fridge problem

by8auj6csd3ioq

What is wrong when a fridge will go from too cold to too warm. You have to twist the dial before you hear compressor i think it is called and then twist it back to tuen it off. it should go on/off to keepthe temp at chosen level

coylemj

It sounds like a problem with the thermostat which should be automatically doing what you are doing manually - turning the compressor on and off. Have you defrosted it lately?

railer201

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

What is wrong when a fridge will go from too cold to too warm. You have to twist the dial before you hear compressor i think it is called and then twist it back to tuen it off. it should go on/off to keepthe temp at chosen level

Is the fridge located in a very cold room ? Fridges have to go to about 5 deg C to cut in and sometimes they won't cut in if the room temperature is too low. I just mention this as I had a fridge acting up recently and this was the problem. The fridge is located in a utility room which isn't heated - when room temperature returned to 10 deg C plus, the fridge returned to cutting in automatically.

by8auj6csd3ioq

It sounds like a problem with the thermostat which should be automatically doing what you are doing manually - turning the compressor on and off. Have you defrosted it lately?

The thermostat has continuity at room temp. Does that mean it is Ok or is there something that it may not have continuity at lower temps? Letters on it  L/ C/ H . Is thaT Live? Common? and H is ?
It does not need a defrost. Thanks

by8auj6csd3ioq

railer201 wrote: »

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

What is wrong when a fridge will go from too cold to too warm. You have to twist the dial before you hear compressor i think it is called and then twist it back to tuen it off. it should go on/off to keepthe temp at chosen level

Is the fridge located in a very cold room ?  Fridges have to go to about 5 deg C to cut in and sometimes they won't cut in if the room temperature is too low.  I just mention this as I had a fridge acting up recently and this was the problem.  The fridge is located in a utility room which isn't heated - when room temperature returned to 10 deg C plus, the fridge returned to cutting in automatically.

No- kitchen.

railer201

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

No- kitchen.

Ok - the fridge should cut in and out automatically and not run continuously. You can test this by starting it up manually - rotate the dial to max.

When it starts, rotate the dial back to a low setting say 1 or 2, and see does it cut out, you may possibly have to wait a while if the fridge is warm.

If it does cut out, rotate the dial up slowly towards max and note the setting it cuts back in at. If it does the thermostat is operating ok.

Leave the dial mid-range usually 3-4 and check the fridge (not the ice-box) temperature internally - it should be circa 5 degrees C.

A lot of fridges won't cut out on the max setting - usually 7 - so bring dial back to a setting where the fridge compressor cuts out.

The cold cut out, warm cut in cycle can be quite slow, fridges can be stopped for a few hours before cutting back in, depending on surrounding temperatures.

by8auj6csd3ioq

railer201 wrote: »

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

No- kitchen.

Ok - the fridge should cut in and out automatically and not run continuously.  You can test this by starting it up manually - rotate the dial to max.  

When it starts, rotate the dial back to a low setting say 1 or 2, and see does it cut out, you may possibly have to wait a while if the fridge is warm.  

If it does cut out, rotate the dial up slowly towards max and note the setting it cuts back in at.  If it does the thermostat is operating ok.

Leave the dial mid-range usually 3-4 and check the fridge (not the ice-box) temperature internally - it should be circa 5 degrees C.  

A lot of fridges won't cut out on the max setting - usually 7 - so bring dial back to a setting where the fridge compressor cuts out.

The cold cut out, warm cut in cycle can be quite slow, fridges can be stopped for a few hours before cutting back in, depending on surrounding temperatures.

I have done all that. The compressor does not go on and off to keep the temp steady

Icsics

Defrost...clean all dust from under & behind fridge

railer201

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

I have done all that. The compressor does not go on and off to keep the temp steady

Is the compressor cutting in and out on a mid range dial setting even if it takes a couple of hours for it to do so ?

There is variation in the internal cabinet temperatures and I would expect around 7 deg C before cut in and down to 2 deg C at cut out. If you're not getting these type of temperatures then I would suspect the thermostat is not functioning correctly and would replace it. There are some useful videos on YouTube on fridge thermostat replacement.

Another simple but crude check is place a container of water in the ice-box and see if it freezes and stays frozen over 24 hours. The reason I mention checking whether the fridge is cutting in and out over time, is that in dealing with a recent fridge fault, not once did it cut in when I was beside it, due to the mentioned time interval being too large.

by8auj6csd3ioq

"Is the compressor cutting in and out on a mid range dial setting even if it takes a couple of hours for it to do so ?"

No as i said in op it won't cut in and out unless i turn the thermostat manually

I set it as it was for years and the fridge gets too warm.
So I turn thermosta to a higher number until the compressor starts
The fridge gets too cold, milk has frozen solid
Then i have to turn it to a lower number to get the compressor to stop
Then it gets too warm again. I have to manually turn it every 24 hours

I have tried turning it to a higher number until the compressor starts and thenturning in back down to see if it will even out. But the compressor keeps going. Now all i am trying to figure is if it is worth repair. I prefer to keep it if possible as it was a present from somone who has since died

Thanks. it is hard to explain

railer201

Delilah Wailing Smile wrote: »

"Is the compressor cutting in and out on a mid range dial setting even if it takes a couple of hours for it to do so ?"

No as i said in op it won't cut in and out unless i turn the thermostat manually

I set it as it was for years and the fridge gets too warm.
So I turn thermosta to a higher number until the compressor starts
The fridge gets too cold, milk has frozen solid
Then i have to turn it to a lower number to get the compressor to stop
Then it gets too warm again. I have to manually turn it every 24 hours

I have tried turning it to a higher number until the compressor starts and thenturning in back down to see if it will even out. But the compressor keeps going. Now all i am trying to figure is if it is worth repair. I prefer to keep it if possible as it was a present from somone who has since died

Thanks. it is hard to explain

Clearly the thermostat appears to be at fault, if you're into DIY then it could be worth a shot ok., In the meantime while you make up your mind regarding repair or replacement, if you can put your hands on a plug in 24 hr timer (cost about €5) use it to switch the fridge on and off automatically, about half an hour every two hours, see how it goes and alter the intervals to suit as weather gets milder etc. Put the fridge on max setting to switch it on. Be prepared to alter the intervals to suit and use a thermometer to check the temperature. You can also put a small container of water in the fridge cabinet if you don't have a thermometer to hand and set the timer to maximum cooling. If water turns to ice, back off with the cooling. Hope that helps for the time being anyway.