Does Your Refrigerator REALLY Need Freon? How to Find Out If You Need Refrigerant

The most common comment I get at my shop is that their refrigerator just "needs a little freon" but far more often than not, it doesn't really need that. But how would you, as a home owner or tech determine this? Lets look at a few things to determine if you do in fact, just need a 'lil freon.
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[@sbcinema]

A video about the worst design flaws in different refrigerator moddels wouled by interesting The idea came to me because of my own one (where the light stays on when the door is closed)

[@georgewilson1184]

Hey here’s one for you back in the 60s my Grandma had a Copper color Admiral fridge and you had to hook up a gasline to it in the kitchen just like your cooking range her apartment had 2 gaslines in the kitchen one for the stove and one for the fridge that’s Natural Gas now RV reefers run on LP liquid propane to this day but I don’t think anyone builds fridges these days that run on natural gas that most homes have

[@marshmower]

I got a surplus of 134a in the small cans. I like diy fixing. They are going to phase it out to make things .... tricky. See a foreign firm won the bid to make the new refrigerant but it is like$50 a can. Gotcha items....🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑☹️

[@maxshadow...]

Ben...you miss spoke. A 00:32 THERMOSTAT is used for CONTROLLING temperature and a THERMOMETER is used for MEASURING temperature.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

My apologies

[@bradleypennington19]

I thought if you were low on Freon it means you have a leak in the system so why would you continue putting freon in the system if it keeps leaking out

[@jima3129]

Hi Ben, is it normal for a refrigerator/freezer to lose 134a refrigerant after 13 years? I have a samsung with a 2010 build date, I have done everything to it. All new fan motors, all new temp sensors, new defrost sensors, new inverter and main boards. Condenser coils cleaned with brushes, vacuum and foam coil cleaner. UPDATE: I installed a piercing valve on the low side and found that it was reading below 0. I added 134a in three small pulses till it read 7 psi on the low side. My refrigerator and freezer is back to working like new, except for the through door ice maker. I replaced the ice room fan, but no luck. I think that the 12v fans are very specific as to the return signal to the main board on the white sense wire. The ice room fan is a 13A. I now have a new one, but im living with ice trays for now. It would have been nice to know about these fans up front. Basically, the main board sends a test pulse to the fan three times to see if it turns. If it does, the fan kicks on based on the ambient temp. If it does not, the board assumes the fan is obstructed, and it will not start. If your evaporator coil keeps icing up, i would suspect your door seals, or unusually frequent door use AKA (kids) lolol.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Normal? No. Possible? Yes. You may be able to get away with a recharge and get another 5-10 years out of it depending on the leak. If a proper fix is done, far longer.

[@DeclanHiggins-YoutubeChannel]

Excellent video Ben I defrosted my refrigerator a while ago. You reminded me it's time for more maintenance. Appliances need care if they are to last longer-term. You explained everything very clearly.

[@miscellaneousstuff2901]

I think I have an issue with the the part of the controller unit that runs the fan. I have a KitchenAid Mod. KSCS25INSS01. We noticed that the strip between the doors (side-by-side model) was getting very hot. I pulled the fridge out of its area and noticed the compressor was also very hot. I cleaned all the coils underneath, as I do fairly regularly. Note: this coils are super hard to access from either the front or back - it is not possible to slip a coil brush past the first row of coils to reach the other rows of coils behind. I have to use an air compressor to blow from front and a fan blowing away from back to try to pull the dust away. Then, I vacuumed. After the coils, fan and general area under the fridge were cleaned as best I could, I plugged the fridge back in. Everything started up well, including the fan and compressor and the fridge and freezer got down to the proper set temperatures. So, the compressor and fan turned off as they should, but when the next compressor cycle started, the fan did not come back on, so as the compressor was working, it started to get very hot. When I pull the fridge out and place an external fan at the bottom front of the fridge to blow air over the coils (effectively taking over the function of the fridge's fan) the compressor eventually comes back down to a reasonable temp and the strip between the doors no longer gets hot. Everything else in the fridge functions normally. I am not sure how to deal with this. I suspect something the the controller unit that turns the fan back on is the issue. The fan and it's motor are fine. Why does the fan controller have separate controls for when the fridge is first plugged in vs. when it needs to turn back on? Do I have to replace the entire controller unit? or can I address just the fan relay somehow?

[@adrianbutanda651]

I recently got a Samsung fridge ( I know gross😂😂) and it will cool to the right temperature but will randomly stop cooling altogether for a few hours. any idea why?

