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Fixing refrigerator that not cooling enough by recharging R-134a Freon DIY
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- čas přidán 13. 10. 2015
- In the summer of 2015, my 13 years old fridge started to not cool enough. So I decided to fix this problem. I did not know what was the main reason for this failure, so I checked many websites as well as youtube videos. What I found was that I needed to check many possibilities for this failure. I cleaned the fridge from bottom to top, then replaced the main control board as well as an ice-making unit, etc... None of those worked for me. Then further research, I suspected R-134a ( AKA Freon) thing. So I decided to recharge it. I bought 3 tools. You can buy them from Amazon.
1)Johnsen's (6312) R-134a A/C Refrigerant - 12 oz.
goo.gl/iBGecb
2)Supco BPV31 Bullet Piercing Valve
goo.gl/bGGjod
3)Enviro-Safe R12/R22 Can Tap with Gauge - R-134a Can to R-12/R-22 Port
goo.gl/ZykhIq
4) Additional and helpful tools ( I did not use them in this video )
(1)Freon Leak Detector
amzn.to/2lPNN06
(2)Cliplight Super Seal Advanced 947KIT
amzn.to/2iPl1Ma
For me, this was the first time to recharge R-134a, so my work in the video was kind of in fear and trembling, and made many mistakes.
The needle of the gauge pointed at around or less 5 psi during the recharging, and keep recharging very slow speed.
In case if you want to buy a new refrigerator instead of DIY work, get it now from Amazon ( 4 stars & Up
)
amzn.to/356YLpd
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Disclaimer
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This video uploaded on 2015 is only intended to show my experience, is not intended to do anything else.
The sales restriction is established by EPA regulations starting on January 1, 2018, the requirements discussed on their page will also apply to most substitute refrigerants, including HFCs." Please read following EPA Refrigerant Restriction page for more detail information.
www.epa.gov/se...
I am not legally responsible for anything the information given in this youtube video contents.
6 years down the road and still pays out. Thank you very much for taking time on making this vedio. Followed every step and now I have my old chest freezer back in service. Thanks again. Have a great day.
This video is 100% what I've been looking for. Amateur style with only subtitles and hand held camera filming, but EXACTLY the info and visuals I wanted and needed. This is the best fridge recharge video on youtube hands down. No BS chit chat or excessive descriptions, and you take us all the way from ordering parts till the ice maker is full. Thank you.
Thank you for your compliment. I am glad that this video helped you.
Teddy Hashee . I saw your hair conditioner running. Then I saw a car starting up. I mean… I saw an air conditioner running. Then I saw the car starting up.
Good job, looks like you learned a lot. Remember when you connect your hoses you must blow out the air before you open the supco valve by opening the can valve and the just crack the hose fitting at the supco valve for a second to purge the line. The other thing you need to keep in mind, is that it lost it's gas because it had a leak. It still has a leak.
Thank you for the great advice. When I tried it to recharge first time, as you said I did many mistake, but now I totally understand how to work with it. Thank you again!
Best video ! No drama ! No over taking ! Just straight up info ! Thank you 🙏
Mr. Hashee is a home owner that that wanted to get a little more life out of his refrigerator, great job. Home refrigerators are sealed systems, meaning no permanent access valves from the factory. Authorized Factory Service Technicians doing warranty work must find and repair the leak, add a new filter dryer and evacuate the system before recharging the system. What Mr. Hashee did was a NO WARRANTY GAS & GO. Many sealed system repairs can cost more the appliance but the customer needs to save their food. Some leaks are so small that it may take weeks for the symptoms re-appear. If your in Mr.Hashee's spot and thinking of tackling this problem on your own here are some suggestions.
1. after installing built valve on process stub of compressor loosely attach the blue supply hose, pierce the R134a can and let small amount refrigerant leak from loose connection then tighten connection finger tight. This will purge oxygen containing moisture from hose.
2.Peirce the process stub and allow refrigerant in as a gas only meaning the can must stay up right. The compressor is a vapor pump, allowing liquid refrigerant into the compressor will damage the piston.
3. Look at the model identification tag inside your refrigerator it shows what kind of refrigerant and how many ounces. Many side by side refrigerators have only 4.5 to 5.5 oz. charge. While the can used in this video 13 ounces. He is correct that for a room temperature freezer evaporator will loaded loaded between 2 & 5 psig. The dial on the compound gauge has concentric circles for R22-R12 & R134a. This a built in Pressure-Temperature chart. R134a at room temperature of 74 degrees that's 76 psi. and at 0 psi -15 degrees.
If you would like a profession in home appliance repair contact your local adult vocational education school or technical college. Technically trained and qualified technicians are in high demand.
Hi, Paul. Thank you for the great advise. The viewers will appreciate your detailed info.
Teddy Hashee what brand two fridges you have
Great info, but I'm not understanding your explanation of the ambient temperature and psi relationship, as shown on the inner R134a scale. Are you saying that if the ambient room temp (where the fridge is located) is 74 degrees, then you need to charge to 76 psi? And for -15 degrees, charge to 0 psi? (A kitchen temperature of -15 degrees is highly unlikely!) Many thanks, in advance.
Thank you. I bought a refrigerator off of Craigslist for $350 and it worked great for 6 weeks and then it stopped cooling. I ordered the correct parts from Amazon, thanks again to your video, and now have a complete and working refrigerator for the cost of $25.
Hi, george. Thank you for your compliment on my video and I'm glad that you did great DIY repair. Well done!!
