Refrigerator Repair (Not Cooling, Defrost System)
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2024
- The #1 Most Common Refrigerator Issue...Defrost Problems! Something as simple as leaving the refrigerator door open can strip 150 dollars out of your pocket. Learn how to fix common refrigerator and freezer problems; like my freezer temperature feels okay but the refrigerator is warm, or there is a fast ticking sound in my freezer. More refrigerator repair and troubleshooting help is available at applianceassistant.com/Refrig...
For proper appliance repair training I recommend training.fredsappliance.com - Jak na to + styl
![Refrigerator Not Cooling - How to Fix - What to Check [2020]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ocOW2GYxdTE/mqdefault.jpg)
This is probably the best refrigerator troubleshooting video I have ever seen. It covers various different scenario cases as well as gives a good overall understanding of how a fridge works, which is important when doing any troubleshooting.
As a technical support representative for Samsung home appliances UK, I find this video VERY helpful! A very easy troubleshooting tutorial for consumers, which can be used before requesting an engineer to come out to see your appliance.
Thank you for this great video.
If you have any questions let me know. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
@specialks1953 Thank you for your comment! I love making them too...Trying to get the word out about ApplianceAssistant Com so I can pay my bills and make more videos! Thanks again for the encouragement...That's a huge help for me!
Excellent video! Informative and well produced. I actually don't think the problem my refrigerator has corresponds to the ones discussed here, but it was still interesting to learn about the problems that can occur. Added to my favorites!
@djkaneck1 Great! Just keeping the settings on "factory recommended" in the middle should be good. Main maintenance tips would be...
1. to clean the dust out of the black coils under the refrigerator with a vacuum from time to time.
2. make sure the doors are not getting blocked from closing all the way by some rogue catchup bottle or ice cream container. Thanks again for watching, commenting, and sharing!
When I had it on medium it started working again. But I wanted it colder. Big mistake. Then I tried unplugging it now it doesn't work at all
@thegannclan Thank you for your comments! If I can help in any way let me know.
@meetmetoday Thank you! I've been working on a video for electric ranges three months now but it's just been so busy... I'm almost done with it so hopefully in a week or two I will have that one up. Thanks for watching and commenting!
It is difficult to cover every variation on one video, so its nice when attention is called to other methods. Thank you!
Thanks to everyone for leaving such encouraging messages! I had a fairly difficult day on Friday and it was a big lift to see that even though nothing seemed to be going right for me I was still able to help a few other people out with these videos! Thanks for the comments!
@Mxsmanic Thanks for the comment and add! I'm glad you liked it. If you need specific help with your refrigerator problem feel free to email your model number and symptoms through my website
ApplianceAssistant . Com Thanks again!
@MANOSW Thanks for the comment! Let me know how it turns out, or if you have any questions!
Well it was worth a shot... : ) that's a tough one to recognize because have not had a refrigerator noise compared with a old truck idling in a driveway before so I have no point of reference... that's a great description though! Can you post a short video or audio clip?
I can imagine you've helped save many people a bunch of money! You're a legend, thanks mate
This video is INCREDIBLE! You clearly state all the problems that could go wrong with the defrost system, how to diagnosis the problem and how to fix it. Over the summer, I am manually defrosting every 2 weeks. When I do it again in a few days, I will get my multimeter and figure out if its a bad sensor or a bad heating element and then try to fix it myself. A repairmen said it would cost $100 just to come to my rural location and diagnose the problem. I have a receipt left by the previous home owner showing he paid $200 to have the "defrost control board" replaced 10 years ago. Thanks to this video, I can determine, myself, for free, if that repair needs to be done again or if it is something else. THANKS!
Sorry for the delay. If the compressor is running and the unit is not cooling even though the fans are working you likely have a sealed system problem. I have more complete troubleshooting and repair suggestions on my website that may help. The link is in the description of the video. Good luck!
Amazing video. Thank you sir!
