How To Recharge Freon On A Chest Freezer
Vložit
- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- My parents gave me their chest freezer as they were not using it anymore, and it was working the last time they used it. We moved it 20 miles in my father's pickup and then it sat for another 3 months in my basement before we started using it. Somehow the freon had leaked out. This video will show you how to refill the freon since there is not any low or high side taps to recharge the unit.
Bullet Piercing Valve:
amzn.to/2LTkDKs
R134A Retrofit Valve:
amzn.to/2teHhp3
Scale:
amzn.to/2LVCsZA
ETHMEAS Digital Refrigerator/Freezer/Fridge Thermometer:
amzn.to/2MwNNQQ
Check out my Amazon store which will have a list of all the products I review and use in my projects:
amazon.com/shop/madelectronengineering
I tried your procedure. I had a freezer where the compressor was working but the freezer was not cooling. Your procedure worked like a charm. Thank you
This was AMAZING! I had three companies tell me to just buy a new freezer. Figured it was already not working so the worst I could do is break it more and just buy a new one. Bought the parts for $50 total, installed the bullet piercing valve and adapter, attached the r134a and filled. Unfortunately my scale turned off during filling so I lost track of the amount filled but the cannister came with a PSI gauge so I used that to fill to the green area and my freezer just about immediately cooled to zero. I'm so excited to have fixed this by myself. Thank you!!
Thanks for the video! Another freezer saved. My freezer was working but ran constantly and on hot days would approach 25F. I added a small amount and charged it up to 10PSI and now it's at -2 degrees and only runs occasionally, even on a 90 degree day.
So I bought a deep freeze from my work (Lowe's) for $10 brand new delivery guy says won't run I take it home it turns on but Freon has a gurgling sound I watch your video by the valve the antifreeze do it myself for all of $15 now I have a great working freezer and it's all cuz of you thank you so much great video keep up the hard work
It's freon , not antifreeze.
How is your freezer working?
Now. My friend passed away who was certified in airconditioning and handling freon, so now i'm on my own. Considering my options.
Thanks. John. (134a freon )
Hard on the environment, so must be very careful not to spill or leak.
Thanks. I had my freezer in storage for 3yrs, it worked great before then. So I recently pulled it out, pluged it in, running but not freezing. I talked to someone about repairs, he said that it would cost more for him to fix it than it's worth. I'm going to order my parts from Amazon. Thanks.
Thank you. First I am female nicknamed "Suzy Homemaker" because I will research this U need repaired and do it myself. From rewiring lamp, changing could in water heater, seniors in flat screen tv and freo n in chest freezer. This video was very clear and informative. You got my thumbs up.
Wish there were more females like you. Well done mam.
Love the disclaimer have yet to blow myself up,but always wear my parachute anyway
Just a thought, I will give this a try, but I would not recommend weighing the canister while the hose is connected to the freezer, it will greatly affect the weight that is read on the scale. It's more work to disconnect and reconnect the canister while weighing, but if the amount of refrigerant that is added is so critical, it is worth the time.
Overall great amount of positive guidance with one sidetone of slight misdirection. Following your lead, not to fill the compressor on the factory filled and crimped side, but the opposite side, I pierced the front hose directly opposite of the original crimped fill line. I could not get any refrigerant to fill... aka High pressure side. I went to the further back side copper line, and pierced it with success. Fortunately I purchased not one piercing valve for $9, but 4 for $16 and so I was able to salvage the deep freezer, which also sat for many years, like yours. I initially cleaned up all solder joints and torched them before adding the called for 6oz of R134A refrigerant. Many thanks for helping to make our lives a little bit better without professional help. Stay great!
Your video helped me get my freezer working. Thank you!!
You the man bro thanks!! Ordered my fix kit lol
My mother rammed her Subaru into a 15 CF chest freezer and made it into a 7 CF pancake freezer. With blankets for a lid the damn thing kept -10 F for 5 more years! Insane.
Thanks for the heads up 😊. Same situation hopefully same fix.😅
I found this very helpful. I have the exact same one.
You can actually attach the bullet valve to the little "nub" that you mentioned (that is used by the factory to add freon). That's where I have mine located and it works great. Just be sure that you choose a straight section of pipe, so that it does not leak. Also, clean the copper pipe where you attach the valve with a [manicure] nail buffing pad, then use a dab of ketchup to bring the copper pipe to a shine.
Thanks, yes fine Emory clothe and scotch Brite to remove the scratches. The best is to solder or braze on a fitting. Repaired by a skilled tradesman. Perform a leak test.. pump down then backfill with freon. Vacuum pump..
