Anyone know a method to find the said leak in my fridge?
I know a little about the RV refrigeration and if you are smelling ammonia most likely your frig is done. They sell new absorption units and can be installed, I know nothing about reliability. In our case the only option was replacement of the frig and most likely yours too. Use caution because the inner workings are under very high pressure and is very flammable.
My understanding is that if there is an ammonia leak - the cooling unit (the metal tubes on the back of the fridge) is toast and needs to be replaced or rebuilt. I don't think it's a serviceable problem. What are you experiencing?
Maybe others have another fix but that's my understanding. I replaced a cooling unit and it was "simple but not easy".
The chromate in the system to prevent corrosion leaves a yellow stain.
Finding the leak is irrelevant. Replacing the cooling unit is the only repair possible.
Steve
"...the cooling unit... is toast and needs to be replaced or rebuilt."
Cooling units are not normally 'rebuilt' but they can be replaced. However, if the fridge is an older model it may not be economically wise to replace only the cooling unit... go for the whole box. ;)
When I was in the market there were companies who would cut out the rusty parts and weld in new and repaint aka rebuild but I bought new from Amish and it was a great decision. Many places require you to provide a core - for whatever purpose they use it.
So it would seem I need to hold a funeral. Thanks all.😊
ooling units are not normally 'rebuilt' but they can be replaced. However, if the fridge is an older model it may not be economically wise to replace only the cooling unit... go for the whole box. ;)
If a refrigerator is not too old, less than ten years old, replacing the cooling unit is a possibility that will cost near half of what a new one would.
You will still have an old box with a lot of plastic becoming more brittle everyday .
A rebuilt kit consist only of the cooling unit, it does not include any new electronics or a valve and burner assembly.
Installation is fairly complicated, beyond the capability of most to do themselves. It feels radical to chop through the refrigerator's insulation to remove the cooling unit. It takes careful work to have a decent looking repair.
Larry