Thanks for the great video...I bought an pretty new, used refrigerator from Craigslist, and was troubled by the long cooling time and not cold enough freezer temp (22 F at max setting). After diagnosing and viewing several videos here, I came to the conclusion that it needs refrigerant. The pressure on the evaporator side is quite low, just like yours. After recharging the R-134a, the refrigerator cools down quite fast. Hope it will stay that way. I have not be able to do a diagnosis to find out why the refrigerant was low for a three years old Frigidaire, and it was not used much according to the seller. Maybe someone can chime in as to how to do a diagnosis...
The video is very informative with clear instructions so it is pretty easy to follow. The comments section about purging the line is also helpful. I did this in less than an hour.
Hi, slchng01, thanks for the comment and I'm glad that you were able to revive your fridge by recharging r-134a. About the purging, as you said that with viewers help, we now know how to do it properly. Teddy!
Well done! You inspired me to try and fix my refrigerator most of all, it was truly refreshing to hear from someone confident enough to admit a mistake and make others aware of those pitfalls.Thank you so much for this video Teddy!
I cant thank you enough for your video. I have a 3 year old fridge, im in Canada but leave for the winter, turn the house off and it gets cold fridge and all. Returned and the fridge would cool but freezer would not freeze. Watched your video, ordered the parts, few days later they arrived and I made my attempt. Watched your video while doing the steps, gave me confidence. Its been 3 hours now, the freezer is at 15 degrees and going down. Saved me literally 1 thousand dollars. Watching your video including your mistakes which helped me understand what parts to purchase and common mistakes. Sad the appliance guy told me to toss out my 1500 fridge as they "can not be recharged". Guess you showed them wrong,
Thanks again
Ray
+Ray Jackman Hi, Ray. Thank you for your comment, and I am glad to hear that your DIY repair project finished with great success. I am so happy too!!
I really admire your ability to MAKE MISTAKES and not edit them out.. the honesty is refreshing!...
Thank you for your compliment on my work!
Well done! This video was easy to watch. I enjoyed the background music (as opposed to the usual grunting and throat clearing on other videos). Most of all, it was truly refreshing to hear from someone confident enough to admit a mistake and make others aware of those pitfalls. Don't worry about adding oil, the compressor would have retained it.
+Dennis Cook Hi Dennis. Thank you for your comment and I really appreciate your encouragement. I had no idea about adding oil, but it is clear now. I am glad that you like my video. Thank you again.
Thanks ! I have the exact same problem . My tradition in the past has been to put the whole can in immediately . Then of course I have to bleed half of it out, losing oil. It is nice to watch an expert do it .
Hi, Jack. Thank you for your compliment on my work. Hope your recharging will go successfully.
That is not the work of an expert and if you do what he did there is a good chance of floor damage because of overcharging with refrigerant will cause ice buildup on suction line all the way to the compressor.
Teddy I just did exactly what you did, same tools on my 7 year old Samsung. 5 hours later it's dropping ice cubes and everything seems to be working fine. I did notice frost on the tubes that come out of the compressor, along with some frost on the surface of the compressor, on its side. I'm sure that means something, but not sure what yet. Anyway, thanks so much, for $35 it is apparently repaired and it's thanks to you! Well done, and thank you once again!
Great to hear that you successfully did DIY repair! Congratulations.
Thanks for the video. I had replaced the defrost heater, bi-metal thermostator, and control board because my frozen evaporator coil couldn't be low on refrigerant. It's a 10-year old Kenmore made by Fridgedaire. Well, it was the refrigerant. Patience like you said. I found after opening the R-134a can on and off at 5 minute intervals the piercing valve really needed to be open 1.5 turns vice 1 -- in my case. Then the refrigerant refilled better. Again, thanks for the how-to.
Hi, Chris. Thank you for your compliment on my video and congrats for your success of recharging R-134a. It is a good feeling when you complete the task and your old friend fridge starts working again!!
Hi David! Great help!!! I knew nothing about refrigerator either. All the appliance companies said I neede this part or that one. Well I would research it and test it first to see if I actually needed it or not. Now that I checked everything from top to bottom just like you, this is the last thing that makes since!! The frig/freezer is 14 yrs old. The tubing on the rear of the frig does not get hot at all. It only gets warm when it comes out of the compressor. Plus the coils in the rear of the freezer does not get frosted equally! It only bulds up frost at the beginning of the coils, which means the freon does not go all the way through it. NOT ENOUGH FREON!!!!!! I have ordered the same guage and tap but had an exrta can or R-134a out in my shop. I made sure I read the tag on the frig to double check the type of freon. I had several extra cans of 143a, but just 1 of R 143a. I usually fill up my autos myself. I was not sure if it was the same type or not at first. The last thing from reading 1 of the comments is to bleed the line of air, before filling the frig.
I think I have it all and Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, Virgil. Thanks for the comment and hope your DIY repair project goes well! Teddy.
Now the frig/freezer is up and running perfect!! Thanks Again!
Way to go!!
Thank you so much! I have done vehicles and now going to try a commercial ice machine that was given to me. It goes through each cycle, the compressor clicks on, the fan comes on, the water flows good, it's just not getting cold. Before I toss it I'm going to do what you demonstrated and see if it works. My compressor already has a factory freon hose connector on it
Just a note of interest from a previous Sears refrigerator technician. The valve you installed is or should be labeled as a temporary valve. Guaranteed it will leak in time, could be a while before that occurs. Also like someone previously mentioned it requires recharging because it has a leak and you recharged it and still has a leak, special light can identify where the leak is when you send some designated dye into the system. The system needs to operate in a closed sealed loop system, sealed with solder. I know not so simple, just a FYI.
Thanks a lot for this video. I was able to revive my fridge that's exactly the same model of yours and it's 15 years old. It's been 5 months now since I fixed it and still running like brand new. Thank you so much Mr. Teddy.