@@johnkomosa4089 Most of them have priced themselves out of the average homeowner's reach.
Thanks for the thought of tapping the factory fill part of the line! Ours is fixed and running great, now just to see how long it goes from here!
@@johnkomosa4089 That's OK if you can find an appliance guy that does brazing too, but you are still looking at around $300-$500, which is a large chunk towards a new appliance. Most regular appliance repair places won't touch refrigerant-type repairs, due to licensing.
Bullet piercing valves do a good-enough job if you install them properly/carefully and if the R134a just needs a top up, you won't need to do vacuuming, etc. (These valves cost about $6-$7 off Amazon or EBay).
Over the years, the seals, etc. in a fridge-freezer will weaken and start a very slow leak. In this case, a shot of R134a with stop leak will usually fix the problem.
However, even if you had to top up your fridge every 6 months, one $6 can of R134a (from any Home Depot) will be enough for multiple top ups and that still beats the price of a new appliance.
@@jimnaccash1535 Very true!
Hey i have idalis chest freezer, its seems compressor is running but its not getting cold?
Nice job in my opinion on the video!! I have the same problem with my little Estate /Whirpool chest freezer that we shut down for a year or so, now it doesn't freeze or even get cold, compressor is running but nada. So I am going to try your fix and see what happens. I will update as soon as I have a verdict. Thank you for your effort in trying to keep this crap running.
what was the verdict? I have same problem. compressor running and tested all electrical components with meter(start relay, capacitor, etc..) and it doesn't get cold. let me know if that solved your problem
@@xiomycorazon I still have not repaired the freezer.
@@fastrat37 repaired?
I just did this to mine. 1/8/21 I am going to give it 2 hours to see what it does. Fingers crossed.
Let me know how it goes! I’m trying to go this myself 1/14/21 so I hope I can do this.
@@keylacortes552 so far so good. Still keeping fingers crossed.
Parts were easy to find. Easy to connect and purge the Freon.
Running Freezing Cold now.
Time will tell. 😁👍
@@BerryM6162 I added my piercing valve but I’m hearing a hissing noise...any ideas how I can stop it?
@@keylacortes552 if it is hissing you do not have it seated correctly and you are leaking Freon.
Did you make sure the O Ring was placed in it before you tightened it down around the Line?
And are you sure you have the correct size " diameter" for the Line?
@@BerryM6162 what O ring? Uh oh. The valve came with an adapter so I put one on it but I wasn’t sure if it was sitting properly. But I don’t think I can remove it now that I attached it 😂
Thank you
I by pass the thermostats and let freezers run 24/7 . my last Kenmore went 26 years at -15 F . Got my moneys worth!
Joke's on you-the extra money got tacked onto your electric bill. Over the 26 years, you probably paid for a new freezer at least once (if not twice) over letting it run with the thermostat...
@@techie0075 If it was on the thermostat, I would have already bought 2 new freezers. Therefore, I am one freezer ahead of the game. Its the start that kills motors and bumps the meter.
@@RRaucina Only if you have a defective or improperly installed thermostat that's regularly short-cycling the compressor (which admittedly, some do from the factory). Even better, install a temperature controller yourself and set it to a wide range (say -10 to +10°F). This will maximize efficiency while minimizing on/off cycles over a regular thermostat. Regardless, I've seen several freezers make it over 20 years-with the built-in thermostat cycling normally (1-3 times/hr).
Do you recommend also adding some stop leak or one of those things to help seal the leak? Or does the freon usually have it already?
That’s what I did to mine. Used the can with stop leak. Been running fine for over a year now.
Suggestion. After running for a couple of weeks check the Freon pressure at that connector you added. I have an old small upright freezer that quit. The motor turns but does not cool and replaced it. I will try this just for the heck of it.
Do I need a recovery pump to do this? Why are HVAC Guys saying I do. ?
Dude! Thank you.
How did you run the ETHMEAS thermometer wire into the freezer? Do you simply let the door seal close over it, if yes, does this cause an air leak? If no, did you make a tiny slice in the seal and poke the wire through the seal, maybe for a better seal around the wire? I seen another video where the thermometer sensor is kept in a small sealed bottle of automotive antifreeze [coolant] to buffer temperature variation. Do you recommend doing this?
Mad electron engineering - I’m getting a hissing noise from my piercing valve. I think it’s depleting the Freon. How can I fix this?
Hi. Do you have any idea why my low side is getting frosty? Did I over charge it?