Tha'ts awesome! Watch very closely in the next few days to a week for frost accumulating on the back wall of the freezer! If you see frost it's an early warning that you have a mechanical problem and food loss is soon to follow. Hopefully you don't need it, but if you do, I have a lot of refrigerator troubleshooting content on my website. The link is in the description of the video. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Glad it helped!
Excellent video. It's great how it became more understandable when you put today's newfangled machines in context with the old ones (when we had to empty the whole thing and let it completely melt)
Your explanation helped me troubleshoot and am ordering a thermostat. I'll update what happens.
This explains a lot. My side-by-side Frigidaire's defrost stopped working and the freezer coil turned into a block of ice. With no air movement, everything started getting warm. The fridge repairman replaced the thermostat, but also said that the "board" should also be replaced at a cost of $300. He ordered the board, but for the 3 or 4 days before the part arrived, the defrost cycle operated normally both the fridge and freezer side were nice and cold. I kept checking the coil in the freezer and there was no ice buildup. I canceled any further repairs because the board was obviously not needed.
Thank you so much for uploading this! I was able to fix our refrigerator without a call to the repairman, or my dad. :D
8 years ago, if you're still alive, how long did your fix last
This is an old video but it’s still helping people like myself. This is the most succinct and easy to understand video I’ve come across and I’ve seen quite a few. Thank You!
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Great video - thanks for posting it, and for being so on top of responding to comments! Very informative stuff. I had no idea what the inner workings of a fridge looked like/how they functioned. I started paying attention when my fridge died due to the compressor crapping out. I didn't repair it myself, but learned about some sounds. No 'old truck' sounds, but it had an interesting buzzing. I posted my own "what is this?" video and got good responses
This is the best description of the "defrost cycle" I have seen. It helped me fix my Maytag fridge for about $25. You have a wonderful way of describing this technical defrosting process. Thanks!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Very Great.@@. This is Links buy Refrigerator product amzn.to/1lbDX2O. It very good & cheap. free shipping. with $199.00 you save $125.99. too great. thanks read.
Gary Batts
My assistant position
Thanks assistant manager
Thanks for the video, explaining where the fan was located in the freezer was spot on. Found the ice build up, the fan was hitting. Probably was my fault the vents were a bit covered. Cleaned it out, put the covers back and seems to be working fine.
@drewarkin It definitely sounds like you have found the problem. To be 100% sure you would need to check that the motor is receiving electricity and is just not functioning. If it is not receiving power then you would need to check all the connections up stream. the evaporator part number is W10189703 I could ship it to you for 48.95 (shipping included) Let me know if you have any other questions or I can help in any way! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks for doing this video, really helped me figure out how to diagnose and repair my old side by side fridge. My local appliance parts store was able to match me up with equivalent or universal parts that I needed, even though they were discontinued and not available.
I know you posted this nearly 10 years ago, but here in 2020 you sure helped point me in the right direction! Thank you for the lesson in the basics of how the auto defrost works. I'm sure that's my problem due to the back panel of the freezer just covered with frost, and after removing that panel I found the whole coil area caked with ice. I'm getting all that ice off so I can check the thermostat and heating element.
i'm old enough to remember my mom defrosting the fridge every month or so when i was a kid - thanks for bringing back memories.
THIS VIDEO HELPED ME FIX MY FRIDGE. I HAD NO MONEY TO HIRE A REPAIR PERSON OR BUY A NEW ONE. I WATCHED THIS VIDEO, UNPLUGGED FRIDGE OVERNIGHT AND PLUGGED IN WHEN I WOKE UP. THE FRIDGE WORKS PERFECTLY! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!
@TheSamajuma First thing you need to do is find out if the compressor is running or not. If it is not you need to try to find out if it is receiving electricity from the thermostat or control. Take a look at refrigerator troubleshooting on my website ApplianceAssistant . Com
If you have any questions feel free to email me through the site.
Great video. Well presented. Just the right balance of tech vs common sense.
Now THIS guy... knows how to communicate instructions. Thank you, sir!
