NewsletterJune02

Evaporator coils
Poor cooling is usually the result of a heavy frost build up on the evaporator coils. If there is any frost or ice build up on the inside walls, floor or ceiling of the freezer, there is probably heavy frost build up on the evaporator coils, which you can only see by removing a panel on the inside of your freezer.

What causes frost build up? Your self-defrosting refrigerator/freezer is supposed to defrost approximately four times in every 24-hour period. If one of the components in the self-defrosting system fails, the refrigerator will keep trying to cool, even though frost is building up. This eventually causes so much frost to build up on the evaporator coils the circulating fan can't draw air over the coils. Though there may still be some cooling, inadequate airflow over the evaporator coils severely limits cooling, especially in the refrigerator section.

There is an inexpensive, yet somewhat inconvenient, way to see if poor cooling is the result of a problem with the self-defrosting system. Remove all perishable food from the refrigerator and freezer. Turn the thermostat in the refrigerator to "off," and leave the doors open 24 to 48 hours. This process allows the refrigerator to defrost "manually." Be sure to have several towels ready in case the melting frost and ice cause the drip pan to overflow. When the frost and ice build up have completely melted away, turn the thermostat back to a normal setting.

If, after 24 hours, the refrigerator cools properly, you know you have a problem with the defrost timer, the defrost thermostat (aka the bi-metal switch) or the defrost heater. See our refrigerator troubleshooting section for a complete explanation of how these parts of the cooling system work and for troubleshooting tips. You'll also find a detailed appliance illustration for your refrigerator that will help you locate and identify parts involved in self defrosting.

If the refrigerator still does not cool properly, there may be a problem with the refrigerant level or the compressor. You may need to consult a qualified appliance repair technician to further diagnose the problem.

Condenser
Your self-defrosting refrigerator has a set of coils and a cooling fan, usually underneath it, that need regular cleaning. If the coils get coated with dust, dirt, lint, pet hair, etc., the refrigerator may not cool properly. The coils resemble a black radiator-like device behind the lower kick-panel. Before you clean them, disconnect the refrigerator from the power source. Then, use a refrigerator condenser brush and your vacuum cleaner to clean off any dirt, lint, pet hair, etc. It's hard to clean the entire condenser from the front, so you might want to clean it from the back of the refrigerator too. You can find a condenser brush in our accessories section.

The condenser fan is always located on the back of the appliance near the bottom. It is usually behind a fiberboard panel. The blades of the fan can be wiped clean with a damp rag.

More information
For more information about your refrigerator/freezer, including troubleshooting information, maintenance tips and detailed appliance illustrations, see our Appliance Repair Tips and Help refrigerator section.