Does anyone have the ken,ore stand up 5 cubic ft freezer? Did they get it to work? There’s 2 pipes on the left and I can’t tell which to use
What is I don't hear the compressor as well. Does that mean freon isn't the issue?
You are badass dude! Thank you soooooo much!
hermetically sealed units like refrigerators, dehumidifiers and chest freezers don't leak freon like car air conditioners do because a car air conditioner's compressor has an exposed driveshaft with a seal that isn't supposed to leak but eventually does. if your chest freezer lost it's charge it's due to a hole in the system somewhere. did the outside case get dented? the condenser coils are usually integral with the outer case sheetmetal so a dent or tiny hole in the outer casing can cause a leak. i only use bullet valves when tapping into a system i don't consider them reliable enough to leave in place as a permanent fix. i prefer to braze on a proper service port or ports if i can get to both sides easily.
Listen to this man, he knows what he's talking about..
Thanks.
Great video! Thank you!
So it’s been 4 years now.. has it been holding ever since? Just curious. I had to do this with my deep freezer too. I pulled a vacuum on it first tho. Cuz it was dead for a couple of years or so before I finally fixed it. It’s been running fine for over a year now.. haven’t had to top it off again. I used the kind with leak sealer.
Excellent
Hi. I have a 24 yr old kenmore chest freezer that I installed 3n1 hard starter.1/12 - 1/5hp.
Now compressor gets really hot after it was running for 1 hr.
Do you think I am low on freon as well? Can low on freon cause compressor to get really hot to touch with a bare hand?
"Uncomfortably hot" to the touch (but not too hot to keep your hand on) would be a normal temperature for a compressor. Most likely, the culprit is the hard starter. Those tend to use a thermistor or even just a capacitor for the start circuit instead of a relay. The result is extra power always flowing through the start coil of the motor even after it is started, causing it to run hotter and use more power while running.
I’ve got an avanti CF199 can I recharge the free on
Most awesome!!! Thanks for the links..did you know that propane itself is a Freon...R-290/R-290a look it up...seriously
Is the oil in the compressor compatible between R-12 and R134a? (oh..yours was already set for R-134a
Great video!
Link to the thermometer please?
Outside cold beverage cooler? Put one of those temp control relays in it...have it shut off the "freezer" before it freezes...and when people open to get drinks..the cold air doesn't flow out the bottom like conventional refrigerators. Then get reflective insulation and stick to the outside to keep the sun from heating the body of the freezer up.
Sorry forgot to put the link for the thermometer in the description. I have added it. Thanks for spotting that.
Yes, I have seen propane used as Freon, it's more commonly used in big air handlers for warehouses.
I've always wanted to convert a chest freezer into a refrigerator, one of these years I may do that.
r290 is actually the best drop-in refrigerant for any car that has an old r12 system because it's compatible with the mineral oil and all of the rubber seals and hoses and doesn't require barrier hoses. the gas molocules are larger and less prone to leakage but, in the states it's not considered legal for mobile applications because it's a flammable gas. but, r134a is also a flammable gas, but is legal for some reason..........
i've been running propane as a refrigerant in my 1974 gmc pickup's air conditioning system for almost 10 years now with no problems other than the usual leakage issues with an old gm a/c system running an a6 compressor. cooling is actually better than with r12 and i run a smaller charge, i think 37oz is stock but i run around 30-32oz. once a year i have to add 6-8 ounces to the system, but that's a lot less than the normal 22 ounces of r12 that you would normally maintain the system with. the leak point is the compressor(always in any a/c system) but the truck lives outside and not in a garage, that's probably a good safety point to mention.. don't use r290 if you park your car indoors.
marzsit why not if you park indoors? I will look it up but any notes from experience you may have will be useful.
Cool, thank you
Nice work, except you missed getting the strain relief back in the grill correctly.
Good job man.
My freezer is getting cold on the inside but definitely even close to freezer cold. Also, Mine does not have coils on the back... (Igloo brand) I cant seem to find coils anywhere.... Any thoughts?
the 'coils' are now inside the back wall/side wall. They stay cleaner/less prone to damage there. The heat they radiate now goes through the cabinet skin.. and you can feel the heat with your hand when it's running.
typically, the suction line, where you'd put the bullet piercing valve, is on the left side of the compressor, should be cool to cold when compressor is running. The other line will be the pressure side, and quite warm to hot.
Great video can you show how to tap the line ?
Do you always put the valve on the left side of the line?
Thank you, not an idiot!!