Hi, great to hear that. I am too, that once I did recharge my fridge, it has been working without any problem.
Tips!
Close the piercing valve, open the can, loosen the hose on the valve side to purge the air.
Fill 1-3psi, 2psi being ideal.
Thank you for the great tip!
Also if the system is low Freon has leaked out letting air in and moisture. Best to vacuum the system out with vacuum pump then read label on fridge or freezer for freon amount in weight. Use scale to put proper amount in the system. 3 psi is ideal amount 5 is high and will put pressure on system.
@@feefgcegge1678 This is what I don't get. These are closed systems. IF Freon is low that means there is a leak. Just adding like this doesn't really fix it. Who knows how soon you will have to add again?
How would the DIY guy leak check and repair this?
I finished the whole job for around 37 dollars. My refrigerator is working like its a brand new. Thank you so much. Everything is the video is correct.
Hi, Hasan. Thank you for the comment and I am glad that your DIY repair project went well. Teddy
I loved your video because it was very detailed and you took your time to show everything you did. Of course I am not a tech or anything so I don't know what mistakes you made. I am thankful for those that had corrected you also. So. First, I'm going to blow as much of the dust off the coils as possible, then vacuum up all i can. Then to the compressor. Eliminate air lines then use a R12 to R134a adaptor. By the way I have a Samsung RS261mdrs. Its been nothing but TROUBLE. The first 6 months I bought it the ice maker broke twice within the first year and NEVER worked continuously since and not working now. I bought it new from BEST BUY in 2012. Never will I buy this brand refrigerator again. If there are any good techs that could help me in out the future with model please contact me, I know this is not over.
Thank you for your compliment on my video. I made many mistakes on this DIY repair, however, viewers pointed out many correct ways in the comment section. Make sure read many comments as much as you can, then write down how to steps. When you do, recharge r-134a as slowly as possible, be careful for too much recharging. And do not forget purge the air left in the hose before start recharging. Teddy!
To make tracking parts and pieces down easier for folks, I found a R-12 to R-134a adapter kit at one of my local auto part stores when I went in to purchase coolant. Then any automotive coolant rig with pressure gauge will work. It goes on the threaded connector on the bullet piercing valve. I also wanted to point out that I missed in your video that there are more than one size for the bullet piercing valves. Mistake #1 : tubing is 1/4", BPV31 is the correct size for freezers and fridges....
Hi,Bryan. Thanks for the comment and great information. I'm sure it will help many viewers. Teddy.
I replaced the hard start on my Samsung refrigerator the compressor still want start
B R b
Hand tighten your gauges ONLY no tools required. Only suggestion is to slow down a bit and bleed the air out your line before introducing freon and you don't have to over tighten the piercing valves 3 screws just snug and after check with soapy water; but you got it done so cheers mate.
I had a GE frige and looking at the evaporator coils behind the freezer panel, they were only half frosted , this was an indication of low coolant charge, so I had all the things to install a saddle tap and recharge the unit, and I got it charged and it frosted normally, but I could not check for leaks so 6 months later the coolant leaked out and I was back where I started from. This did give us time to get another refrigerator though.
Hi, Dennis. Thank you for the comment and information regarding your DIY repair. Like you, I also did not check the leak, however, mine is still in good working condition after recharging, I am watching it carefully for the next time recharging. That will give me a chance to check the leak and do the right job. Thank you again.
Six months is a pretty slow leak. You might try a little leak sealer if that ever happens again, on another unit. If you are going to buy another fridge anyway, you really have nothing to lose by at least trying a $10 can of sealer, first.
Many thanks for the great video. I am sure I would have made the same mistakes as you as I puzzled my way through it. Thanks for leading the way!
We had a pro come and look at our 10-year-old Frigidaire. It is maintaining maybe 25-30F in the freezer and 40-45F in the fridge. I had already cleaned everything and checked the fans and compressor, so I was pretty sure it needed Freon. He agreed that it was low and quoted 500.oo to add Freon! We paid him the 80.oo for the service call and I returned to Google.
I have the tools and parts ordered and hope to get it recharged next week. I will be referring back to your video the whole way through.
+David Dalby Hi, David. Wow $500 is the cost to add freon, I did not know that. I hope your DIY repair project go well. Teddy
GREAT VID! (Humor and all!) I performed the same surgery on my fridge yesterday. It is now back in working order! Thank you Teddy!
As for a leak.....yes, there probably is a small leak. I used R134a WITH a leak sealant. Hopefully it will seal the leak. If not, hopefully it is a very slow leak. Regardless, I am all set up to add more refrigerant when needed.
Thank you for your compliment on my work and video, and congratulations on your successful DIY repair!!
I did exactly what you did on a $1000 wine enthusiast fridge (bought on craigslist for $15) and it works perfectly. Thanks for the help!
Thank you for letting me know. Congratulations on your successful DIY repair.
Finding and correcting leaks are essential. Once the leaks are detected and repaired the system should be evacuated and vacuumed down prior to recharging. Note: Do NOT add Freon just because you hooked up your gages and they're showing your system is running in a vacuum.
Hi, Stan. Thank you for the great information.
But a bigger problem being "HOW?"
If the leak is in a pipe that expose to you directly soap water just works but if the leak is in the coil you are out of luck.
And hiring a professional guy charging hundreds of dollars using professional detectors? Not economically viable.
+terminal2004 Ek waardeer dit groot baie dankie
I'd really like to know why you recommend to vacuum down prior to charging, any particular reason? Is the system fully charged with refrigerant? My understanding Is that the system works better with a vacuum being present within the evaporator. Love to hear your views Stan.
