The fridge on my American fridge freezer is playing up
Discussion
So it's 3 years old and was working well until this week.
The freezer works fine. The fridge is only staying at around 15 degrees.
I've taken it out and given it a hoovering at the back but to be honest the exposed section is very small and the Finns at the back didn't seem to be covered in much dust.
The black thing In the middle of the exposed section is running very hot.
I can't seem to find a way to take the cover off the back so I am not sure if there are more cooling finns covered up - there seems to be absolutely no way of taking the back cover off.
Before I just go out and buy another one does anyone have any ideas ?
I can't see any air vents externally at all so I can't see anything that might be getting blocked up or that might need to be cleaned.
The freezer works fine. The fridge is only staying at around 15 degrees.
I've taken it out and given it a hoovering at the back but to be honest the exposed section is very small and the Finns at the back didn't seem to be covered in much dust.
The black thing In the middle of the exposed section is running very hot.
I can't seem to find a way to take the cover off the back so I am not sure if there are more cooling finns covered up - there seems to be absolutely no way of taking the back cover off.
Before I just go out and buy another one does anyone have any ideas ?
I can't see any air vents externally at all so I can't see anything that might be getting blocked up or that might need to be cleaned.
We used to have a Samsung American fridge freezer, which after a while the fan internally in the fridge used to ice up. We found plenty of you tube video on ours how to take the insides apart and then defrost the fan - it was surrounded by a block of ice. Found that we'd have to do this annually to keep it going.
Thanks for the suggestion. You inspired me to put my big boy pants on and empty the sodding thing and take it to bits.
The fan wasn't iced up on mine and seemed to work ok. The freezer the seems to pump the cold air into the fridge by way of a fan and a service hatch for want of a better word.
Below the fan there was some sort of cooling thing with finns. I've no idea what this is or what it does but I cleared it of ice and put it all back together and it seems to be working ok now Thankfully.
The fan wasn't iced up on mine and seemed to work ok. The freezer the seems to pump the cold air into the fridge by way of a fan and a service hatch for want of a better word.
Below the fan there was some sort of cooling thing with finns. I've no idea what this is or what it does but I cleared it of ice and put it all back together and it seems to be working ok now Thankfully.
They're supposed to do a fast defrost about every 24hrs so it's either not working, or it's go so iced up that it's not de-icing enough.
It's the evaporator, by the way. We used to have a proper American one and the drain from the drip tray under the evaporator would stay frozen now and again - make sure the drain is clear. In your case doesn't really explain why the top of the evaporator is frosty. Could the door have been left open - they usually beep?
It's the evaporator, by the way. We used to have a proper American one and the drain from the drip tray under the evaporator would stay frozen now and again - make sure the drain is clear. In your case doesn't really explain why the top of the evaporator is frosty. Could the door have been left open - they usually beep?
It's possible the door has been left open a bit now and then. The kids are always checking it to see if there is anything unhealthy and tasty in there for them. Also I probably had it packed out a little too much which might have contributed to it getting frosted up. I've chucked out a load of stuff that shouldn't have been in there, like bread rolls and other rubbish.
Might sound daft, but, did you have a look underneath from the front, the Admiral we had originally had a plastic trim piece under the front, this where the air is sucked in to the cooling fins, ripped it off and it's was full of fluff and dog hairs.
Nowhere in the instructions did it say to keep it clean, only found it because the dog had lost something underneath and pulled it off.
Now got a Samsung which is fine as a fridge and freezer, but, the ice maker is crap, repaired once under warranty, then wanted £150 to repair again, now every now and then it just stops making ice, then starts up again when it fancies.
Nowhere in the instructions did it say to keep it clean, only found it because the dog had lost something underneath and pulled it off.
Now got a Samsung which is fine as a fridge and freezer, but, the ice maker is crap, repaired once under warranty, then wanted £150 to repair again, now every now and then it just stops making ice, then starts up again when it fancies.
princeperch said:
It's possible the door has been left open a bit now and then. The kids are always checking it to see if there is anything unhealthy and tasty in there for them. Also I probably had it packed out a little too much which might have contributed to it getting frosted up. I've chucked out a load of stuff that shouldn't have been in there, like bread rolls and other rubbish.
Thinking about it, the drain must be OK because you'd have had a fair bit of water from defrosting that. netherfield said:
Now got a Samsung which is fine as a fridge and freezer, but, the ice maker is crap, repaired once under warranty, then wanted £150 to repair again, now every now and then it just stops making ice, then starts up again when it fancies.
We've got one of those now, the type with the ice maker in the top of the freezer (rather than in the door).The ice maker takes a lot of defrosting, Ours stopped again a couple of weeks ago and I noticed that even after three forced defrosts and a lot of hair dryer action (Samsung say don't do that and to use a steamer) there was still water trickling out of the ice maker into its drain after running the ice maker test cycle.
When it finally got going the first load of ice cubes came out linked to each other, so it had overfilled and frozen, and even 3 defrosts hadn't unfrozen them.
Annoyingly come downstairs this am and the fridge is back up to 13 degrees.
I won't have time to look at this until Friday but if the silver thing is full of ice again after I defrosted it then I guess all I can do at this point is check the pipe down to the bottom tray is running free and clear (I didn't deice that yesterday).
After that if it still frosts up and doesn't work it might be goodnight Irene unless I want to start firing the parts gun at it.
Presumably it has enough refrigerant and the compressor works because it was working yesterday after I de iced it.
Any more ideas ? There are no vents anywhere I've checked the sides back top and front. I haven't checked the middle of the underneath as obviously I can't get to it.