Can you use a normal manifold gauge
I did this about six months ago and the temperature started to climb up again. A couple days ago, I added more freon per instructions and now temperature climbing more (currently 14.9F). The line with the adapter was covered in ice. I got the ice off the line but what else should I do?
Time to call it quits. Sounds like you may have a blockage somewhere in the lines.
If the cold line is frosty at the compressor then most likely overcharged ...should sweat but no frost in cold line right back to the evaporator......let some gas’s out in small amounts and check each 1/2 hour until frost is gone.
@@simonmorris3964 Thanks. I had unplugged it and replugged in and it seems to have not come back. I did release some gas prior to unplugging. It's now unplugged and waiting as back up if the other used one I bought bites the dust. Can't wait until we can buy brand new freezers!
He could be right. If it’s going down on you and you’re adding refrigerant to it then the suction line starts freezing up that means there’s too much refrigerant in the system. Is the Hot dog shaped copper filter dryer frozen? If it froze it’s restricted..
I’d pull a vacuum on it and see what the gauge is showing.
I suspect some gases leaking from my chest freezer. Smells chemically. Help?
liked the video.. thanks for sharing your knowledge. external Thermometer is great tip.
“Old fashioned” freezers with external fins are more efficient.
To everybody watching this video make sure that your freezer or fridge does except R34a if your freezer runs on 600a that is butane and is highly flammable and if it is R22 you must fill it with R22 or you will destroy the compressor if it does say on your compressor R34a You are safe as long as you put the correct amount good luck to anybody out there it’s not that hard most of the older ones have either R43a or R22 The newer ones have the 600a Are junk The older ones will last you 15 to 20 years if not longer these new ones you’re lucky if you get five years out of them good luck and if you do have an older one fix it
Mine doesn't have a valve, what do i do in this case ?
add one. brazing is the best way.
Great video and believe me, if anyone's the idiot here it's me. My only question is the scale. Isn't that why there's a pressure gauge on the hose? I mean, what if your system is just low on coolant but not out, wouldn't putting the required amount in over pressurize the system? Why not use the pressure gauge to bring it up to a required pressure? I've seen it done like this in some other videos and am wondering if your way is the right way or is theirs.
Anyway, thanks for the vid. The more I learn the more I know I don't know. Lol!
I'm wondering the same thing! It's a great way to go if you're totally empty, but what if you aren't?
Very nice. Somebody gave an old couple a old chest freezer from the 80's. They said it worked. It doesn't, now there stuck with it. :(
You alright
Useless video, nothing was seen of how you charged the 134a refrigerant
Cannot buy this gas in Australia without an ac licence.
👍👍👍
ON, NOT NO DAMN awn
You had no idea how much refrigerant was left in the system to decide how much to add, or whether or not it had taken on air contamination and should be vacuumed out.
yawn... go get a job at the EPA ya pheasant...
@@therealkerberos2288 nothing I mentioned had anything to do with the environment you moron. It has to do with whether or not it ends up being an effective repair. If you didn't care about that, then what are you doing here?
@@garybarbourii8274 no one was calling names you little man and keyboard warier, well, unless you got your panties in a knot about being called a pheasant; hmm, probably. Then again, I don't want to assume you a man- many probably don't; my bad. I refer to you as shim. Have a great day ma'am, I won't perpetuate this violent discourse or read shim's reply. Smolder, I know you will. Sorry I hurt shim's feelings everyone!
Dumbass
I had the same thought. Isn't the recommended amount of grep from an empty state? How do you determine how much is left in there if you don't purge the line? And if you purge it, how do you even do that and collect the old freon? I have a giant vintage freezer I need to do this one and would love to know
I would check what kind of freon it takes and not just put 134a in. Lol
the tag on his compressor states r134a.
Freon is a brand......
MUNEER. .KHAN... D freezer technician..9052111704
R134a AC car vs R134a deep freezer DONT MIX DIFFERENT TYPE OF PAG AND POE THIS GUY HAS NO IDEA WTS HE'S DOING
EPA cert and R410a cert and license contractor that compressor will not last will function but it's a ticking bomb 🤯🔫
I may not know what I'm doing but it is still working perfectly to this day without touching it since making this video. Compressor isn't running too hard or too long, running like it was from the factory. In retrospect I should have vaccumed the system.
I see your point and understand his concern. I am a Technician but not freon certified, I am inbetween you guys. The concern also is Public safety. Best to work with a friend who is certified in hvac and/or refrigeration. Not that we can't do it by ourselves, but safety for the environment and folks..
Not trivial stuff, can be dangerous, and epa fine..
thank you