Perlick Outdoor Refrigerator Not Cooling: Evaporator Replaced and Sealed System Recharged in Los Altos
A Perlick HP24RO-3-1R outdoor refrigerator in Los Altos lost cooling. The compressor was running almost silently, a sign of low refrigerant, so I replaced the evaporator coil, flushed, pressure-tested, vacuumed and recharged the system with R134a.
Repair at a glance
| City | Los Altos, CA |
|---|---|
| Appliance | Outdoor refrigerator |
| Category | High-End Brands |
| Brand & model | Perlick HP24RO-3-1R 24-inch outdoor refrigerator |
| Repair date | |
| Customer complaint | The outdoor refrigerator was not cooling properly. |
| Diagnosis | The compressor was running, but very quietly, which pointed to a refrigerant leak in the sealed system. The evaporator coil needed replacement along with a full sealed-system service. |
| Repair cost | $1,977 (parts and labor) |
| Warranty | 6 months on parts and labor |
| Outcome | Repaired |
What I found
The refrigerator sits outdoors by the pool, and the compressor compartment had collected leaves and dirt. On the first visit the compressor was so quiet I could not hear it over the outside noise. On the next visit, when it was calmer, I could hear that the compressor was running, just very softly.
A compressor running that quietly with no cooling points to a refrigerant leak. On this unit that meant replacing the evaporator coil and servicing the whole sealed system. Since a repair like this costs around $2,000, I mentioned that a new refrigerator was also an option; the customer chose to repair it.
How I replaced the evaporator
I took the refrigerator out of its outdoor opening and removed the housing to reach the evaporator. The old coil came out of the cabinet and I compared it with the new Perlick evaporator assembly before installing it.
After brazing the new coil in, I flushed the sealed system, ran a high-pressure test to make sure there were no leaks, pulled a vacuum and charged it with R134a. Then the housing went back on and the refrigerator was returned to its place.
Result
The refrigerator cooled down again with the new evaporator and a fresh charge. The total was $1,977 with a 6-month warranty on parts and labor.
Parts replaced: Perlick evaporator coil assembly, R134a refrigerant.
Photos from this repair
The Perlick outdoor refrigerator before the repair. 
The control display while it was not cooling. 
The compressor compartment with outdoor debris. 
The refrigerator out of its opening for the repair. 
The cabinet with the old evaporator out. 
The old evaporator coil. 
Old and new evaporator coils compared. 
Working on the sealed system connections. 
The refrigerator back in service after the repair.
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