Freon based refrigerators are a thing of the past these days, so when one goes out, it may be difficult determine the problem or even figure out where to get the parts to fix it. There are some models which the parts are now relics such as the R12. The motors for these refrigerators just are not available anymore, so it is quite difficult to know what to do in this situation. There are a few things that you need to determine however, before you decide that this is actually a Freon leak.

The first thing that you need to look at is whether or not the vents in the fridge are blocked. There is a chance that they are, because if the refrigerator is not cooling then air might not be getting through. This will be relatively easy to fix because it is generally caused by either ice or dirt buildup within the fridge. If it is an ice problem you need to unload your fridge, power it down, and wait for everything to thaw. At that time you can chip out whatever substance was blocking.

The next thing you need to consider is whether or not the fan is actually working. To determine this you need to remove the panel from the back of the fridge while the device is running, and see if the fan is moving. If it is not, then you may very well have found your problem. You will need to replace that fan, though it is not recommended that you do so while the device is running. This will not be a cheap fix, but it will be cheaper by far than replacing the entire refrigerator unit.

If all of these fail, then it is possible that you might have a Freon leak. If that is the case then it will be necessary to call in a professional. Keep in mind that you may not actually have to replace the entire unit because while some parts may not be available, it is possible that later parts may still be compatible with your unit. That is definitely something that you need to look into before you make the decision to go all out and buy a new refrigerator, unless of course you wanted to anyway.

You do not absolutely have to replace your refrigerator with the times, but do keep in mind that if you have one from the late sixties you are no doubt going to run into some problems sooner or later. But as was earlier stated, if you have a unit that was made recently, then you don’t need to rush out and buy a new one. That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little nostalgia, just make sure that you are making good choices, and that you can effect repairs on your unit whenever you need to.