Warm fridge

[IndianaResident]

I have a Frigidaire refrigerator in my house that has stopped cooling well enough in the last two days. I have no idea where to begin looking at it, so I thought I'd turn to faithful INGO for tips. I have googled it a bit but wanted hoosier opinions.

I don't know the date of manufacture as it was in the house when I moved in but it was a modern looking appliance. Items further back in the fridge are noticably cooler than items on the door, and the freezer seems to be working normally. Adjusting the temperature dial (to colder) will engage a motor (well something back there makes noise) but there is no real difference.

This fridge used to freeze water in the pitcher if it were set higher than 60% of its cold setting.

If its dead, alright, but I just look at fridges in other people homes that I know have had them for decades and feel as though there is something that can be done but I don't know where to start....

Thanks!

 

[Brandon]

may try pulling the unit out and cleaning off the coils in the back with a vacuum.
Or possibly a fan motor....

It may just be time to get a new unit as well.

 

[Rookie]

Check the freezer. Behind the back wall are coils that cools your refrigerator, if those are iced over, you will need a new defrost unit. Around $60-100.

 

[Kingpin]

a good cleaning of the coils and defrosting should help a lot . if it doesn't may need a repair person to look at it.

 

[gunman41mag]

make sure that the cables to the cooling fans isn't disconnected

 

[IndianaResident]

...I should caveat with the reason the online stuff isn't that helpful is that I don't know what all the parts they say by name are.

 

[jetmechG550]

Check the freezer. Behind the back wall are coils that cools your refrigerator, if those are iced over, you will need a new defrost unit. Around $60-100.

Or thermistor for about $12

 

[Brandon]

Have you pulled the fridge out and looked at the back/bottom side? Is it dusty or dirty down there or nice and clean? Also do you see a pan, if so is there water in that pan?

 

[gunworks321]

If you are not familiar with the parts and how they work go here:Appliance Repair Forum - Free Service from Appliance Parts Pros If you don't want to do this yourself call Duncan Appliance.

Mine did the same thing and ended up being the compressor. Not worth fixing.

 

[Colt]

I had the same thing happen to my relatively new GE refrigerator a couple of years ago. I searched youtube and found a lot of help. What I learned let me diagnose the problem as a small fan motor that had quit working. The fan moved cold air from the freezer into the fridge, if I remember correctly. Anyway, the various youtube videos taught me how to fix it myself for the cost of a $50 motor.

 

[actaeon277]

If the freezer is working normally, the compressor should be ok.
The fridge receives cool air from the freezer.
If the vent from freezer to fridge is frozen, no air gets to the fridge.

You're going to have to defrost that vent.
In 20 years, I've had to do that one.
Worked fine after. It just got overwhelmed, past where it could keep up.

 

[IndianaResident]

If the freezer is working normally, the compressor should be ok.
The fridge receives cool air from the freezer.
If the vent from freezer to fridge is frozen, no air gets to the fridge.

You're going to have to defrost that vent.
In 20 years, I've had to do that one.
Worked fine after. It just got overwhelmed, past where it could keep up.

There it was....all iced over at the back of the freezer. Some heat and time and everything is cooling properly again. Thanks!

 

[actaeon277]

There it was....all iced over at the back of the freezer. Some heat and time and everything is cooling properly again. Thanks!

Glad it was a cheap fix.

 

[jetmechG550]

There it was....all iced over at the back of the freezer. Some heat and time and everything is cooling properly again. Thanks!

If it does it again, it's most likely the thermistor. You can find the readings for it online and hit it with a multimeter. There's a place on the east side on Pendleton Pike just west (inside the loop) of 465. The guys in there will help out too and should have just about any part you need. I just can't recall the name, it's right by Menards.

 

[atvdave]

Warm fridge = warm beer.... Bad

Cold fridge = cold beer.... Good

Glad you got it fixed... I'm not sure on the new fridges, but the older one's use a defrost timer. They tend to stick sometimes, if it happens again you may want to look into it.

 

[actaeon277]

Warm fridge = warm beer.... Bad

Cold fridge = cold beer.... Good

Glad you got it fixed... I'm not sure on the new fridges, but the older one's use a defrost timer. They tend to stick sometimes, if it happens again you may want to look into it.

If it happens again.
Another thing to look at is moisture.
If the door seal is wearing out, you'll see a lot of moisture.
In fact, there is a puddle at the bottom of my fridge.
The seal is bad, and moisture gets in, then condenses. Just like your air conditioner.
Take a look at the seal.

Timer or thermister also. But I'd wait and see.