What is wrong with my fridge?
Question:It started with the freezer not freezing and slowly the whole fridge stopped cooling. I took everything out. I turned down the temp and unplugged it overnight. tried it again this morning, didn't work. I opened the panel and cleaned the dust out. I know the motor is running, what I don't hear is the draining. do I need a new part? can't afford a repair man right now. Someone please help!! My fridge is only 5 years old. It's not dirty, nothing is frozen, motor works fine.what could it be?
Answers:
you need a multi meter. check voltage at wall outlet first. should be 110 or so. then you need to check the amp draw on the compressor. on the compressor name plate, you can see what the amp draw should be and what you are describing doesnt sound good. especially the slowly not cooling part. don't wanna scare you but i think your compressor/fridge is a goner. hope not! gl with it! compressor could be off on internal overload too. you need to check it out with multi meter so call a tech.
um with all respect, forget the leaking refrigerent part. domestic appliance only has about a 8 ounce charge...it's not "freon".
fridges don't even have valves for checking pressures. they are charged and sealed. unless it has been moved recently and damaged, the "freon" is in the coils/lines. after a tech checks the compressor and other stuff, he can install a valve to check refrigerent, and in that process the entire 8 oz charge will be lost any way. then he would have to repair leak, charge...nah it's not a leak.
did you notice soft ice cream a month ago or so? and it's been going down hill since? ouch!
hey ..its maybe the cooler is spoit.or somethin else.dude,the fridge has alot more parts then a mortor.its is spoit .it need to be repaired.and u cant afford 1 right now?i sorry the only way is to repair it.
Well, the real issue is the fact you will probably need a repairman to replace the proper part.
It may have leaked freon. You may have to have someone take a look.
1) If it's like mine, there's a small fan at the back fo the freezing compartment that wears out. If this happens, ice forms in the plastic pipe that it's blowing air into. This pipe leads into the bottom compartment, the fridge. If it blocks, no cooling below and maybe the thermostat system also stops your freon from cooling the freezer. Try twirl the fan with your finger. If no spin, or if noise on its shaft, change it. OR 2)Talk to your fridge and ask it wazza matter. If it's too sick to reply, calla doctor.
It's possible you have a leak and the refrigerant used in your fridge is very low or gone completely. Refrigerants are fluids that change their state upon the application or removal of heat within a system and, in this act of change, absorb or release heat to or from an area or substance. Many different fluids are used as refrigerants. In recent years, the most common has been air, water, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and methylchloride. Unfortunately, this is not a job for a novice. You need someone that can check out the system and then 1) find out what happened to the refrigerant. Like is there a leak and can it be fixed? And then be able to add more. 2) if it's not that, can the person troubleshoot the problem.
You started out correctly by cleaning it. But did you clean both the bottom and the back? Check the back of the unit where the evaporator (radiator looking thing) is. If this is clogged then you won't get proper air exchange. Take some canned air and blow everything out.If you noticed any frozen pipes when you went into the back that could have been caused by a clogged evaporator. If you didn't see ice on any of the pipes then dirt isn't your problem. Ice will form on the pipe because the heat exchange is not occuring due to reduced airflow through the evaporator.
You said the motor works fine, I assume that you mean the fan. Check the fan again to make sure it is running properly, you can feel good airflow. Sometimes the fan will turn still not be working properly. You'll know if it's working when you turn it on, you'll feel the air moving. Don't put you hand near the fan to see.
You can check to see if the compressor is working by checking the lines (pipes) coming out of the compressor. One will be very hot the other will be cold (ice cold). Be careful the high (or hot) line is verrrrry hot and will burn you. Plug the unit in and let it run for a few minutes, stay close to the fridge and watch and listen to the compressor (you should be able to hear the compressor start). You should be able to hear the compressor hum and shake a little. Check the two pipes coming out of the compressor (the compressor is the round black steel part). If both lines are about the same temperature then there are a few things that could be wrong. 1st and cheapest - the starter is bad - this is checked with an amp probe. 2nd and almost as cheap - the relay to the compressor is bad: check this by looking to see if the relay pulls in when you plug the unit in. 3rd and higher in price the freon is low - This is probably not the case since if you had a leak there wouldn't be any freon left and the compressor would have burned out (the freon also helps lubricate the compressor). Without freon the compressor will burn out. But if the low (or cold) line is slightly cool just not cold then you may have a real slow leak. A repairman can find the leak and replace the freon. Last and most expensive - the compressor is toast - If the relay makes contact and the starter is good yet the compressor isn't running (you should be able to hear if the compressor is running) then the compressor is bad and will have to be replaced. If both lines and the compressor case are all hot unplug the unit and call a repairman.
No point in guessing. Go directly to http://appliancequickfix.com/
for an easy to read overview of how your fridge works
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