Whirlpool upright freezer - 10+ yrs. old - light on - doesn't cool. Told freon leaking and not worth / couldn't repair??

pull the unit from the wall, remove the bottom back panel , see if the small fan is working ,if the fan is , there's probally alot of dust back there,unplug the fridg. and vacuum the area real good,use a flash light to make sure you get it all, if the fan is not working and the compressor is running the fan is the problem ,the fan keeps the compressor and coils cool so the freon can cool down so the unit works like it should,if the freon is hot ,the air the fridg.will be blowing will be hot. this should fix your problem, and YES its worth fixing.alittle p.m.saves alot of $$$$$$$$$

replacing leaking evaporator coil in this video on GE side by side

Hi,
The thermostat is bad....
You will need to replace that t-stat..

That is not that hard to fix and you can easilybuy the parts yourself online...

Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

How to Buy Appliance Parts Online

Here is one site that I recommend http://ping.fm/zJDAM
heatman101

Sounds like slow Freon leak. You might get an estimate over the phone before calling a technician, but I would think a 3-year old box is worth repairing. If the estimate is close to the replacement cost, that might not be the case.

Hi Pete,

I will take you up on the beer if we get this going.

If the fan is running and not cooling there is one thing that would be repairable other than that it is not worth it.

Go to the back of the freezer and at the bottom is the compressor (looks like a bowling ball, kinda anyway). Unplug the freezer, on the side of the compressor is a small black cover with wires going into it. Pry off this cover and you will see a couple of parts, these are the overload protector and relay.

Take a picture with your phone or digital camera so you know how they hook up then pull them off, they are tight but will pull straight off. If the relay rattles the part is bad, that simple. If not I will have to buy you a beer as you will most likely need a new freezer

if it needs freon then you have a leak somewhere check door gasket and see if coils are froze up

replacing leaking evaporator on GE side by side. Watch this video to understand why its so expensive to fix freon leak issues.

Hi, first check your coils on the back and make sure they are clean, then check the cover on the front bottom and make sure it is clean. If it is all clean and still running warm then it may need to be recharged with freon. At that point you should contact a heating/cooling technician to come out and recharge your system. They are the only ones licenced to handle the freon to recharge your cooling system on the fridge.

You may have a small leak in the evaporator. You could try to get a replacement freon with stop leak from the automotive store and give it a shot. If it is a R12 unit then it is too old to repair. But it is worth the gamble to shoot it with freeze 12 or an equivilent before you condemn it.

If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/dan_73bbd84fe1d95b61

Please don't rate this solution, as anything but FixYa brings my rating down, but here's what you've got:
You have a refrigerant leak (commonly referred to a Freon, but these days usually R134A refrigerant). Some refrigerant has leaked, so you are still getting some cooling, but there is not enough refrigerant left to cool throughout the entire evaporator coils. This is NOT a repairable condition, as the coils are foamed in place and not accessable for leak repair. If this unit is under 5 years old (typical sealed system warranty) the manufacturer will most likely replace your freezer with a new one. If over 5 years, you are out of luck. Buy a replacement freezer.