Oops -- nicked refrigerant tube in fridge

[Matt]

I'm smacking myself for this: I have one of those manual defrost compact refrigerators which always take forever to defrost... so I thought I would chisel away at some of the ice. I _thought_ I was staying away from the refrigerant tubing, but a loud hissing sound conveniently informed me of my mistake. So my question is, are these under-counter models worth trying to have repaired? It looks like they cost in the $100-300 range new. The nick in the tubing is pretty small, though. Thanks for any help.

[aemeijers]

No answers, but sympathy of the BTDT sort. Mine was in a rental, and much to my surprise, they didn't make me pay to replace it. Although the replacement they provided was smaller. Being pretty much broke at the time, I just thanked them and kept my mouth shut.

If the thing is over a couple of years old, I'd write it off. There is no tubing in there, it is just a couple of formed plates fused together. If you had your own tools to refill, an epoxy patch might work, like on a gas tank. But at 50 bucks or show to even show up, repair cost will be pretty close to replacement cost.

aem sends....

[DerbyDad03]

BTDT too! As a teenager at a girlfriend's apartment. I was helping her get ready for a party by defrosting *her* freezer - not provided by the landlord. Ended up living out of coolers until we both got paid and could buy another cheap unit. Probably spent more on ice than the eventual fridge. Basement apartment...and back then fridges weighed a whole lot more than they do now!

[dadiOH]

It is fixable.

When I lived in Mexico and had just moved into a furnished apartment I found the fridge didn't work. Called the realtor, she sent a guy, guy fixed the nicked tube by melting something that looked like burn in shellac on the small hole. That fixed it and it stayed fixed for the two years I lived there. Something like PolyPoxy or JB Weld should fix it fine. Gotta add new refrigerant, obviously.

[hallerb]

well to fix, repair hole, then evacuate system, by vacuumn pump, then add gas and oil since the oil leaked out with the gas. by the time your all done cheaper to buy new, unless you can find a carry in service center since its small.

new ones probably made in china by top paid employees, a buck a day no heath care or other benefits, no way to compete with that....

[Matt Hill]

Yeah this thing was manufactured in 1996 so it's had a good service life ("Made in Mexico" -- I'm not sure what they're still making down there, other than my Corona). What's so frustrating is that it's such a tiny little nick and you have to replace the whole thing. But having a tech restore pressure to the system will cost money, I'm sure.

[ransley]

You might fix it but its old and new ones are up to 60% more efficient.

[Meat Plow]

Probably more trouble and costly to repair unless you arleady have a set of gauges, vacuum pump and know how to repair the leak.

[bobbitt]

Think Duct Tape. Lots of it........

DUCK TAPE IS COOL !!!!!!!!