Not everyone has the equipment to vacuum
Great job! Thank you for sharing the video. BTW when you empty the line of air, keep the can side connected and open the gas and the valve at the compressor closed, then open the connection at the valve closest to the fridge. This lets the gas fill the tube from the can to the valve. Air is your enemy in refrigeration. Also the gas does have some oil in it. I would not worry about adding extra.
+I hate this HI, thank you for your comment and great information. I understood now how to remove air from tube. Also thank you for the information about oil. Your comment will help many people! Tddy
+I hate this do I do this after the gauge reading? then once I pierce the can with the valve near the fridge closed, when do I turn the valve near the fridge open whilst the can valve is open. or do I close the can valve before opening the valve near the fridge. thanks
+Seifula Sharif You must do this before connecting to the fill valve on the compressor line. You want to push the gas from the can through all the pipes to the valve on the compressor line. This makes sure there is no air in any of the lines from the can to the valve. Air is your enemy in a refrigeration system.
+I hate this I get it, thanks. so you want to fill the pipe with the gas to get rid of air, but where will the air go? in the can, but I understand, thank you so much, so fill pipe with gas from can, will the gauge still have a reading to show how much is in the pipe. then when i connect it to the compressor valve i leave the can valve open still.
thanks
+Seifula Sharif
1. Connect can to guages..
2. Open valve at can.
3. Open valve at guage.
4. Press the end pipe against the fitting at the compressor line till you hear the gas come out.
5. Screw connector to compressor line.....
Sorry I don't know how to explain it any simpler than that.
Teddy Hashee, THANK YOU for this video! You saved my fridge! I have a Vinotemp wine cooler, out of warranty, stopped cooling, that needed this exact repair. The coolant charged pretty quickly, just a few minutes. I plugged it in and kept it right at 5psi, turned off the valve after ~ 5 minutes and it held steady and started cooling. Thanks again for every detail! Your mistakes were not in vain and helped me avoid the same.
+JB Hi, JB. Thank you for the comment and I am glad that your DIY repair job went well. NICE!!!
As a follow up: turns out I had overcharged the gas a bit too much and the copper line iced over. Found a trick online: remove the ice, start it up, and watch the frost start to form again. Slowly open the valve and let some gas out, the frost will retreat (fun to watch!) and just when it's cleared the line tighten the valve again and you'll have the right amount of coolant. For me it was right around 2.5-3 psi. Also, I forgot to close the center needle on the tap valve when I was done and it leaked out again overnight! I had to charge it again in the morning. So remember to close the bullet valve when you're done. I think the pin only needs to be open when adding coolant.
+JB Hi, JB. Thank you for the great info. Your info will help people who over-charged freon to the system. Thanks again!!
Its $37,500 dollar fine for purposly venting refridgerant into the atmosphere in the US.
I had the same issue with my fridge and had many of the same procedure issues. However. my compressor info read that it required 4 oz of refrigerant. So , with a sealed system, I realized it had to have a leak. So I bought a 4 oz oil, refrigerant and stop leak can. (one that stated for rubber seals, plastic and aluminum leak repair) and tried it. Then about 3 days later it stopped cooling again. (My fault as it only had 2 oz of refrigerant, 1 oz of oil and 1 oz of sealant) So I added straight refrigerant until all the frost disappeared and added a little bit more for good measure. The freezer has stayed constant at -20 degrees F for over 6 years now! (If I do this again in the future, I may try adding a single layer of teflon tape to the line before installing the bullet piercing valve)! Great video and very much appreciated. Teddy. Never give up and never give in when you have the ability to do it yourself!
Hi, Dennis. Thank you for your compliment and I'm happy that you were successfully repaired your fridge. Mine is still in good working condition after the re-charging in this video was taken!!
Whoo hooo... I got an outside fridg...Went extremely well, and I did charge around 6-7...It is cooling and so far.. things are good...Thanks Teddy..
Hi, Jeff. Thanks for sharing your DIY information. I am glad you did a great repair. Thanks!
Thank you for your video. I have an old (6years +) Samsung FF, after checking all the possible causes why the freezer was not cooling and no fault error on computer display I decided that it needed gas. After watching your video and reading all the comments I added gas. Now I know there must be a leak somewhere and don't know how long it will last, but for the moment I have a fully functional FF and I can store ice-cream and it makes perfect sized ice cubes for the first time in 6months. The cost was under £80 to do. Very happy :-). However, I am saving for a new one just in case.
HI, Jenny. I'm glad that you were able to fix the problem. Mine, after recharging once, still in good working condition. I know there is a leak somewhere in my fridge system and waiting for the next recharging opportunity. At that time I do make another video and next time I will make sure to do the sealing and recharging both. Thank you for the comment.
how do u know when it needs recharge
If you want your appliance to last a long time get the gauge the r134a the pericing valve but also a vacuum pump. The freon leaked out somewhere letting air and moisture in. You want to remove the moisture air and contaminated freon. Vacuum pump for min 45 mins then hook up the hose gauge to the refrigerant can but put it on a scale and tare the scale. Read the label on the refrigerator for the amount of freon needed. Start filling till the scale shows the amount of ozs of freon has entered the system. System should show around 3 psi. 5 psi is usually high and will put pressure on the appliance compressor. When buying canned r134a get the cheapest cans with no leak sealer or oil. Only get the uv additive if you want to try to. Find the leak with uk light. Sometime leak is so small it will take years to leak out again.
HA!
The music had me smiling all the way thru.
Good job Teddy.
Hi, Donald. Thank you for your compliment on my video.
