Author’s note: “This guide was written for people who would like to know how to detect leaks in a refrigerator. For installation and service in Ghana, contact us by email at mybloggerwhiz@gmail.com or by phone at 0272064140.”
One of the many reasons why a fridge or freezer isn’t
cooling is probably due to a leak. A leak in a refrigerator allows the escape
of refrigerants. This is bad for the user because refrigerants are needed in
the refrigerator for cooling to occur.
There are many reasons why cooling may not occur in
a cooling system (refrigerator). We may list a few here but this guide focuses
primarily on how to detect leaks in a refrigerator.
Possible Reasons Why Your Refrigerator
Isn’t Cooling
ü Faulty
thermostat
ü Faulty
timer
ü Faulty
evaporator
ü Faulty
evaporator fan
ü Faulty
condenser
ü Faulty
condenser fan
ü Faulty
compressor or motor
ü Faulty
relay (overload protector and PTC thermistor)
ü Leakage
(shortage of refrigerant)
ü Faulty
door seal
ü Moisture
in the refrigerator
ü A
choked filter or drier (presence of dirt and moisture)
ü A
choked capillary (presence of dirt and moisture)
ü Low
voltage
ü Blown
fuse
ü Temperature
control knob set at warm position
Some of the reasons listed above will not allow the
refrigerator to run, hence no cooling but the user may not be aware of this.
Now let’s deal with the subject of this guide.
How do I detect leaks in a refrigerator? It’s easy.
ü Check
for the presence of oil on the liquid line and on the suction line.
ü Check
for the presence of corrosion on the liquid line and on the suction line.
ü Check
for the presence of oil or corrosion on the condenser.
How do I find the presence of oil on the liquid
line, suction line or even the condenser? Even if the refrigerator has not run
for a longer period, oil is easy to find on the liquid line, suction line or
even the condenser because its presence is highlighted.
What does liquid and suction line mean? The liquid
line is the line that connects the motor to the condenser. The suction line is
the line that connects the evaporator to the motor. For the reason of brevity,
the reader is tasked with finding the meaning of evaporator, condenser or motor
if they do not already know. The parts those terms describe are easy to find.
Tip: “The
motor is usually a small black cylindrical object. The condenser is usually
located outside the mechanism whilst the evaporator is usually located inside.
The condenser and evaporator are usually coiled. Note that we used the word
‘usually’ in each statement. The reader is still tasked with finding the
meaning of those terms if they do not already know. We thought it helpful to
provide some tips.”
For some refrigeration mechanisms such as a chest freezer,
the condenser may be built internally, instead of the usual external-built
type, making leaks hard to detect. For such mechanisms, it is best to replace
the condenser if leakages are detected by an indication of refrigerant shortage.
A partially frosted evaporator is an indication of a shortage of refrigerant.
On other occasions, a leak on the evaporator may
also cause cooling problems in a refrigerator. A leak on the evaporator may be
indicated by a shortage of refrigerant. It is also best to replace the
evaporator on such occasions.
What happens when leaks are detected in a
refrigerator? The leaks have to be repaired else the unit (refrigerator) will
not function properly. As stated above, leaks are one of the many reasons for
why a fridge or freezer does not cool.
How do I repair leaks? Leaks are repaired by
removing the leaky part from the system. The service technician may then join
parts of the system (liquid line, suction line or condenser) that do not leak.
Sometimes, a new type of the leaky metal may be used to replace the leaky part.
Joining parts of the system (liquid line, suction
line, or condenser) that do not leak or replacing leaky parts is usually done
by welding. Welding is the joining of two metals by application of heat and
molten metal. Often, metals are made of copper so molten copper is used to join
the two metals.
Are there other methods to detect leakages in a
refrigerator?
Yes. A service technician may employ a soap solution
or an electronic leak detector to detect leakages. A soap solution as used here
is a mixture of soap and water. Note it isn’t a soap solution until foams are
formed in the mixture. It is easy to use liquid soaps to form this mixture.
Soap solutions come in various forms and the best ones make bubbles visible
when there’s a leakage in the system (refrigerator).
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