@spray2009 if you think that the door was left open --and the freezer is still cooling-- unplugging the refrigerator and letting it thaw out will almost certainly fix it. However if the problem returns in a week or two, or the freezer is not cold then you may have a mechanical problem. There is a lot more troubleshooting help at ApplianceAssistant Com! If you have any other questions email me through my website with your model number and I may be able to help out with more info.
This video helped us get our side by side fridge working when it stopped cooling. The freezer door had been left ajar (more than once). To make things worse the air conditioning broke and the room temperature was in the mid to high 80’s. We removed the crispers and found the vent going from the bottom of the fridge to the coils on the freezer side was clogged with ice. Used a blow dryer to melt the ice and it started working again.
it's so informative! thank you very much, you helped a lot! I wish you good health and good luck! 😊
This is most helpful to explain how the defrost system works. I will give it one more try to unplug rather than just turn off before calling a repairman.
Somewhere around four years ago my refrigerator had stopped the defrost cycle. I've replace the defrost timer, heater and even the refrigerator thermostat, with no avail. I've been defrosting it manually for the whole time since; about every six months. Thanks to you sharing this video, I was able to locate the part that I believe I need to get it back on track. The bi-metal thermostat. Once it arrives, hopefully this will fix the problem. Thank you for sharing this video! You may have saved me $500 or more.
Darren W. Taylor props to you man. I'm like that too...never give up lolll
Thank you! I installed the sensor and it has worked like new ever since.
Darren W. Taylor sqsa
Darren W. Taylor
@bren3kids I hope so too! I would need a brand, model number, and a little more information to be able to give any suggestions. The noise may be the defrost heater?? but it should not work if the defrost thermostat is not cold..Is the, freezer cold? Perhaps the evaporator fan (the one in the freezer) is out, or having a problem.. Is the back wall of the freezer cold? You can email me directly through my website. ApplianceAssistant Com thanks for watching and commenting. I hope we can help!
thank you sir. my Samsung side by side 6 year old fridge is not cooling. freezer is ok. now i have the basics
Thanks for the tips!
That's what it's all about my friend! Good for you! and thanks for the comment!
Love your video, others break down to sections which can be confusing, I watched at least 10 others with no result, some were bored as hell but yours is the best.... thank you
I was just freaking out because my ice cream was melting and my ice maker wasn't making ice. This explains a lot.
You know what they say! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!
So a few months ago my fridge turned off one day and didn't turn back on. I learned about the defrost timer and how turning it with a screwdriver/giving it a tap can get it going again, which worked for me for a while. However, recently my fridge no longer goes into defrost mode, and the freezer/fridge have gotten warmer. The freezer part is cold enough to preserve food and get drinks cold but can't keep ice frozen and the fridge is only slightly below room temp. I've recently replaced the temp control thermostat but that didn't work. The screwdriver in the defrost timer no longer does anything but turn the fridge off after turning it a few times. Could replacing the defrost timer be the fix or did the issue get worse? Your video quality is very good btw, you are a real professional.
What did you do to fix your refrigerator cuz you literally verbatim described what mine is doing
Is your refrigerater running?
@SSgtJohnT Thanks for commenting! I'm glad it helped!
@MrMindShifter The defrost cycle should happen every 8 to 10 hours of compressor run time which is usually every few days depending on how often you open the door. If the food is frozen generally you are okay. Ice cream is an excellent indicator of proper freezer temperatures because it changes consistency very rapidly depending on temperatures. It's also a great reason to stock some ice cream :) Mechanically the thermostat is the only thing that may be causing large temp swings...
Hi I have a GE double swing door refrigerator , freezing very good but not defrosting , I change the defrost thermostat an same issue , please advise if I should change control board or otherwise .
Thank you
applianceassista
My duel unit. It can be fridge or a freezer keeps freezing up the bottom fan. What could be wrong with it?
Yesterday, I defrosted my freezer by removing the back panel & using a hair dryer to melt the build-up. My fridge works again, but I noticed more build-up this morning. What can I do to prevent this from recurring? Thanks in advance!
