Any fridge freezer experts? Compressor question

[tpmumtobe]

If a fridge freezer is damaged during defrosting, how long does it take the gas to escape and kill the compressor?

We had a power cut at the start of this week which we think has been caused by the FF. It's the circuit that contains the FF, two wall sockets and an extractor fan that's tripping, and the power went out overnight so our best guess is FF. A (not very helpful) appliance repair chap has taken a cursory look and charged us £90 to say "it's probably the compressor, not worth replacing".

DH has now confessed that when we defrosted the freezer before Christmas he may have poked at the ice a bit with a wooden spatula 🙄If that made a hole in the gas pipes, how long would it take for the gas to escape? Would it die quite quickly or would it leak out over a three week period?

I'm trying to work out whether it's worth getting the compressor repaired (contrary to what the appliance chap said, I can get Bosch to replace the compressor for way less than the cost of a new FF) or whether, if there's a hole in the pipes the gas will just continue to leak, and it's basically screwed.

Any advice gratefully received, you may help prove DH's innocence and save his skin...

If he Has poked a hole in the 'freezer box', then that is where the problem will be. I've seen someone do this (to eager to de-ice it) and it lost the gas within a few minutes - a bit like a hole in a car tyre. The compressor will still be fine but not be able to 'compress' the gas because of the puncture in the freezer itself.
I would agree it is beyond economic repair...

Ok that's very useful, thanks. The fact it kept running fine for three weeks after it was defrosted makes me think maybe it's not punctured and it's broken independently. DH may yet be proved not guilty...

DH used to do fridges etc...says...wooden spatulator unlikely to break any sealed pipes....if gas leaks it does so very fast...its a gas....did you have a smell a bit like Dentine cinammon chewing gum..??...some gasses smell like that...!!....a new compressor is about £140...plus it needs regassing and leak found etc.

I'm not an expert in appliance repair, but I can provide some general information that might help you understand the situation better.

If there is a leak in the refrigerant gas pipes of your fridge freezer, the rate at which the gas escapes would depend on the size of the hole and the pressure inside the system. However, refrigerant gases are generally under high pressure in these systems, so even a small hole could lead to a relatively rapid leak. The time it takes for the gas to escape and cause the compressor to fail could be a matter of days to weeks rather than months.

In most cases, if there is a refrigerant leak, the cooling performance of the fridge freezer would decline noticeably as the gas escapes, and it might eventually stop cooling altogether. So, if your fridge freezer was working fine for a few weeks after the defrosting incident and then suddenly stopped cooling, it might not be solely due to a refrigerant leak. Other issues like electrical faults or compressor failure could also be contributing factors.

If you're considering repairing the compressor, it's important to have a professional diagnosis to determine the exact cause of the issue. Getting a second opinion from a qualified appliance repair technician might be a good idea to ensure you're making an informed decision. Additionally, if you're able to get a quote from Bosch for a compressor replacement that is significantly cheaper than a new fridge freezer, it could be worth exploring that option.

Ultimately, it's recommended to consult with an appliance repair professional who can assess the situation accurately and provide tailored advice based on the specific details of your fridge freezer and its condition.