[@danthesupercontractorhvac9690]

If there is a leak, best practice is to find the leak and fix it 1st before recharge

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

For certain. This was just to show if you needed it. When I do a follow up, it'll be on leak detection.

[@codegeassfan4life28]

Every time I hear Freon I cringe and die a little inside. Do you drink Aquafina/ Fiji (brand) or do you drink water? Freon is a type/brand of refrigerant, please people just call it refrigerant.

[@portable_wall9222]

I bet you call bubble wrap "inflated cushioning" don't you.

[@andybub45]

Doesn’t matter

[@davidpawson7393]

My old Speed Queen dryer that was in a pile of washers and dryers has cost zero so far other than angry pixies but this is about angry pixie farts. Just pucked up a Whirlpool freezer over fridge replacement from the curbside because I'm a sucker for wood-grain and R-12. Two hours of cleaning and some VHT flat black paint on the condensor joints, I was able to donate the newer much louder GE to someone who doesn't have tools or a trailer. Thanks again for everything as I wouldn't have known what I was looking at which saved me a few thousand for the cheap junk made today.

[@davidpawson7393]

@@mckidyl70 Looks like I ducked up my grandma.

[@VinnyMartello]

Thanks for the video! I tried foolishly my around with my Freon levels and wouldn’t ya know there’s this block of ice in my freezer bigger than the Great Wall of China! Should have removed the access panel in the freezer first.

[@tdngaymoibatau8269]

Thank you BEN, your video helpful !

[@paulmillar4774]

I am getting .39 - .41 amps on the red compressor wire. Does that mean low refrigerant or a bad compressor? I also have ice forming at the pipes in the one corner like you showed in the one photo on the freezer coil. The whole coil has no frist at all, just ice accumulating at the inlet pipesI have an LG LFXS30766S. My condenser coil is room temperature, all fans work. I am getting 6 blinks of the LED, which for this model is either compressor or EVAP system. How can I know for sure which is failing? My compressor was replaced 5 years ago with the so called "upgraded" linear LG compressor. The compressor seems to run very smooth and quiet, temperature of 94°F. Could this be a leak on the EVAP coil in the freezer? Also, I did try adding freon, but it did not help.

[@craigslist474]

I really liked your video! You are a great teacher. You make things easy to understand. I'll have to check out some more of your videos.

[@natepeterson7145]

90% of refrigerator problems are electronic. Defrost, temp sensing, or air flow

[@justinheilmanart]

I'm smelling a really sweet smell in my fridge and freezer. Is it a coolant leak? I plan on getting a new one, but is it dangerous until I get a new one?

[@georgewilson1184]

Very good and informative Ben Jesse White is looking down and smiling with approval

[@EnigmaticShine]

Thank you soon much. I live in rural TN and finding a repairman here is practically impossible. This video empowered me to troubleshoot it myself to a degree. Thank you so much

[@brianbanks3044]

when I was a kid and wanted to dry my shoes or sneakers, I would put them at the bottom of the outside of the fridge....we always knew warm air blew out from there but NOW I know why...great video

[@lovelife7464]

Can you do a video covering mini refrigerators with top freezer? Like 7.6 cu ft and below. I have been looking for one for my workshop/she shed and kinda skeptical

[@mnbsay9548]

Good video Ben thanks again for all your helpful information.

[@BrandonMitchell84]

This guy is a legend! He has helped me soo much in learning about refrigeration

[@aarondavis8450]

So I have a whirlpool WRQA59CNKZ has new water valve no error code but the bottom 2 freezes won't go below 20 so the ice maker won't turn a cycle can u help

[@billinglot4670]

Great video. Ben is the best.

[@functionalvanconversion4284]

Great information, thanks

[@Findlay419]

Hi i have an Frigidaire model fftr1814tw4 it’s not getting cold at all . Compressor is working, no ice build up fans are working . Would could it be ?

[@melissah170]

Thank you so much. We have a GE French door system refrigerator and both sides are showing higher than recommended temp, even after attempting to set it lower. I will try the steps you mentioned. We live in the desert so it could be dust. Had this refrigerator for ten years.

[@danyaalnazir7916]

Does the type of refrigerant matter. I say something that said that R600 types have a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than R134a. Therefore R134a fridges last way longer than 2 to 3 years. More over 10 years. Is there any truth to this?

[@charl1em0uze89]

Hi Ben... wondering if you would consider a review on mini-fridges, such as the Galanz and Magic Chef?

[@ronaldrissel6665]

0:34 You don't mean thermostat; you mean thermometer. A thermostat is an electrical device that usually switches from an off-state to an on-state, or vice-versa. A thermometer just measures temperature, like what you have shown.