Check if fridge doors are closing. No air must enter e fridge.
@@collen6681 ya 9 years too late bro 😂
@@Justin-qc1hu😂
He probably bought new one by now😂
@arthouselandscape818 Sorry for the delay, its been a busy few days. You will need to do some voltage checking at the compressor to determine if the compressor is getting the electricity it needs or if the compressor is locked up or shorted internally. There is a lot more free troubleshooting help on my website. There is a link in the description of the video. once on the site search for "TROUBLESHOOTING COMMON REFRIGERATOR PROBLEMS" I hope that helps some!
Thanks a lot! Your video helps me understand what's wrong with our Zipel side by side fridge. It seems like in the freezer section, the heater does not activate to defrost the coils that's why the ice builds up and blocks the vents that blows cool air all the way to the top. Great video!
You took me from zero to hero! I fixed the fridge a couple weeks ago! I've since referred many people/friends/family to it as well :)
Question -- my friend left the door open overnight :/ Frost has been growing on the back freezer wall over the past 24-36 hours. I'm guessing that the defroster isn't given enough time on the cycle to melt it all away, hence the growing?
What can I do besides transferring all the food and airing it out? Can I manually advance multiple melt-cycles in a row?
I use a hair dryer to defrost mine every month. My refrigerator cost me 80 bucks and I am okay with it. It keeps a temperature of 40 degrees on a normal setting. Thanks for the video though it was thorough explanation. 👌🏼
Great instructions! Our fridge was not cooling for two days and I was able to identify the problem by watching your video and fix ours. Thanks for posting applianceassistant!
Just want to say thank you for education us about the malfunction of the refrigerator . That was priceless .
Sincerely. Thank you sir
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Glad you liked it!
I just want to say that your information is and was a good start but my issue was the Fan motor had fail. This should be considered as well because the defrost was working. So please check to see if the fan is turning.
Anthony Pass Thanks for highlighting the fans Anthony. Defrost issues are the most common. however, the evaporator and condenser fans are definitely something to pay attention to!
Awesome! I don't have the money to buy a new fridge, and I was about to look into calling a repair man. But now I don't have to. Very helpful! Lol
Hi, I am from Algeria. I have a certificate in repairing the fridge, air conditioner and washing machine. But I can not work in my country. Please help me to emigrate to your country and pay you money for your money.
عباس بوقندورة lol
@@user-zh4rf7cm4f Good sir, are you still looking to emigrate? We require human conscripts for an upcoming invasion in the Gliese 581 system. We intend to eat our enemies, and we will require over 700 refridgerator engineers to keep the flesh fresh while we fight on the ground. You will be treated well, you will receive food and wear clothes, and depending on the quality of your work you may be offered the opportunity of lifetime servitude under the Empire of Zakesht, not only for yourself but also your offspring.
Thank you. your video is clear, concise and easy to understand.The electronics are still confusing, I don't know exactly how to use a multimeter. But thank you, this is really helpful in understanding how the defrost cycle functions.
Congratulations!! keep an eye out for new frost in the next few weeks. hopefully nothing, but its always good to catch it before the refrigerator starts to warm up... Thanks for taking the comment!
Outstanding layman terms.
Here is a simpler way that we use instead of all these voltage checks, through on a amperage gauge, compressor running and cold air coming out should draw 1 to 2 amps, now turn the defrost timer till it click, on comes the heater 1 to 2 amps, now heater will run till cold temp thermostat reaches 45 degrees off goes the heater element, and you tested all that with out taking off anything. Wow.
MrMac5150 sorry I missed your comment from so long ago. I love using an amp meter! Very helpful. Thanks for the comment/ tip!
By far the best video on troubleshooting a faulty fridge/freezer I've seen. Thanks so much!
Seriously, this video is amazing! Freezer was cold, fridge was warm, door was ajar this morning when I woke up. Wouldn't cool down even after 5 or 6 hours. I pulled the freezer door and bins out and lo and behold the entire coil was covered in ice. Hit it with a hair drier, filled nearly the entire evap pan, then emptied said pan. While I had it all apart, I checked the thermostat for continuity just to rule it out and all was good and well there! Put it all back together and everything is running ship shape! Thank you!!!!