I agree Donald, so upbeat!! You saved me from purchasing the wrong tube/valve, so your mistake saved me from mine 😁
Thank you for the video! Just did exactly that on a wine cooler I got used. Went from dead to frosting in the time it took to refill it. The hard part was figuring out the high and low side as this particular cooler had everything buried and sealed up. Ran it for a few minutes till I could positively tell(just barely) which side was cold and hot. :D
Hi, thank you for the comment and good to hear that your DIY project went well. Congratulations!! Teddy
The you just admitted to a Federal FELONY
8.07 only hand tightening!
No tools needed to fasten the nut to the tap.
There are seals in it
Thank you for the great info!
From an experienced Appliance tech this guy was pretty smart how he went about doing his recharge but a simple R-12 to R-134a adaptor would have saved a few bucks
Hi, Blake. Thank you for your compliment on my video and also thank you for the great saving information.
thanks, that adapt save me time and money.....
Hi,
how would that adapter have helped?
@@qubdent A cheap R-12 to R-134a adapter (available from most auto supply stores or Amazon) would simply make the fridge connection the same as the "low" port on most vehicle a/c systems. Then, you can use the same Freon cans and gauge to recharge both vehicles and fridges, as both use R-134a. (R-134a is the only Freon that anyone can buy without having to have an EPA license).
Except for the$10k fine and 10 years prison for opening an indoor system without a Type 1 or 3 license!
During the charging you should open the can with R134 for very short period of time for burst enter freon in system and every time wait until all system in balance (equalize) between low and high side. This is mistake and what is why charging took so long. Also it is recommend hold the can upside down and no needs to shake it.
Followed your video and my refrigerator and freezer are up and running. Thanks for taking the time to video and post your project! We were on the cusp of buying a new unit.
Good to hear. Thank you for letting me know and congrats on your successful repair.
But it still has a leak and knowingly allowing refrigerant leak is $10k fine and 19 years in prison. So is opening an indoor system without a license!
Great video Teddy, thank you! Shame there are some flamers here giving you grief about attempting home repairs. If there's one thing I've learned in life, is that I can screw up something almost as bad as a pro can, and save some money while I'm at it.
Speaking of saving money, the money I would have spent on a "Technician" to tell me my fridge needs to be replaced, I will spend on the tools to do the job.
Seems that "Technicians" want their work to be shrouded in mystery...but none of it's rocket science. And I've never met a "Technician" who IS a rocket scientist LOL. By the way, I'm a qualified, licensed electrician "Technician", and I know a lot of electricians I wouldn't feed.
Great video, and thank you!
Hi, Michael. Thank you for your compliment on my video. This DIY recharging was my first time, I spent many hours to learn about how to do it prior to the repair. I did some mistakes as you can see in the video, but the end of the day everything went well. Thank you again!
You are a perfect guide! So nice to learn from our mistakes! This is true leading!! God bless you🙂😄
I did exactly what you showed here, I got a fridge off Craigslist for $10 and got it running! i got thr same valve and coolant 134a. that 5psi on the gauge is legit.
Hi, Thomas. Thank you for the comment, and congratulations on your successful DIY restoration! Keep it up. Teddy
The only thing I am concerned about it I don't think their is enough oil in my compressor. it gets hot. I mean I can touch i, but not more then a few seconds at a time. if it needs oil, know they type to use?
Hi, Thomas. I do not know the oil to cool down the compressor. Mine is also hot and I think that's the way it is. But you want to ask some professional to solve your concern. Hope you can fix your problem. Teddy
You can use the piercing valves also known as saddle clamp valves but I can tell you they all leak! You can get by with them in the short term but you need to solder the valves in permanent if you don't want to add freon on a routine basis and a refrigerator has to almost be spot on to work right.
Great video the music wasn't too loud and you definitely didn't talk too much most movies on here people ramble on forever opening a can you are Movie Maker and the best part of it all you're one of the few that can admit when you make a mistake now I'll probably be up all night check it out your other videos
Hi, Katrina. Thank you for your compliment on my video. I love making videos that will help people in someway!
Well done, simple, that's what we all need, thanks
a quick comment, a freezer works better when it is packed, not JAM packed but at least full, also check temp with a freezer/fridge thermometer
vacuum your compressor before charging . put a flo from capillary tube to evaporator for cleaning all system.th3n remove all air inside the system.now you can recharging ,just slowly charge until you hear a icing sound inside the evaporator slowly until he reach the 9.or 10 psi .close your valve after reaching the approximate charge.
Hi,Marcelino. Thank you for the great information. I appreciate your professional skill and comment.
thank you too.
Marcelino Santos he cannot remove all the air in the system because he has a leak in it. So the vacuum would just pull more air into it. I’m a 30 year tech
Question: some videos recommend 2-3psi, some others ~6-7, and you suggest 9-10psi. On my fridge, I got to ~6-7psi steady pressure on the factory charge port (i am assuming it is the same on suction line (?)) and I see frost on the suction line up to the compressor. Is it dangerous to have that cold suction pipe? I guess that I overcharged the system a bit?
Nice work Ted and really great to see you didn't edit out your 'learning curve'!
Hi, Sham. Thanks for the compliment on my video. As you said, I learned many things from my mistake, and most viewers told me that helped them too. I am glad I did not edit out them. Thanks again.
The EPA and any EPA certified individual will tell you that these valves are not made to be put in place to add a charge and left on, in fact the part 1 EPA 608 certification covers that these should NOT be kept on as they will leak.
The proper way to use these valves is to add one, recover the refrigerant in the system, and then braise on proper service fittings making it a type 2 appliance which then can only be serviced by that certification individual.
Excellent video! I did the same and now my fridge is cooling good. Just need to see how long the cooling lasts.
