refrigerator will run continually if it is leaking freon. An inconsistent motor, a motor that doesn’t appear to cool, or a motor that stops operating completely are all signs of an electrical problem.

How to stop Freon Leak in Refrigerator?

If your refrigerator is leaking Freon, it is in serious trouble. This does not mean that all is lost; you can still get it rectified!

Refilling also known as a refrigerant recharge is the solution to stop freon leaks. The process is sophisticated and potentially dangerous if performed incorrectly, so it should only be performed by a qualified technician. Check with the manufacturer’s customer care staff to see if your device is still covered under warranty. If not, there are a slew of third-party companies who offer this service for a reasonable price.

Other solutions include leak sealers and leak sprays which you can easily find on amazon. Note these solutions are temporary in case professional help or gas is not available nearby.

Fridges come with a user manual with detailed instructions as to how to can one change or refill in case of a Freon leak. Just make sure that calling a professional is always a good option since they have full-fledged kits and bodysuits.

Conclusion

Nothing instills fear in a person like a malfunctioning refrigerator, whether it’s humming but not cooling or has begun inexplicably leaking freon. A new refrigerator is costly, so repairing leaks can be a good and cost-effective option.

Freon leak is harmful to the environment, for our health and also increases our monthly bills. It is advisable to keep our refrigerators up to date with regular servicing to minimize or totally avoid the risk of freons leak.