DIY Add Freon to Refrigerator. First-Timer Fears, Problems & SOLUTIONS! Step-by-Step - GE Profile

My first experience with refilling refrigerator with Freon after watching other KZbin videos that made it look easy. It was pretty easy but I ran into some issues where I wish I had extra information. So, there are some things covered here that fellow worriers may think of after they’ve begun the project (like I did). I ran into a significant problem with the gauge I purchased from a direct link on another video. I did find a way to solve it and it’s covered here. Also, just how many times I had to fill and exactly how long I left the refrigerant valve open each time is shown. It may be boring for people who are more knowledgeable (you could still skip through the boring section). But, for people like me, you may find the extra info useful. This is not advice, just information. My refrigerator is a GE Profile PFS22SISCSS. It’s been a few weeks since completion at the time of posting. Still ice cold! Please consult a professional and do any work at your own risk. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe and have a blessed day.

[@TheCitedAviator]

man i wish i found this before i did any of the work, you asked the same questions i wanted answers for

[@DiyHer]

I’m curious, which questions you also had? And, I hope you were still able to have success!

[@marloncohen1221]

Thank you for your Video, only difference I did was I added mine on the compressor charging line instead. Thanks again, my refrigerator is now cooling as expected!

[@DiyHer]

I'm glad it worked for you!

[@StevenTymec]

I'm so glad I came across your video! I, too, had the same issue with the rubber gasket being too thick to allow the charging hose (from Amazon) to puncture the R134a can. If I hadn't seen your video, I don't know what I would have done to solve the problem . Great job! Thanks!

[@DiyHer]

Glad to help! It is frustrating when things don’t work right out of the box, so it’s good to know I was able to save you some trouble.

[@bemused_66]

Great work. The extra level of detail you have provided for us newbies is very helpful.

[@DiyHer]

Thank you so much. I’m a newbie! I tried to show what was missing for me or made me nervous. Every bit of information helps!

[@gilbertruambik8182]

now this is what I like, going through mistakes and eventually know what you're doing... best video

[@DiyHer]

Thanks!

[@perrygray-reneberg7683]

Thanks a whole bunch for your careful instruction. Your annotations (highlighted with colors, no less) are a very caring addition. Now to follow your lead with my own Kenmore 106 presently holding only 30 degrees in the top-mounted freezer compartment and a compressor that never shuts off.

[@DiyHer]

Good luck! I’m a first-timer. I watched a lot of videos, read comments and researched until I felt semi-comfortable trying it. Let me know how it goes!

[@Internutt2023]

I appreciate your video, and not cutting out any difficulties you had. I watched some videos bought the necessary ( or so I thought) items, and proceeded to have a go at my non cooling GE fridge / freezer. I am familiar with charging an automotive AC system, so, I feel I was capable in doing this with some hope of a good result. From watching your video, the things I di differently was, to take some green scotchbrite abrasive padding and scuff the area the hole was going to be pierced and sealed in, in a tight circular motion as to not make any scratches in either direction that it might leak freon out of the seal pad. I then cleaned the copper pipe with some no residue electronics cleaner. I positioned the valve so, the port was facing more outward, but, I could still tighten the allen screws and valve without too much difficulty. I purchased a different "Self sealing valve fitting" along with that same pressure gauge and hose, and it was a first try success for getting freon out of the can. As a note, when that gauge goes below zero, into the negative, its no longer "PSI" , it is called "Inches of Mercury", or "In Hg".

[@DiyHer]

That’s great! Thanks for sharing your experience. Thanks for the “in Hg” info and “inches of Mercury”. It makes sense that it would no longer be PSI. I’ll try to remember that so I can sound smarter. 😂 Guess I’ll google it and try and learn something new too.

[@Joewho99]

Excellent video thanks for posting .

[@DiyHer]

Thank you!

[@ChanceSummer]

Great job! A job you do yourself always feels better than paying someone. Not to mention, the person you are paying could also be a beginner or just screw it up and you would never know. At least when I screw stuff up myself I know 😂

[@DiyHer]

@@ChanceSummer Thank you! 100% agree. Life is more exciting whenever you succeed at something new! I have hired people who made mistakes too. Probably what made me think I might be capable of fixing things. Plus, I like saving money. I love KZbin and people willing to share!

[@ramindadseresht4074]

This is by far the best video that shows how to read that confusing gage dial. Could you put a link or description of the hose and gage dial the piercing valve and the r134 can. Thank you

[@DiyHer]

Thank you. Here is the gauge I purchased. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008BLBKCC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Here is the piercing valve I purchased. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00J2D6OEC?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Hopefully the links work and you have success! I bought the r134 at my local auto shop. Remember, I’m a beginner so my info on reading the gauge was just the best of my ability. I’m not sure how reliable it is or if I missed anything. I recommend you watch all the videos you can and read the comments. The comments are gold sometimes.

[@thereckchanic4709]

This is technically not the way to do it but this a work around. I would have just used the existing port on the suction line. It’s normal for the compressor and the liquid line to be pretty hot. Sides of the refrigerator is normally hot as well. The technique you used may be time consuming but you sure don’t want to overfill the compressor. The only thing I would do instead is getting the refrigerant with the sealant in it. If there is a small pin hole it will usually fix it. Let us know how much time you get out of it before another recharge is required.

[@DiyHer]

Thanks! So far, so good. It been about 7 months so far and no change in temperature yet. Fingers crossed I get at least a couple of years more.

[@ramindadseresht4074]

So at the end if you close the piercing valve clockwise, is the line gonna get blocked or does the gas still can flow through line? Thanks.

[@DiyHer]

The gas will still flow through the normal refrigeration system. The reason to close it is so that refrigerant won’t leak out when you disconnect the gauge. The pierce was to allow you to put gas in it. Think of it like filling an air mattress. If you disconnect the air pump but don’t close the inlet hole, everything will just leak out. And refrigerant leaking could be dangerous so be sure to close it.

[@VE8HL]

You said that the goal was 1 to 2 psi. How did you arrive at this amount?

[@DiyHer]

From another KZbin video and reading all of the comments from everyone who had success following that example. It was an experiment and it worked out. I’m a first-timer so I have no professional experience. Just reading other people’s experiences. Try to consult a professional for why it works. Or, maybe we’ll get lucky and someone will answer it here in this thread.

[@cobracommander.1958]

The compresssor all ready had a charging line why didnt u use that instead???

[@DiyHer]

@@cobracommander.1958 Someone asked this. I thought about it but it has a crimp in it. I wasn’t sure how that would affect it because I’m a first-timer. I tried to find the answer online but it was taking a very long time so I just went for it.

[@cobracommander.1958]

Ok glad your way worked u americans love to complicate things like spending a million dollars to invent a pen that can work in zero gravity while we russians just used pencils 🤣🤣🤣🤣 hope u are a trump fan and not a democrat who cant take a joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@navedsyed9354]

why she is putting a valve I can see in the video there is a safety Valve on the suction line

[@DiyHer]

Good observation. Because there was also a kink in the line below the valve. I didn’t wanna take any chances. I almost mentioned it in the video, but I didn’t think people would be interested.

[@davidjames666]

this is for others: it is common practice to crimp a line shut with vice grips in order to install a service port. After the port is installed, the vice grips are removed, and the crimped line is squeezed open the other way to allow refrigerent to flow. Opening the crimp does not have to look or be perfect, but it will work.

[@DiyHer]

@ Thank you for this information. I’ve been curious about it.