My new refrigerator's compressors sometimes run an hour and a half. Is this normal?

Hello Steve:

My name is Peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.
You do not have a problem. It sounds like your refrigerator is running normally.
Your compressor and fans will run based on the cooling demands set by you on your temperature settings. Once the temperature has been reached your compressor or fans will stop running.
If your compressor is running all of the time then you have a cooling problem.
You refrigerator will also shut down about every 8-10 hours for about 15-20 minutes. This is when your refrigerator goes into the defrost mode. Your refrigerator shuts down and the heater around the cooling coil turns on to defrost the cooling coil. This is where the term; "Frost Free", comes from.

thermostat

The cycle is controlled by an electric or electronic timer: For every six to 12 hours of compressor operation it runs a defrost heater element for about 15 minutes to a half hour.

If everything seems to be running as it should but it is not cooling, there is probably a problem with the freon or the compressor motor. it is possibly that the system has leaked freon, or the motor that pumps it has died.

However, if neither of these is the case. Sometimes turning the refrigerator upside-down and running it for a while (half an hour probably) and then turning it right side up again can get the freon flowing properly.


If that does not fix it then it is probably not worth fixing unless it is under warranty.

Hi,
That would be pretty much normal operation...

Many times a freezer and/or refrigerator do not work right because of a dirty condenser coil...there are also many other things that can go wrong.

If you are hearing a clicking or buzzing then check out the last two tips.

If your refrigerator is running but warm, then...

Check out this tip that I wrote about that... it is a great place to start trouble shooting your unit...and something that you can do rather then calling a repair person to do a simple thing for you...

Refrigerator Condenser Coil Cleaning Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Refrigerator Compressor

Refrigerator Compressor Start Capacitor and Start Relay

Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101

Is the fan running? Is the motor running? is the compressor running? Is the air cold? Is there water dripping in to the evaporator tray on top of compressor? Are the coils warm? It can take even longer sometimes I have seen 14-15 hours but not normally.

Try to remove rear wall of freezer to check frost pattern. An even but light patter of frost on full coil is normal. Coils full of frost with aluminum almost fully hidden generally means defrost problem. Heavier frost on the bottom coils and gradually tapering off as you go up until the top coils have no frost usually means a leak of freon or a bad compressor.

I think your fridge has a blockage in the system which can be caused by migration of refrigeration oil. The compressor comes on but then the system blocks up and the compressor cuts out on overload and there is no cooling action. You need to have the system flushed by a professional

check and see if fan working next to compressor

hi, this is not normal at all. this is a manufacturing flaw the resides in the compressor build. there is way to much pressure being produced threw the lines. the compressor regulator seems to be flawed in its design. i would recommend purchasing a aftermarket compressor Assembly for this unit. the noise itself is a dead give away for flawed compression in the core Assembly.