Nice! Thank you!
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There’s something about the American accent when spiked with intellect that really relaxes me
Really great video!, lays out the most likely scenario for refrigerator failure and some basic understanding of the circuitry involved…
Thank you! If you are getting frost up near the front by the door you may to check the door seals... But yes probably it will work. Just make sure the door is closing and sealing well. Good luck! Thanks for the question!
@genestermeister Thanks for taking the time to comment! I have never worked on a Zanussi refrigerator...now I am very curious. What are your symptoms and model number? Thanks!
HAHA thank you for the description! I could almost hear it... It "sounds" like the compressor is probably getting a little tired... Unfortunately there is really no way to tune up this motor. They can work that way for quite a while but eventually it will probably just give up. You may want to say your goodbyes now. Sorry : ( I hope your next refrigerator serves you as well!
just wanted to say thanks to this video for saving me a small fortune with my fridge freezer!
@p3dsman Thank you! The compressor should be running anytime the main thermostat senses that the appliance is not down at the proper temperatures, unless it is in a defrost cycle. If the compressor is running and it is just not able to get down to temp, try cleaning out the condenser coils, usually located under the refrigerator. If the condenser coils are clean and it still is not getting down to temp you may have a gas leak (not good) or perhaps the thermostat activating the compressor.
This is the most informative video I've seen on CZcams. Learned a lot from it. Thanks for posting.
@kenwoodprobes93 Chances are you would just need to replace the evaporator fan. At ten years it is almost certainly worth fixing. If you would like more model specific help trying to fix it yourself, you can contact me through my website. There is a link in the video description.
I want to say. I first watched your video in 2011, and 3 years later, it still comes in handy, let me explain how. We have the same Whirlpool-made Top-Freezer model that you showed in this video. We have one of those outdoor cabanas, and early this year our freezer door would bind just before fully closing, and none of us noticed it for a while, so, considering it is outside, you can only imagine how much humidity was going into the freezer.
The ice got so bad, that it blocked off the drain hole, and when the refrigerator went into defrost, the water from the melted ice started going though the air-return slots and making puddles on the refrigerator shelves below. Since we didn't have any thing that can spoil in it yet, I took one of the steps in this video. I shut it off by the circuit breaker (because it is easier than pulling it out to unplug it) and kept it off for 2 days, because I kept the doors closed due to pollen outside. I came back to it then, and the ice was all gone, and everything was nice and dry again, so I turned it back on. 2 weeks later, there is no more huge ice build up, or puddles on the shelves. Thanks again!
Thanks for posting this!
This is an absolute gold. I love this honestly. This video inspired me to get my appliance repair Springfield VA from S&E appliance repairs.
You just increase my fridge knowledge by over ninethousand points. Was able to clean it up proper (drain was clogged by ice) but i don't know if it's the de-icing cycle that's not working or if it was just the clog that caused the issue.
@23chilled I feel your pain! That's kind of why I started this project. Because you want to be sure its not some little 15-75 dollar switch, timer, or thermostat that would cause you to swap out a 500-3000 refrigerator at 5 years. Most compressors would not give out at 5 years... It happens, but very rarely.
My pleasure, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for the comment!
A great day to you, is there a video showing how to replace a defrost element
@@lystrawilliams9111unfortunately, I do not have one but there are likely other videos showing how to replace the one for your model. If you put your model number into one of the big parts dealers they will often have replacement instructional videos. Good luck!
Thanks very much. Very informative and helpful. With your video, I was able to find the broken part, replace it, and get back working again
Really good concise video.
@HackettMomma You should definitely try manually defrosting the unit first. You may have a mechanical defrost problem but it's always a good idea to try the manual defrost first. Especially on a weekend like Thanksgiving when the doors are likely to be left open on accident.
