Hi,
Don't know about Fridge explicitly, but:
1) Is the refrigerator really cold?
2) Is the freezer cold but not freezing?
3) Do you feel the fan blowing air in the freezer?
Sometimes the refrigerator temperature control is a flap that controls
how much freezing air flows into the refrigerator part.
Sometimes, the coils in the freezer get iced up, sometimes due to a
faulty automatic defrost circuit, sometimes due to less-than-effective
design, sometimes because the fan vents in the freezer are blocked by
frozen food, just too much humidity for the design, a blocked drain
hole/hose, or a combination of the above.
Mostly due to food blocking the vents, I would periodically have to
remove the frozen food, the fixtures in the freezer, and the bottom
plate that covers the coils. I would then use a hair dryer to melt the
solid block of ice on the coils, pausing periodically to empty the
defrost water tray under the refrigerator. Careful that you do not heat
any styrofoam too much as it will melt ... and quickly.
While you have it apart, check that the defrost circuit is working
properly
Looks like the coils are not frozen, so forget the defrost circuit. I
would check one other long-shot -- are the coils on the outside clean.
Is there a fan that is supposed to blow room air over the outside
coils. Is it working?
Did that happen all of a sudden, or gradually over time?
If it isn't the outside coils and/or fan, then, in my opinion, you
probably have a compressor that has gone bad or some of the freon has
leaked out.
The thing with the tubes is the compressor. Clean it all out...shut it
off for a few hours and then let it run and come back down to temp. It
may not have a problem at all...the pen blocking the fan would be a
problem.
A
freezer is a great item to have in your home. You
might not have space for it in your kitchen, but a chest freezer kept in
the basement or in the garage is excellent for storing frozen food.
Problems occur when the chest freezer refuses to work properly. If it’s
won’t cool properly to keep the food frozen, you need to take action
quickly before the food is ruined.
Defrosting System
If the freezer is definitely running but won’t get cold, you’ve
already eliminated one of the possible problems such as power shortage.
If a freezer is not cold enough, it could be due to a build up of frost
on the coils of the freezer. This will prevent it from cooling properly.
- One sign that this could be the cause would be the presence of frost
or ice on the inside of the freezer. It could be on the walls, the lid
or even on the freezer floor. Where this happens, it can often mean a
problem with the self-defrosting system which should kick in around four
times a day.
- If one part of the self-defrosting system isn’t working, the freezer
will still attempt to cool although it won’t do it as efficiently as it
should. This will gradually lead to a build up of frost on the
evaporator coils, which in turn can mean that the fan that circulates
the air isn’t able to draw air over those coils. You’ll still find some
cooling occurring as the coils themselves are cold, but it will be very
limited.
- To check, you’ll need to empty all the food from the freezer then
turn the thermostat off and leave the lid of the chest freezer open for
48 hours to allow the appliance to completely defrost. Turn the
thermostat back on to its proper setting and see if it cools properly.
- If it does, then you know the problem lies in the defrost heater,
the defrost timer or the defrost thermostat. Unless you are comfortable
working on appliances, consult a professional to fix the problem.
Lid Gasket
One reason for the chest freezer not cooling properly could be the
lid gasket. If it’s not making a proper airtight seal, the chest freezer
won’t cool in the proper manner. Check the gasket to make sure it’s
tight, fits properly and that nothing is stopping it from closing fully.
Make sure that none of it is perished. If there is a problem, you’ll
need to replace the entire gasket.
Condenser
The condenser on a chest freezer needs to be cleaned periodically.
The coils can become coated with dirt, dust, hair and other debris. If
the coating is too thick, they won’t cool efficiently which result in a
problem. To clean them, use a condenser brush along with your vacuum
cleaner to remove all the debris
Refrigerant Level and Compressor
Other things that could be causing the chest freezer not to cool are a
faulty compressor or a low level of refrigerant. In both instances.
you’ll need specialized equipment to check and repair. If you’ve
eliminated the other possible causes, the best solution is to call a
professional.
Good luck.