Refrigerator Repairs
Refrigerator Re-gassing or Not!
This post is to help you make better informed decisions if you should regas your refrigerator or not.
Disclaimer: I do not want to talk myself or any refrigerator-contractor out of business. I am all for helping any client with their refrigerator problem. Therefore with this post is to help you make better decisions about appliance repairs.
Another reason for this post is to help you ask the correct questions, then weigh-up the pro and cons before re-gassing your refrigerator.
First step is for you to confirm your unit is low on refrigerant - if you haven't read my previous post on "Signs of low refrigerator gas" do it now! just click here.
General refrigerator principals
Why did the old refrigerator lasted longer
Clients ask us everyday to regas or top their refrigerators with refrigerant(gas) and we always are very happy to oblige on condition they are aware the risk involved.
Re-gassing or topping a refrigerator is a catch 22 situation; you have to do it to see if it is going to work. There is just no way of knowing if the compressor pump is circulating the gas or if the gas system has a blockage (preventing the gas from circulating).
I do hope I have given you enough information to work with. Should you need more just drop me a line.
Refrigerator Re-gassing or Not!
That is the question!
This post is to help you make better informed decisions if you should regas your refrigerator or not.
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| Refrigerator sides and insulation removed |
Disclaimer: I do not want to talk myself or any refrigerator-contractor out of business. I am all for helping any client with their refrigerator problem. Therefore with this post is to help you make better decisions about appliance repairs.
Another reason for this post is to help you ask the correct questions, then weigh-up the pro and cons before re-gassing your refrigerator.
First step is for you to confirm your unit is low on refrigerant - if you haven't read my previous post on "Signs of low refrigerator gas" do it now! just click here.
General refrigerator principals
- Refrigerant (gas) doesn't get used-up by the fridge, it is recycled all the time. if refrigerator needs gas; it has a Gas leak!
- It is normal for a industrial refrigerator to develop gas leaks (because of the powerful compressors and fans going On/off all the time) but its not normal for a domestic refrigerator to start leaking.
Questions to Ask
- Was the refrigerator moved recently;- sometime the movers pick the unit up by grabbing on the outside hose to get a firmer grip. Causing one of the back gas-tube-connections to spring a leak. (this is a easy repairs)
- Were the refrigerator wash and cleaned recently - pressing on the inside to clean could make the all ready rusted gas-tubes to crack causing the gas (refrigerant) to escape.
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| Refrigerator Gas pipes exposed |
Why did the old refrigerator lasted longer
- Vintage fridges and freezers were build from better materials, the Appliance manufacturers used more coppers and aluminium inside the cooling-units. Fridges were so heavy, people didn't move them around all the time
- The older refrigerators where build to last because companies still believed in building Brand names and the honor that gets associated around them. Now they build fashion refrigerator that will enhance the kitchen decor and also the shareholders wants a turnover
Refrigerator must look good!
- All the ugly gas tubes and motors must be hidden away - inside the unit
- In the Heydays manufactures made used of cold-plates (condensers), no galvanized cold pipes were use to form ice. Tubing would come straight out the fridge and be sandwiched in-between the hot evaporator to make sure that no condensation (water) settles on the gas tubes
- Manufactures construct modern refrigerator by letting galvanized gas-tubes run around the cabinet then they add insulation foam in between the sides. This is a sure recipe for a gas leak.
Do the maths! Galvanized gas tubing + Ice/H20 (water) @time = Rust # Gas-leak
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| Refrigerator rusted gas tubes exposed |
Re-gassing or topping a refrigerator is a catch 22 situation; you have to do it to see if it is going to work. There is just no way of knowing if the compressor pump is circulating the gas or if the gas system has a blockage (preventing the gas from circulating).
I do hope I have given you enough information to work with. Should you need more just drop me a line.
 |
| www.pinepienaar.info |