[@donaldhollingsworth3875]

My father had to have a space heater in the winter for the refrigerator so it would cool properly.

[@polishmasterjay]

I’m annoyed that my fridge isn’t working, excited to be able to fix it, and even more excited to find this channel! Guess it was meant to be, thanks so much man! 👏🎯

[@wiredbassclarinet]

This troubleshooting was amazingly helpful. Can you tell me if a thermostat can work, but occasionally get stuck (where both fridge and freezer usually hold temp but sometimes get too warm (warm enough for ice cream to get soft enough to start to melt))? Turning the thermostat colder and then warmer always gets it to kick back on and then it’s good for a while longer. Everything else seems good. Could it be the thermostat or the “brain” getting stuck on or after the defrost cycle (or something like that)? Those are the only two parts that I can think of, since I’ve checked everything else. Thank you again for your great videos!

[@robastore9192]

A thermostat and cold control are not the same ,one is for temp and the other is for pressure . Sounds like you have defrost timer issues or potential relay contacts .

[@user-dj8yo6nj1n]

What about all those little wires and connectors behind the refrigerator and inside the back of the freezer compartment. It is perfectly safe to open all that up and test things with our hands with the refrigerator plugged in and running, or should we turn the thermostat dial to the "off" position first before putting our hands and fingers back into those areas behind the evaporator and down by the compressor area?

[@SeniorBaconHair]

Had to lower the thermostat on my fridge because it was not freezing at the regular setting. I have it on max cool and it is freezing things, but do I need to put freon in it.

[@PETERLINNAH]

Hi Ben, I am enjoying watching your videos, having recently discovered your channel. My neighbor gave me an Amana commercial quality washer and dryer pair a couple years ago. They had been in storage for 15 years so they were like new and I love them. They were built in 1998 and are obviously old-school. I am trying to find out more about them since the instruction manuals were not given to me. The model numbers are: LWA80AW (washer) and LEA80AW (dryer). I am wondering if they were built by Speed Queen. Any information you could steer me toward would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Very, very likely they are Speed Queens and are just amana-badged. Amana was owned by Alliance Laundry at that time I think, then shortly after bought by Maytag.

[@PETERLINNAH]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Thanks, Ben!

[@DatuSamDatumanong]

Thanks,maybe i've to clean and inspect all parts,then how would i know there's need for a frion?

[@2bnax]

DOES IT MATTER WHICH WIRE YOU CLAMP ? ARE THERE DIFFERENT RESISTANCES TO EACH MOTOR WINDING? ON A HOME HVAC UNIT A TECH RECOMMENDED CLAMPING THE "COMMON" WIRE FOR A PROPER READING

[@muhassan12]

Thanks you very much it was very informative.

[@anothersomebody8195]

Noce video man. You don't have one on replacing a condenser do you?

[@MrRadiodio]

why have both of my samsungs ice up an leak water in the crisper drawer

[@DC-gy3wj]

I have the opposite problem, my Jenn-Air JFC2089HTB keeps going to cold. The thermistor and damper have been replaced and it still will go down below 32 and freeze vegetables. Any ideas?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Check evap panel. is there a ball of ice anywhere that could be tricking the machine into thinking its not cold enough?

[@DC-gy3wj]

@@bensappliancesandjunk no

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

Such great information. My Samsung has been warming up for at least a week. Compressor runs (constantly), fans work, no ice build up. Any ideas? I live in a rural area and finding a repair person is challenging to say the least. Thank you!

[@Leonardokite]

Very well done! Thank you very much. 👍

[@blixo1813]

2:10 - if the frost is only forming in a clump (usually at the cap tube/thin copper line) doesn’t this mean it is restricted inside the evaporator rather than low freon?

[@mikafoxx2717]

Nope, not enough freon means that there's very little liquid getting into the evaporator and it boils quickly and it's very low pressure so it boils at a lower temp than usual. More liquid means more even across the coil and higher pressure in the low side.

[@theresadavis7440]

Thanks for this video and this is what I needed to know. ❤

[@cosmoshfa88savant66]

Set the Freon's Free...

[@VinnyMartello]

I took a chance on my refrigerator and installed some pierce valves. I had an old can of 134, no idea of fluid level. My frige was not even that cold at all. After charging, my freezer is just cold enough to freeze water, and my frige is cooler than hot. But my low pressure side is completely covered in ice.

[@JackieJake-u8t]

I have a Whirlpool side by side, I believe I'm smelling Freon, can this be fixed? about 19 years old

[@adinduadindu8306]

When I plugged back in my freezer a week later after a defrost and clean, My compressor is running but the freezer is not getting cold. Do you know what the problem could be?

