Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

[burlycanadian]

I am traveling right now in Central America and in my haste to accelerate the defrosting of my isotherm fridge I put a small dent and puncture in the freon line just before it attaches to the evaporator (freezer). Has anyone successfully patched a freon line with JB weld or some similar easily available product? Any recommendations? I am in contact with Isotherm help, but they want me to buy a new evaporator and to purchase and have it shipped and installed (plus import tax) I am getting in the neighborhood of the cost of a new fridge.

 

[tdshepard]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

It can be repaired with a good epoxy like JB weld. Rough it up with sand cloth and make sure it is oil free. Let the repair set up and then cure with the heat from a light bulb. Your big issue is that you must access the system and evac with a vacuum pump and then weigh in the correct charge of the correct freon..........

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

If the puncture is after the expansion valve, the line is low pressure and epoxy may do the job. However, if the puncture is BEFORE the expansion valve the line is at high pressure and the only SURE repair is to silver solder on a patch.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

If it sat with a hole in the line the inside is contaminated. The humidity on our atmosphere is a contaminate to a Freon system. That's why they want you to buy an evaporator, if anything at all, including air, got into the coil it will trash the compressor &/or coil
.

 

[WSKIPPER]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

My years of heating and ac may not apply here, but if he got the evaporator new,would it not have air in it?...with that said...the purpose of vac after repair is to remove air and moisture/humidity...you can also "purge" the system with freon as well on small jobs such as this if a vac pump is not available, but the vac is recommended ,as well as a flush with the required cleaners..a small puncture can easily be repaired with silver solder provided it's copper you're repairing, and not aluminum, and if you do the repairs asap you should be fine...contamination should be none/minimal considering it is just a puncture imo..be sure the correct amount/type of oil is added to the system as well if the area of the puncture is "greasy"...before recharging system..if the puncture was minor and the area was not "greasy"...your oil is probably ok and you lost just the freon...if it is r22 you will need a licensed person to recharge the system as well...you'll also need piercing valves to recharge the system...good point on the JB weld usage..although great stuff it doesn't expand at the same rate as copper so it would probably fail after a short time due to expansion/contraction from heat...I'd try the repair route...I'm a tight wad:facepalm:...all items are available for the do it yourselfer very reasonable except the freon if it is r22...look at the "Tag" on the unit and it should tell you what freon is in it...all the other types of freon(ozone safe) used these days is available without a license... good luck...hope this helps...

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

yup solder it evac and charge... done deal

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

P.S. evaporators in A/C systems usually come charged with nitrogen. It all depends on how long the system was open if you need a new evaporator. I'd try repairing it first. Use solder not JB.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

I had an A/C line in my Ford Explorer. I used JB Weld. It lasted about a year until it failed.

 

[burlycanadian]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

Thanks for the feeback and help everyone. I am a do-it yourserlfer on most things, but given that I am traveling and don't have access to a lot of my tools, and given that I need a licensed person to do the recharge anyway. . . given the potential to mess it up if I did it myself and the consequences of making mistakes in this arena. . . going to go with the licensed repair guy and make sure that everything gets done correct and hopefully lasts.

 

[Opnine99]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

yup sometimes you have to just lay down and take the kicks and have someone that has the correct equipment take care of it even though it hurts your pride as a do it yourselfer.

 

[Slip Away]

Re: Punctured the Freon line in my isotherm fridge

Thanks for the feeback and help everyone. I am a do-it yourserlfer on most things, but given that I am traveling and don't have access to a lot of my tools, and given that I need a licensed person to do the recharge anyway. . . given the potential to mess it up if I did it myself and the consequences of making mistakes in this arena. . . going to go with the licensed repair guy and make sure that everything gets done correct and hopefully lasts.

Good idea on the "given's"