Hi, thanks for the comment and great that your fridge starts cooling again. Mine is still in good working condition as of today after this recharging. Teddy
Teddy, good job buddy! I got a freezer thats on the blink. Gonna try the same thing. Get'er done!
Hi, Jay. Thank you for your compliment on my video. Hope your repairing goes well. Teddy
There is a leak fix product that comes in a can like the R134a refrigerant above or it comes with the R134a can as a mix. All you have to do is get that and recharge & it won't leak.
It is usually for automotive air con applications, but if a refrigerator has a small leak, it should work for that as well.
Sure, the leaks happen for a reason and just recharging with refrigerant may be a waste if the leak is big. Using a leak fix product with the recharge will fix that problem. Basically the leak fix product chemically alters the leaking O rings etc and expand them to seat properly again, effectively eliminating the leak. Replacing the O rings is usually not a choice for a DIY noob 'cos that would require dehumidifying the whole refrigeration/air condition system, which the home DIYer don't usually have the equipment for(but quite possible to buy a pump off ebay of course).
Next time if I need to recharge my fridge, I will defiantly choose the product what you suggested here. Thanks for the valuable information.
Very helpful thk. I have an old kelvinator with 2 lines, small and big. Not sure which line to add the gas. Can you advise please.
Mate, keep doing your DIY challenges and keep making videos like this.
As long as you don't end up getting an electric shock by not doing the due homework of the DIY project, all the DIY attempts should be fine and should be commended. You took whole lot of time and effort to document the whole process, including the mistakes. Everybody should thank you and show gratitude to you for doing this video, not whine about your mistakes or lack of knowledge in refrigeration. You did fine with this video. It is upto the people who watch this and learn from it, including your mistakes.
Hi, DD, thank you for your compliment on my video. Your comment will give many viewers what to do, how to think for the success of DIY challenge. Thanks again!
One of the best and in-depth recharge videos. A++ and thank you.
easy to install does a great job, not noisy at all. I really like it !
same tutorial content. thanks, the video is very useful for those who are just learning
You are welcome!
@@teddyhashee tanks
You need to be careful,you have this bad habit of over tightening,you don't have to over tight and you don't even need a pliers for anything in this process.When you tighten and it gets to the end,turn a little bit more with your bare hands and that is it.
that refrigerator needs a food recharge now :D well done!
+Domenico Buonocore Hi Domenico. Thank you for the comment. And yes right now my fridge is full of food!! Nice one I did LOL !!
The first charging tool you bought, is not a wrong one. You could just disconnect the quick coupler from the standard 1/4" R22 connector.
Thank you for the great info!
Really enjoyed your video, sometimes it's best to learn through trial and error, even better to learn through someone else's, thanks for sharing your experience.
Hi, thank you for the comment and your compliment on my video.
First you should find your refrigerant leak. Then new filter drier. Test for any leaks again with access ports low side and high side, evacuated the system to 500 microns, used a weight scale by using the Data plate get it right amount of refrigerant, charge system through liquid line must be 100% liquid since refrigerant 134a it's not a pure compound. Do not charge vapor.
The video is inadequate because it does not explain the situation when the guage's first reading is not in the green but in the positive pressure area. I think that may mean the system is not sealed; it has a leak. Charging will not help.
Thank you for your advice.
TIP. If you need to vacuum your system simply use another salvaged motor compressor from an old refrigerator, but you're going to need to solder R22 female valve adapter to each pipe (low & side). Layout connection is the same as when using a regular vacuum pump. Good luck!.
Thank you for the valuable tip! I and viewers appreciate your kindness.
make a vid Hector....
Hi, a naive question - I followed procedure to revive the refrigerator that failed after being powered down for few months. But I saw other video recommending suction pressure of ~6-7psi. So I got at that level on the valve, and probably overcharged it a bit - from the remaining weight of the can I may conclude that I put ~6oz instead of nominal 5oz. Now I see frosting on the suction pipe up to the compressor. Is it dangerous and if so, is there a way to remove some refrigerant from the system?
On your clock timer... Notice just after 12:40 when you flipped your can upside down.?? You notice the surge in freon.? That was liquid, not just air going into the system.
I bought a refrigerator off market place whirlpool sise by side for 175 . It freezes but not totally inall areas the fridge get cold but it could be colder. Fan, compressor, cleaned coils, starter and relay no clicks shaken it no rattling so i reassembled it. Should i put feon in it. I think your videos are great makes me want to try
if the refrigerant is low, you have a leak that needs fixing. Often suction shows low pressure because the cap tube is partially or nearly clogged. You do not have a high side gauge attached so when you put too much in and fill up the condenser your compressor will blow. other than that and the not purging you did not do too bad.
Hi, James. Thanks for the comment and advice. I'm sure your advice will help many people. Teddy
Worked great followed it step by step , thank you!
+Mark Lucas Thank you for the comment, and great to hear your success on DIY project. Teddy
What is likely cause of the problem where the dial stays in the area of 40 inHg after starting the compressor? I expected a drop to either negative (indicating I need R134A) or slightly positive area. What would explain such a high number after the start of the compressor. Unit is 2 years old, was running fine for most of that time, but I noticed a gradual warming of the unit. When brand new, it was cycle as low as 33-34 F, but over time it would only achieve mid-30s and then upper-30s, but now near 50. I assumed a slow leak from the service valve and that I just needed to top up. I don't know the symptoms of overcharging, but since it was running relatively OK for 2 years, I assume it wasn't overcharged that entire time. Could I have overcharged while bleeding the air out of the supply line from the can? Once the service valve was firmly connected to the supply line, while the R124a was running a bit to purge the line, I shut the valve at the can off almost immediately. So now I'm wondering what the best approach is? Should I bleed R134a out of the system until I get a reading closer to 2 inHG? Any help appreciate.
is there no oil leaking out, or is there no frostbite? The vacuuming takes about 40 minutes and where is it? The clock could be more accurate. Where is the leak?
