Fuel for the refrigerator: what smell does freon have

For the owners of domestic refrigerators, the sudden appearance of an unpleasant odor is often the alarm signal of a breakdown. The resulting "aroma" gives a lot of inconvenience, because it can spread through the kitchen and soak the food stored in the refrigerator. Many believe that the cause of the unknown smell is freon leak. Is this really the case and does this refrigerant smell?

Characteristics of freon and its properties

To get started is to clarify what constitutes freon. This gas is categorized refrigerants, that is, substances capable of rapid absorption and release of heat. The chemical composition is ethane and methane.

The principle of functioning of freon is extremely simple. The liquid, circulating in the refrigerator, quickly cools the chamber, then it evaporates as a gas and condenses back into the liquid state in the compressor.

Freon is an inert gas, does not burn in air, boils at temperatures below zero. Under normal conditions low toxicHowever, in some species when heated to 250 ° C a toxic product, phosgene, is released. The last one in wartime even found its use as a chemical weapon. However, these refrigerants are no longer used in the production of modern refrigeration units.

The technology of using freon in refrigeration equipment has been changing for decades. It was found that the substance contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and affects the so-called "greenhouse effect". So, by the beginning of the 21st century, due to the negative impact on the environment, freons containing chromium and bromine became completely prohibited in production.

Freon of new generation has no smell and is absolutely safe for human health and ecology of the environment.

Application

The most known branches of application of freon - production of refrigerators and air conditioners. The range of its application is very wide:

1. Included in the aerosols and dispensers in the cosmetic and medical industries.
2. Used as a foaming agent in gas cylinders.
3. In fire extinguishing means (for example, in gas fire extinguishers).
4. In building materials, in the manufacture of polyurethane foam, paints and varnishes.

Signs of leakage

Since freon has no pronounced odor and color, it is difficult to detect its leakage at home. How to understand that its replacement is necessary?

First of all, cooling becomes noticeably weaker, products begin to deteriorate faster. As a result of freon leakage, the pressure in the refrigerating chamber decreases, the condensation process is disturbed, and the temperature rises. At the same time the compressor continues to work, therefore, the refrigerator is noisy as usual.

Secondly, refrigerant leakage can be detected by drops of water flowing along the walls of the refrigerator. Intensive defrosting of products indicates a clear problem with freon.

The most important thing is to detect the problem with freon in time and quickly respond to this fault.

Elimination of leakage

If a refrigerant leak is suspected, it is first necessary to call a specialist from the service department. As a rule, the repair takes place at the client’s home.

It is highly not recommended to repair the damage by yourself, because if you carelessly handle, you can only aggravate the situation and damage the equipment.

In general, the troubleshooting algorithm is as follows:

1. First, a qualified technician will check for the presence of freon leakage using a leak detector device. A beep will alert you of the problem.
2. Next, the master will assess whether it is enough to solder the leak location or whether a complete replacement of the evaporator pipe is needed.
3. Vacuum load removes refrigerant completely. Then freon is re-fed under strong pressure.
4. After turning on the refrigerator, the closure of the cooling system and the quality of the evaporator tube are checked. This is done in order to prevent new leakage of freon.

If the refrigerator was purchased recently, then most likely it is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Usually the warranty period is one to two years. In such cases, equipment repair will be made free of charge at the manufacturer’s service center.

Conclusion

So, freon is a gas that has no color and smell, but at the same time is indispensable in everyday life. It is widely used in the manufacture of refrigerators and air conditioners. New brands of freon, used in our time, at home are completely harmless to the human body and do not affect the ecological situation.

However, it should be remembered: the operation of the refrigerator always requires close attention and in case of the slightest suspicion of freon leakage, it is better to call a specialist as soon as possible. It is much more profitable to eliminate a small problem and save money than to go to the store for a new fridge.