[@allenbozeman7547]

My repair guy simply adds more Freon and my GE leaks Freon again. He believes it’s a reality I should live with but I disagree, what should I do. GE frig closed system

[@Xemblow]

Thank you for your video , I feel like i got a low refrigerant problem with an upright freezer i bought used and no repair company is even interested in fixing let alone they say they cant do it bc of the refrigerant it has. Its an old freezer with R12. I live in Canada and maybe its something that cant be fixed. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[@tbone6354]

Usually I add 50ml of swimming pool acid to the compressor before regassing. This keeps the system clear of rust

[@N4HHE]

Good start to my understanding. I have a 24 year old Kenmore (I know, someone else makes for) that is cooling but the compressor cycles up, then down, then up, and down. Rarely turns off. Does turn off but not often. Concerned it may be on the way out, but if it only needs coolant then it might be worth a service call before it fails.

[@rickmiller1257]

Thanks for the video. I'd like to ask a question; Over this past winter, my son's Frigidaire lost it's cooling ability. The fridge is in the garage and was not disturbed so I'm ruling out a leak(??) Even so, that I can determine. I've been told that over time Freon will lose it's cooling ability. True? I want to "recharge" that fridge. Does this sound reasonable?

[@issaghouji]

Ronny after man united

[@marshmower]

Top freezer whirlpool. Ice maker valve split and made a mess. Fan went bad after 4 years. Still going after 11

[@southwestlivingwithval]

Thank you so much. My frig is running good now. The coil to my old GE is at the very bottom of the frig. I had to prop up the front of the frig to get under there. So far so good. Thank you again.

[@ryangreer4812]

link for coil brush

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

5:10 WRONG .....

[@IronMan-bl7dd]

I have an LG fridge it runs beautifully. There is no frost or ice at all around the evaporator coils from what I’ve learned and understand they are using metal lines in and underneath the insulation those rust and leak out all of your Freon. It’s already five years old.Compressor vibrates nicely just like my other two fridges but it’s not warm like the other two fridges.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

We make deal ?

[@manuelestradaramos81]

You are the best #1 to go to thanks dud

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thanks!

[@Matt314159]

Hey Ben, what drill brush did you use in this video?

[@MinecraftPro97k]

my fridge is missing the cardboard back...

[@saratorres1191]

What about French door fridge?

[@greendryerlint]

That's not a thermostat, it's a thermometer..

[@angelajohnson2184]

Good tutorial. Funny hat😂

[@TheOtherBill]

That's refrigerant it's not Freon, like all gasoline is not Mobil.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Literally all my customers call it that. Do I call it that in real life? No. But they do thus using the term

[@jimdavis6833]

Ya beat me to it. I have the same urge when car mechanics call an engine a motor.

[@andybub45]

Doesn’t matter

[@marshmower]

There's a brand name called Freon. It became a generic term. Actually you can make your own from different gasses sold for different purposes. I read that if you need r12, you can use a can side pierce tap on electronics "duster".

[@liarafunhaha1693]

@@marshmower modern duster is typically r290

[@Peter-od7op]

Whats best freezer to buy

[@PS-hr5wg]

Good education

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Thanks again 👍

[@arlenashallow6014]

Thanks sir

[@philliphall5198]

Thanks

[@Jon-hx7pe]

the compressor is cooled by the returning refrigerant, not air blowing over it. the air movement is only to cool the condenser.

[@johnross6314]

Well, my new one uses Ronson butane. Flammable, CO2 and ozone hole creator worse than any of the R series Freon. So, the $2900 fridge is powered cigar lighter fluid from the RV days. And the fan is a $.67 cent Alibaba small muffin fan. Bet that is going to last. 🤦🏼‍♂️ kitchen Aide, owned by Whirlpool, are as bad as the Samisong rice burning 🔥 fridges. What a let down.

[@Channel-gz9hm]

Butane/Isobutane has an ODP of zero. What the hell are you even talking about man.

[@robastore9192]

Hey there . I like your vid . Box temp is the most important issue to be addressed . Keep in mind adding refrigerant does not make a system colder . There should be air flow across the coil to add evenness to the surrounding area and aid the saturation point to the coil . Did the instructor in your refrigerator repair course tell you that Freon is a DuPont trade name for there products not all refrigerant is Freon , you stand corrected

[@Jon-hx7pe]

if it "needs freon" - it's leaking refrigerant and needs a professional leak search and repair. not worth it on most fridges, labor is expensive.