What a lifesaver! I thank God for you posting this video! Now I won't have to go and buy a new refrigerator. I will use your tutorial and fix my fridge, myself. However, where do I buy that gauge from?
Hi, I posted link to buy parts and tools from Amazon. The R134-a can be purchased at your local shop like Walmart or others. But tool, you want to buy from online, it is cheaper than purchasing from local shop.
A large frig with top mounted compressor system may take a couple of on/off cycles to stabilize (couple of hours); easy to OVERCHARGE if charged too fast. Look for a ~50deg f at the suction line into the compressor; if overcharged this line will frost up. Excess moisture in the freon will also cause poor cooling problems; injecting ~4ml of THAWZONE will neutralize any moisture.
Hi, MrGGPRI. Thank you for the great information. The viewers will appreciate you your knowledge and kindness of sharing it.
Outstanding... well done for the novice and pro... good choice of music too. The timer was very helpful.
Thank you TJ for the compliment on my video!
Thank you very much,
especially on the errors that you found and commented on them, because i would have fallen in to them, but you were very clear, that you make any one fool proof,.
Thanks a lot, on this great video.
+Reader Man1 Hi, thank you for the comment. And I believe your DIY repair project went well. Teddy
+Teddy Hashee because of ur too good video 😀
+Reader Man1 Thanks again!! I Teddy
Great video,I watched it and ordered the parts from Amazon.
You gave detailed info.I now have a cool refrigerator thanks to you!!
+Tyrone Tucker Hi, Tyrone. Thank you for your comment, and I am glad that you fixed your fridge. Great!! Teddy
Good work! I really enjoy to watch this video. It's very helpful. Maybe someday I need to check my refrigerator with such kits.
Hi WU. Thanks for the compliment on my video. When you need to recharge r134a to your fridge, make sure you remove all the air from the hose. That was I could not do well in this video and many people told me in the comment section how to do it. Read through the comment section will help you a lot. Teddy
Great video! You inspired me to try and fix my refrigerator that I think has the same problem. I hope I'm as successful as you. PS. You have a lot of great videos!
+David Reti Hi, David. Thank you for the comment. I am hoping too that your restoration will go success. Thanks again. Teddy
You did a good job. Got it working.
However I love these DIY videos, it always makes my job interesting. Many a refrigerator have I ran service on that has been butchered by a DIY. Refig repairs are expensive, so i can understand the DIY.
Hi, JP. Thanks for the compliment on my DIY video. It was first time for me to do this recharge work, so I checked so many information and try to understand its procedure. I made many mistakes but I learned from it and next time, I think I can do better. Thanks again. Teddy
He never purged the supply hose, and way over tightened it, it has a O-ring in it, finger tight is good enough. Btw, why does it have no freedom to n in it??? That means it has a leak, with out fixing the leak, it will just happen again. Question is, how soon...
Thank you for your advise.
since freon lasts forever , and you had to recharge that means you must have had a leak right? otherwise this wouldnt have been the issue .
You are correct. I did not know about how to spot or find leak point, even I did not know that the leak was the reason of this problem when I recharged freon to the fridge. Now in the comment, viewers have been telling me about leaking, and one of the viewer explained detail how to find leak. Teddy
+puremexico12345 All sealed-systems leak. He may have lost refrigerant at an astronomically-slow rate, and may not have to refill again for 10 years.
So, this is what I did.
1. I followed the way you did it to measure the amount inside which was below 0 psi.
2. I removed the pipe from the bullet pierce valve
3. attached the can, turned the tap fully, turned the refrigerator on.
4. turned the can tap, then valve near the guage (which the one I have has) gas started to leak from the other side of the pipe, which i quickly had to turn the bullet pierce valve on, quickly screw the pipe to the bullet pierce, had to be quick as i was screwing some were still leaking until i fully screwed it in, so now it is charging, but the needle was not moving.
5. it was stuck above 0 psi don't remember which number. the can started to turn real cold, ice cold. waited about a minute.
6. I closed the valve on the bullet pierce, can and the valve near the gauge.
7. the needle started to slowly move past 10 psi and is staying there. so i have left the refrigerator, all valves closed and see if the fridge gets cold.
was a bit worried the can had turned ice cold.
+Seifula Sharif Hi, I hope everything went well. When you charging gas to fridge, I suggest make it as slow as you can. Only thing you do not want to do is charging too much freon to fridge. Teddy
Teddy Hashee
I have left the can charging the fridge right now, the can tap is fully open, do you want me to open it one full turn wait 5 mins then close it and repeat.
also is the can supposed to be cold.
+Teddy Hashee I have a small can, should I still do it slow.
+Seifula Sharif It does not matter that can is big or small. You want to go as slowly as you can to charge it. And stop many times to see where the gauge is pointing. When you leave gauge without opening can, you see the real number at gauge, you need to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour to see the real reading. When you charging, it shows you many numbers, keep it less than 5 psi when you charging, and stop as many times as you can in order to avoid over charging. That's all I can say. Please see the video again and read comments on this board, you can find good information for your DIY. Do not rush. Do not charge too much. Teddy
the bullet piercing seems to leak when i rotate the torque wrench from the place where you insert the wrench
he did not purge the hose before charging,, now you can have air or moisture in the system and it can vac its self so no circulation as moisture freezing in system you must do this purging
Thank you for the comment and information. Teddy
Garry Simpson
My fridge would first on and generate a lot of heat and then it would stop working , when it was working , both fridge and freezer section were cooling down slowly. I replaced relay, it didn't fix the problem, I am thinking add freon, but not sure how much freon I have in system, and how much needs to be added. It is a double door KitchenAid with 18 years in service, thanks for any insights
25:35 Banana fail!
