Corrosion on freezer copper pipes


  #1  
Old 03-05-19, 06:22 PM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Question Corrosion on freezer copper pipes

Hey everyone!

I went to take a look behind my Kenmore upright freezer a few days ago and noticed what seems to be quite a bit of corrosion on the copper pipes associated with the refrigerant lines. Pretty much every line has at least some corrosion, and one of the lines coming out of the compressor has signs of heat wear. What do you think? Does this look to be a problem?

The freezer has been running quite loud lately, but I think that is just the internal fan that circulates cold air into the inside of the freezer. The compressor is fairly quiet, doesn't vibrate too much, and still has good rubber damper pads.

Should I call in an appliance repairman?

Name:  r1.jpg
Views: 6369
Size:  102.3 KB

Name:  r2.jpg
Views: 7937
Size:  72.0 KB

Name:  r3.jpg
Views: 8441
Size:  83.5 KB

Name:  r4.jpg
Views: 6533
Size:  39.7 KB
 

Last edited by PJmax; 03-05-19 at 10:06 PM. Reason: reoriented/resized pictures
  #2  
Old 03-05-19, 10:12 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,939
Received 3,952 Upvotes on 3,545 Posts
That fridge looks like it had the inside evaporator replaced. Those corroded looking connections were poor joints made in the field. I'm guessing you bought the fridge used or had major service on it as that is not what factory connections look like.

I'm not sure what that last picture is. There shouldn't be any line like that down near the floor.
Maybe a water line ?

What to do now ? Not much can be done.
 
  #3  
Old 03-05-19, 11:56 PM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
We bought it new from Sears in 2012 and there hasn't been any servicing done on it. Kinda sounds like they sold us a poorly-repaired refurbished unit.

For the line in the last picture near the floor: the insulated side of it is the same line as the insulated line in the first picture. Sorry, I forgot to get a wider shot of the whole unit.

It's a freezer, btw, although I don't think that makes much of a difference.
 
  #4  
Old 03-05-19, 11:59 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
Its cosmetic, nothing than can be done!
 
  #5  
Old 03-06-19, 12:02 AM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
So functionally it's not a problem? Should I wipe/clean off the corrosion?
 
  #6  
Old 03-06-19, 05:32 AM
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 122
Upvotes: 0
Received 5 Upvotes on 5 Posts
Is it corrosion or just calcium and mineral buildup from slow leakage? Those solder joints might get worse some day, or the appliance may fail (end of life) and need to be replaced before they do.
 
  #7  
Old 03-06-19, 04:14 PM
E
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 13
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
I'm guessing it's corrosion. These are all refrigerant lines, so I'm not sure how calcium and minerals would leak from that.
 
  #8  
Old 03-06-19, 04:34 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,939
Received 3,952 Upvotes on 3,545 Posts
In the second to last picture is an aftermarket filter/drier that has been installed and the system was recharged there. The factory would charge directly at the compressor.

What you thought was heat wear on the compressor was a whoops with the torch.
The other compressor fitting directly above that is a factory braze.

You can clean them. It looks to me like high humidity/pipe sweat mixed with flux.
Be sure to wear safety glasses when you do.
 
  #9  
Old 03-07-19, 02:05 AM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
When done with that you can come over and clean all my copper water lines, they show similar green corrosion.

Honestly, it's just a by product of the solder joint, it's not going to hurt anything, the joint will outlast the appliance!
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: