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Next, take a few minutes to look at our refrigerator/freezer
detailed appliance illustrations to see where certain
parts are located:
Here
are some common things to check to determine your problem:
. evaporator
fan motor
. condenser
fan motor
. dirty condenser
. improper installation
. thermostat
. damper control (if equipped)
. defrost system
. freezer drain
. door seals
. age of the appliance
Evaporator
fan motor - This fan motor is located in the freezer
section. It circulates air through the evaporator coil
and into the freezer and refrigerator compartments.
If it's stuck, burned out, or worn, it may not spin
fast enough to distribute cool air. You may have to
remove the back wall of the freezer section to get access
to the fan. You may also have to push in the fan/light
switch in order to test the fan.
Condenser fan motor -
This fan motor is located underneath the entire appliance,
usually in the back. It blows air across the condenser
coil to dissipate heat from the coil. If the fan motor
is stuck or burned out, you'll have to replace it. It
should run whenever the compressor runs.
Dirty condenser - The condenser
coil is a black metal coil underneath the appliance.
It must be kept clean to allow heat from the coil to
dissipate. Use a condenser
brush and a vacuum cleaner for this task.
This is also a good time to clean the grill at the bottom
front of the appliance.
Improper installation - Refrigerator/freezers
need some clearance between them and cabinets, walls
and other appliances to allow for proper cooling. Read
your appliance user's guide to learn how much clearance
is needed for your unit. A good rule of thumb is one
inch on either side and the back and two to three inches
on top.
Thermostat - This device
calls for cooling. It's often replaced unnecessarily
when a cooling problem is discovered. The thermostat
usually reads the temperature in the refrigerator, not
the freezer. Refrigerator/freezers are designed to have
the proper balance in cooling capacity between the refrigerator
section and freezer section. See damper control.
Damper control - This thermostatically
controlled device allows more or less cold air into
the refrigerator section. It's often labeled as a "freezer"
temperature control. By adjusting this damper you'll
increase or decrease the amount of cold air directed
into the refrigerator, which helps balance the temperatures
in the two compartments. If it sticks or fails to open
or close, you'll have to replace it.
Defrost system - The defrost
system is usually made up of three components: the defrost
timer (or adaptive control board), the defrost thermostat
(or bi-metal) and the defrost heater. The timer regulates
when to begin a defrost cycle. The defrost heaters turn
on during a defrost cycle to melt any frost or ice build
up on the evaporator coils. The defrost thermostat protects
the appliance by turning off the heater when a certain
temperature is reached. Read more about these components
in our refrigerator
help section.
Freezer drain - While not
as common as other problems, it's possible for a freezer
drain to clog and allow water to freeze and stall the
evaporator fan motor. If this happens, you'll need to
clear any ice and water from the drain area and clear
the clogged drain.
Door seals - If either the
freezer or refrigerator door seal/gasket isn't sealing
tightly, air will be allowed into the freezer. This
will make the refrigerator work much harder to cool
air inside the appliance and may cause too much frost
and ice to build up on the evaporator, reducing the
cooling ability of the appliance.
Age
of the appliance - As refrigerators and freezers
age, the compressor becomes less efficient at compressing
refrigerant gas. This reduces the cooling potential
of the appliance. This problem is more noticeable when
outside temperatures rise in the summer months. When
this situation occurs, it's often more economical to
replace the appliance rather than replace the compressor.
You'll need a professional diagnosis and assessment
to make that determination.
We
hope this information helps you solve your refrigerator/freezer
cooling problems. More information is available on our website,
and our RepairGuru offers free email diagnostic help.
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