No, seriously, this is a good video. I would have cut out a lot of the 20 minutes of charging the system, and also noted the charge somewhat better.
A cheap digital scale and a photo of your fridge's name plate... The scale to weigh how much freon you use... the photo to see how much total freon it needs.
Mine says R134a CHARGE 5.3 OZ.
It looks the same as yours except for some minor cosmetic changes between the model years and mine has the analog controls at the back of the fridge.
I am going to try this.
My freezer is slowly getting warmer, the fridge is too hot to use, and with the age, it might have a freon leak. I wish I had tried this with my old window A/C unit, but of course they tend to be R-22.
Hi, thanks for your comment and compliment on my DIY repair video. And thanks for the great info about Freon weight. That's is cool idea to scale Freon weight before and after. I would do it next time. I hope your DIY repair project goes well. Teddy
I ordered the same gauge you used and will be trying this on my system soon. I plan to leave the can on the hose afterward. If it needs another shot later I may still have freon in the can. I plan to weigh both the charging hose/gauge and the can of freon before charging, since I will be stuck with the hose/gauge together after recharge.
I plan to install the BPV31 but NOT pierce the copper line with it's screw until after I have everything else hooked up and the charging hose purged at the BPV31 fitting then close the valve on the freon. Once everything is ready I will use the allen wrench to pierce the copper line on compressor and open it to allow charging.
Many thinks for your video inspiration. !!
It’s a crime to let Fosters get hot! But, Mickeys I used to let get warm under my bunk, ( Army) so my roommate wouldn’t drink it. Saved a lot of beer for me that way! And I got to appreciate “skunk” beers, too. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment.
You don't need to tighten the hose as much as you did. Too much will damage the seal. They are knurled so that finger tight is all that is needed. Also, purging the hose will keep water out of your system, which causes havoc.
HI, Steve. Thank you for the great information. It will help thousand of the viewers! Have a great Memorial Day weekend.
great job. Is one can enough? It's been too hot in San Diego - Even hotter in my home. The rear panel was covered with frost. Now it's not making ice but I can hear the fan and motor running.
for me 1 can was enough to recharge it. Hope you will be able to do a good repair job!! Teddy
Hi Teddy. First off, I loved your video. I have no clue on doing things like this and nobody here to really turn to on this subject. My one question is the final reading on your gauge: I thought if your refrigerator was open to the room....so say around 65F then would you not add the R134a until the gauge read around 4 Bar / 57 psig? You show around 0.1 bar / 3 psig or is your unit at -10 F? I am confused on this part but every other step and event the parts you recommended I already have on order. I hope you are still there since this is a 7 year old video.
you learn the most from mistakes, someone quoted, good reminder vid
Hi, thank you for your compliment on my video. As you said, everything I have learned is from many mistakes I made.
Not a comment, but a question I hope you can answer. My son has a Frigidaire that over this past winter just stopped cooling. I ( stressing I) want to recharge the Freon (R-134) and was wondering if it sounds reasonable that that could be the "fix". As it lost cooling ability over the winter, I'm doubting any leak. I've been told that over time, Freon does lose it's cooling capacity.
Excellent Video! Thanks. In my case the pressure of the pipe entering into Compressor has the pressure of 8 psi. Previously I think it was 5psi. Now I see the frost on the pipe with 8psi. Last time there was no frost on the pipe and the pipe wasn't hot but warm when it was 5 psi. Is it OK or it has too much psi?
Thanks for this video, and also for the links, very easy to follow, I did mine and now its working fine,
Great to hear your success!! Happy New Year!
This video was absolutely hilarious!! Hahaha I loved how you owned up to all the mistakes. The music in the background was perfect too, like circus music. Glad it all worked out in the end :)
Hi, darkstatehk. Thank you for your compliment on my DIY video. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned a lot from them. I think next time I can do more better job. Thanks again.
If your refrigerator is low an r34 will the compressor kick on
thank you for making this informative video,l got my unit up and running now!
Hi, Clo. Thanks for the compliment on my video and congratulations on your success repair. Teddy
Does anyone know why my pressure gauge is reading 70 psi when I open up the piercing valve to get an initial read?
Definitely not showing up as negative pressure. I’m 99% positive I’m installed on the suction line.
You should have bled the air out of the hoses before charging with freon!
Hi, Michael. Thanks for the comment and advice. I did not know how to removing air from hose before re-charging r134a, but many viewers like you appointed it and explained how to, so I can do it next time if I need to re-charge again. Thanks again. Teddy
How do you bleed the air out of the lines?
Hi, Dennis. There is a detail "how to" information in this comment section. Please check it out.
Just crack open the can fer a sec to remove air before attaching hose to tap
Michael C
Thanks. I added too much. Now I have to figure out how to take some AC cooler out
Hope you will be able to fix your problem. Teddy
you should play these at like home Depot people can watch while they wait idk just an idea I liked the humor people need to laugh more !!
That's a good idea!! This video will make people laugh and happy! Thanks for the comment. Teddy
How do you identify which line is which? Bought a used one and have concerns about piercing the wrong line or location
There are 4 tubes from compressor, one is called process tube or process stub, that's where I did piercing. This tube is sealed at the end and not connected to anywhere to the fridge. Here are images of process tube.
goo.gl/VTOFpD