Appliance repair should only be trusted to professionals
Technicians who perform refrigerator repair often encounter this defect. Therefore, the procedure for its elimination is well known and refined to the smallest detail.
Causes of Capillary Tube Clogging
Usually, clogging of the capillary tube is caused by the ingress of small particles of silicone, oil droplets, or suspension from the compressor. Having a fairly dense and viscous structure, they easily settle on the inner walls, gradually increasing in size due to the ingress of dust particles or other contaminants. A blocked tube stops passing freon in full volume, which immediately affects the performance of the refrigeration chamber. The temperature inside the device becomes higher, and it is not possible to ensure the preservation of products.
The main reason for the ingress of fine suspensions into the cavity of the capillary tube is clogging or failure of the filter-drier. Its main "duty" is to trap foreign particles at the inlet to the refrigerant pipeline. Therefore, eliminating the clogging problem always involves inspecting and replacing the faulty filter, which reduces the risk of recurrence of the malfunction to zero.
The owner of the appliance will not be able to deal with the defect on their own, even if they have good knowledge of the structure of refrigeration units. Moreover, unqualified intervention can cause an even more serious defect that will call into question the possibility of further use of the refrigerator. Therefore, at the first signs of a malfunction, it is worth immediately calling a specialist for diagnostics and repair work.
Symptoms of Capillary Tube Clogging in a Refrigerator
Among the main signs of a malfunction, the following should be noted: A noticeable decrease in the performance of the refrigeration chamber, when the temperature inside is practically no different from the ambient temperature; Excessive heating of the compressor and other working elements of the refrigerator. This may be caused by intensive operation of the appliance, which tries to cope with the malfunction that has occurred and compensate for the effect of temperature increase.
The listed signs should be distinguished from other symptoms of breakdowns, for example, failure of the filter or freon leakage. The only correct solution is to conduct a thorough diagnosis using special measuring equipment and tools. If the preliminary opinion about the causes of the malfunction is confirmed, the specialist selects a tactic for further actions to eliminate the defect.
Methods for Cleaning Capillary Tubes
Having a supply of freon and a full set of tools, the technician can choose the optimal method for cleaning the tubes from clogging, taking into account the technical condition, service life, and design features of the refrigeration equipment.
A relatively simple method is to cut the tube at the point of clogging and install a new fragment of the same size in its place. This can be done within a few minutes. However, it is often difficult to predict where the clogging occurred, so cutting the tube a short distance may be ineffective and not help solve the problem.
The second option is mechanical cleaning of the tube using a solvent. For this, the element is cut along its entire length and connected to the compressor via a copper tube and a rubber hose, into which a solvent in a volume of about 10 cubic centimeters is introduced. After turning on the compressor motor, the liquid under pressure up to 25 atmospheres is fed into the tube, cleaning the internal diameter. If this does not work the first time, the procedure is repeated up to 5-10 times, which guarantees cleaning of the tube and its suitability for further use.
The third option for eliminating the defect aims to remove contaminants using a special press. Technically, this method is almost identical to the second option, allowing results to be achieved in several cleaning cycles.
If the problem cannot be resolved, the specialist may assume that the clogging is large and has a plastic structure, due to which foreign inclusions are firmly held on the inner walls of the tube. In this case, a decision is made to completely replace it with a new element of the same diameter and capacity. This way, the defect is completely eliminated and reliable operation of the capillary is ensured for several years.
Possible Difficulties in Cleaning the Capillary Tube
Any work related to cleaning the capillary tube requires time and certain efforts. This is due to the small diameter of the part and the possible density of the contamination, the complete removal of which by mechanical means is possible only after several attempts. In addition, a mandatory condition for repair work is the replacement of the filter-drier. If during the work a malfunction of other components is detected, they must also be repaired or replaced. However, if you contact experienced technicians, the problem can be solved within a few hours without the need to send the equipment to a service workshop.
Since cleaning the capillary involves stopping the circulation of freon, after completing the work and sealing the circuit, the system must be refilled with a certain amount of gas. To do this, air is evacuated from it with a vacuum pump, after which the refrigerant is pumped in.
By entrusting the repair of the refrigerator to professionals, you retain the right to warranty service for the appliance and can be confident in its operability for many years to come.