Why Does Coolant Leak In The Refrigerator?

Do you think you have a coolant leak in a refrigerator? If you’ve smelled something a little off about your fridge lately, particularly your freezer, then that could be the case.

Refrigerators are one of the most expensive appliances you will ever purchase and they are an absolute necessity. While most refrigerators manufactured today are of superior quality and provide consumers with excellent, reliable service for years, problems do occasionally creep up that require either repairing or even replacing the unit entirely. And one of the biggest problems consumers report is that their fridge doesn’t keep their food cold enough.

Before we jump the gun it’s better to rule out other issues such as a broken fan or other causes. After all, a refrigerator that is underperforming doesn’t necessarily mean it is leaking coolant.

How do I know if my fridge is leaking coolant?

Typically you will smell it or you will notice the membrane that separates the cooling pipes from the fridge is punctured or damaged. You’re probably wondering “is a refrigerator coolant leak dangerous?” and, usually, it isn’t though over time it will make your refrigerator less effective and will require repair or replacement at worst.

The fact of the matter is that coolant leaks, outside of aging or possible manufacture defects, are actually quite rare and almost always involve damaging the internal components in one way or the other. According to repair experts, one of the most common causes of this is for people to use ice picks and other sharp objects to remove excess ice that builds up in a freezer. This typically leads to a punctured and damaged membrane or pipe.

Also, the primary indicator of a coolant leak that most consumers report is a bad smell and this is often not the most precise tool for diagnosing the problem. This is because everything ranging from moldy food to mold around sealants on the door could cause an off odor. Often removing all of the food and cleaning the refrigerator is recommended before contacting a repair specialist to rule out spoiled food or mold as the cause of the bad odor.

If you’ve ruled out all other possibilities, you’re probably either asking “how do I fix a refrigerator leaking coolant?” and, beyond that, “how much does it cost to fix a refrigerator leaking coolant?” The second answer depends on the contractor and his hourly rates plus any equipment as well as materials that might be needed to complete the job. For the first question, typically the coolant is recharged and any damage repaired. This means sealing busted pipes and repairing any possible cause for a leak. If it cannot be repaired then the owner often has to replace the refrigerator unit.

You can also watch the below video to find the solution.