When the compressor becomes faulty, your fridge cannot operate correctly, and you also run the risk of having to throw food away.
So, if your refrigerator compressor has divided, it'll need to be replaced. However, before you replace the compressor, you need to weigh the price of replacing it with purchasing a new refrigerator. Investing in a new refrigerator might be a better choice.
Replacing a compressor is an extremely difficult repair to make and involves welding. You should only attempt this repair in case you are experienced and/or a qualified technician. Additionally it is an extremely dangerous repair to carry out, as it involves dealing with highly flammable gasses.
Here`s a step-by-step guide for how exactly to replace the compressor.
Step One. Take away the Old Compressor
The first step is to take away the old compressor. To achieve that:
Turn the energy off to the refrigerator and pull the plug out.
Remove all of the contents of your fridge. Since replacing a compressor can take a long time, it might be best to place your meal into coolers.
Pull the fridge out from the wall in order to access the trunk of it.
Take away the back panel of the fridge. To remove the panel, you just need to unthread the screws that hold it in place, also it should come off. Once removed, place it taken care of.
Locate the compressor. It is at the back of the fridge on underneath of it.
Disconnect the power cable, and take away the cover that protects the electrical components.
Remove the relay, the capacitor, and the overload protector.
Release repair refrigerator by attaching a perforating valve onto the procedure tube and releasing it. Ensure you have adequate ventilation.
Once released, you need to connect a nitrogen cylinder onto the manifold and inject the gas at a pressure of 50 PSI.
Take away the manifold valve.
Sand the compressor tubes in the areas which have been soldered so they are abrasive.
Cut the discharge and suction tubes (leave about 20-30 mm from the end of the process tube).
Remove the compressor.
Remove the filter. You need to use a soldering torch (use a neutral flame).
If the compressor motor burned out, you need to clean the tubes. This is done by welding on a tube connector to the suction line and charging a cylinder with about 500 ml of solvent. Afterward you attach the cylinder to the suction line and attach the end of the cylinder to the solvent cylinder. Put the tip of the capillary into a container to receive the used solvent. It is possible to inject the solvent through the system. After that, you will need to supply the system a nitrogen charge to clear out any residual solvent.
Step Two. Install the New Compressor
Now that you have removed the old compressor, the next step is to install the new one. To achieve that:
Attach the new filter (be sure to have the right one). You first have to solder a Schrader valve onto the excess connection (make sure you take the cap off before welding). Next, connect and weld the filter onto the condenser outlet. After that you can attach the filter to the capillary tube and weld it on.
Place the new compressor in to the correct position.
Connect all of the tubes up to it, and weld them on.
You should then execute a leak test by injecting nitrogen into them and using a sniffer tool. In the event that you don`t have a sniffer tool, you can place soapy water onto them and appearance out for just about any bubbles that appear, as this indicates there exists a leak. Once tested, release the nitrogen.
Work with a vacuum pump to eliminate air from the compressor.
Install the capacitor to the relay, followed by the overload protector, and attach the relay to the compressor`s terminal.
Connect the coolant system wires to the relay and the overload protector terminals.
You can now put the electrical components cover back on.
Fill the compressor with refrigerant (be sure to have the right volume).
Double-check that of the wires and tubes are correctly positioned, and when so, your brand-new compressor should now be successfully installed.
THIRD STEP. Test That It Works
The final step is to test that your new compressor works. You are able to do that by simply turning your refrigerator back on and testing to see if it is working. If not, you need to contact a technician to take a look at it.