I won't have time to look at this until Friday but if the silver thing is full of ice again after I defrosted it then I guess all I can do at this point is check the pipe down to the bottom tray is running free and clear (I didn't deice that yesterday).
After that if it still frosts up and doesn't work it might be goodnight Irene unless I want to start firing the parts gun at it.
Presumably it has enough refrigerant and the compressor works because it was working yesterday after I de iced it.
Any more ideas ? There are no vents anywhere I've checked the sides back top and front. I haven't checked the middle of the underneath as obviously I can't get to it.
Is the freezer still OK? The evaporator shouldn't be frozen over after less than a day.
Beyond that, there's not much to it - as you said in your OP, cold air gets blown into the fridge. Is there a flap in the hatch you mentioned which is maybe getting stuck? Or the fan is not working as it should.
Beyond that, there's not much to it - as you said in your OP, cold air gets blown into the fridge. Is there a flap in the hatch you mentioned which is maybe getting stuck? Or the fan is not working as it should.
It's a logik lsbsx23 American style fridge freezer
The freezer is at -2 and that's against a deep freeze setting that's calling for -20 I think. So it's obviously working but not as it should be.
The hatch is free and clear. I'm starting to think it's an issue with the fan now really. But that wouldn't explain the Evaporator getting frozen over very quickly.
I'm a bit stumped really. I'll defrost the tube from the evaporator again on Friday.
The freezer is at -2 and that's against a deep freeze setting that's calling for -20 I think. So it's obviously working but not as it should be.
The hatch is free and clear. I'm starting to think it's an issue with the fan now really. But that wouldn't explain the Evaporator getting frozen over very quickly.
I'm a bit stumped really. I'll defrost the tube from the evaporator again on Friday.
so I have had a little look around and the following parts are not enormously expensive:
1) evaporator sensor
2) freezer temp sensor
3) fridge sensor
4) new freezer fan
I would be in for about 60 quid at that point. when it all started to work yesterday afternoon after I cleaned the compressor the fridge went down to about 8 degrees which is obviously still not ideal but we were approaching an temperature which would have been vaguely acceptable.
if it is either of the following then it might be better to just bite the bullet and buy a new unit for £500 or so:
1) evaporator unit
2) compressor unit
what do we think? I did see the fan running in the freezer when I had unbolted everything, but, it didnt keep running, it ran and then stopped for a bit. presumably it then started back up when I put it all together again as the fridge then got cooler (8 down from 15).
I am starting to think it is a problem with either the fan or the sensors and it might be worth chucking 50 quid at it or so before I have the hassle of getting a new one and getting rid of the old one?
1) evaporator sensor
2) freezer temp sensor
3) fridge sensor
4) new freezer fan
I would be in for about 60 quid at that point. when it all started to work yesterday afternoon after I cleaned the compressor the fridge went down to about 8 degrees which is obviously still not ideal but we were approaching an temperature which would have been vaguely acceptable.
if it is either of the following then it might be better to just bite the bullet and buy a new unit for £500 or so:
1) evaporator unit
2) compressor unit
what do we think? I did see the fan running in the freezer when I had unbolted everything, but, it didnt keep running, it ran and then stopped for a bit. presumably it then started back up when I put it all together again as the fridge then got cooler (8 down from 15).
I am starting to think it is a problem with either the fan or the sensors and it might be worth chucking 50 quid at it or so before I have the hassle of getting a new one and getting rid of the old one?
Edited by princeperch on Thursday 23 October 11:12
I had exactly this on an old Electrolux American fridge freezer. It was the defrost thermostat. Fairly easy to test with a multimeter to confirm.
Helpfully the part was discontinued in the UK but available in the US. An $18 part turned into about £50 after fees and shipping but still way cheaper than a new fridge!
Helpfully the part was discontinued in the UK but available in the US. An $18 part turned into about £50 after fees and shipping but still way cheaper than a new fridge!
Sheepshanks said:
The trouble is it could be anything, including the PCB.
Do you even know where those sensors are?
There never seems to be much info around to be able to diagnose refridgeration stuff. UK WhiteGoods used to be a helpful forum, but it's pretty quiet there now.
i think i can work it out - espares has an exploded diagram which is quite helpful. Do you even know where those sensors are?
There never seems to be much info around to be able to diagnose refridgeration stuff. UK WhiteGoods used to be a helpful forum, but it's pretty quiet there now.
LemonParty said:
We used to have a Samsung American fridge freezer, which after a while the fan internally in the fridge used to ice up. We found plenty of you tube video on ours how to take the insides apart and then defrost the fan - it was surrounded by a block of ice. Found that we'd have to do this annually to keep it going.
We had the same issue with a samsung apart from doing it annually , i just bought a repair kit .that might be a last resort!
I have purchased today;
1) freezer evaporator sensor (£15)
2) Evaporator Assembly (the thing that was frosting up) (£20)
3) a new evaporator fan (this is returnable apparently if it is not needed) (£17)
If the above doesn't work then I think i will replace the fan motor which might be 30 odd quid
after that I am all out of ideas and I think it will be time for a new fridge freezer.
I am in for £35 of sunk costs at the moment if you exclude the fan motor which can be returned apparently.
I have purchased today;
1) freezer evaporator sensor (£15)
2) Evaporator Assembly (the thing that was frosting up) (£20)
3) a new evaporator fan (this is returnable apparently if it is not needed) (£17)
If the above doesn't work then I think i will replace the fan motor which might be 30 odd quid
after that I am all out of ideas and I think it will be time for a new fridge freezer.
I am in for £35 of sunk costs at the moment if you exclude the fan motor which can be returned apparently.
Edited by princeperch on Thursday 23 October 14:25
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