Also warm food in the appliance creates steam = frost = cooling problems. Good luck! If that doesn't do it email me through my website and we can figure it out. Thanks for the comment!
An excellent presentation here. My only mistake was not watching this one first. Two thumbs up!!!
@raymunddelossantos Thanks for sharing your experience! Fortunately it's not always going to be the control board if a person has the same symptoms. However, its good to point out that the control devices used to energize individual components can also be the source of some problems. Thanks again!
Thank you for giving your knowledge in such a way that is easy to understand. I do have a problem with my Kenmore Frig. The freezer has not been freezing right for a little while. It is on the bottom of the system and I just thought that when we shut the frig part that the freezer door would open and that was causing the problem. While the other night the outside of the freezer part was very hot to touch. I pulled it out and the dust that was on the back was as thick as a piece of felt.
@washrooms Take a look at the troubleshooting refrigerator problems page on my website (link is in the video description.) Click on "Checking the compressor and start relay." in the "Select the problem that best describes your refrigerator's symptoms from the list" (last one) That may help you to narrow down what you are dealing with. If the compressor is not running ether the board is not sending electricity for some reason, or the compressor or start relay is bad.
Yes there are many different kinds. Most are just process of elimination... check the heater and the thermostat and if the doors were not left open then it is probably the control. Some GE refrigerators have a thermistor that should read about 60Ω of resistance when 0ºF that is how the control board knows when to activate a defrost cycle. But most just have the three defrost components and no sensor. Hope that helps! Thanks for the question!
This video may have saved Christmas at our house. Now we can buy gifts and not a fridge! The instructions were easy to follow and in terms I could understand. Awesome!
@DavinaDrones That is an excellent point! Putting warm food into the refrigerator can cause frost to accumulate and block air passages. The defrost system should be able to correct that over a small amount of time if it is working properly. However, even short rises in refrigerator temperature can greatly reduce the life of your stored food.
@MrMindShifter I would need a model number to be sure on your second question. Is you freezer food frozen? While 40º is not the greatest it is a fairly normal hi-side temperature especially if you have the door open checking the temp. It sounds like it's working okay to me...
@Mutalator182 About 98% of the time, letting it thaw out should fix it of the time from what you've described (door being left open, freezer very cold, fridge warm). Better with the doors open, that way you are sure all of the air ducts have melted completely. Sometimes the ducts won't fully thaw it the doors remain closed. Good luck! Thanks for the comment!
I hope so! I have been so busy with repair work I have not had time to put another one together... However, I have video, and a script that is about 75% done for a very common new washer design (with lost of issues) so I hope to get that up in the next few months! Thanks for your interest!
@applianceassistant thanks for the reply and sorry for not getting back to you sooner but the holidays were insane as usual. we did end up getting a new fridge. we got a good deal and could not be happier. thanks again for your time.
Thank you very much. My Frigidaire is not cold enough and I am going to check out this information. I really appreciate your assistance.
Thank you👍. The refrigerator was practically the exact refrigerator I was troubleshooting.🙂👍
EXCELLENT VIDEO, thank you!!! Amazing to find something so well made and informative in an age when CZcams is becoming saturated with useless videos.
Thank YOU! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
This is the best video to explain the fundamentals, THanks
@suztexas Possibly.. It is probably the overload/start relay that is plugged onto the three side pins of the compressor. There is some information for testing the relay on my website. (link in the description of this video.) I can't post a working link in the comments on youtube :( relay help is at the bottom of the Troubleshooting Refrigerator Problems page. Email me through the site if you have questions so I can write a more detailed response. Hope that helps!
Oh yea a 120VAC short to neutral or ground will spark a lot more than that! I was just jumping the circuit into a defrost cycle :) Thanks for the comment!
This video is perfect! What fortune that they're working on my exact model of fridge!
Thanks this was great. My side by side fridge is not working as well as it should be. My bi-metal thermostat was closed when tested. Once I warmed it up out of the block of ice it opened. I also had resistance on the heat elemenet. So it has to be the defrost timer.