Re: Refrigerator Cooling Problems (General)
DISCONNECT POWER (UNPLUG) I am not responsible for your injuries; contact a qualified service technician if you are uncertain about any of these suggestions.
The first thing to do is to take a flexible hose of appropriate diameter and blow out the condensation drain tube. First, remove front grille and/or back bottom cover. The tube drains into drain pan near compressor. Reach in with hose from front or back of fridge (whatever is easier), insert hose in or over drain tube and blow into with your mouth. (All you're doing is cleaning tube of any debris which may be preventing proper draining of moisture condensate.) This condensate, if building up due to lack of drainage, can freeze close enough to temperature sensing device. Now system thinks refrigerator is cold when it is not, compressor does not need to run and you end up with warm refrigerator.*
This can also occur if defrost timer, heating element, and/or evaporator fan are faulty. Frost buildup, due to not be defrosted, can also cause the same condition as above. (If you are electrically competent, you can bypass timer and run heater and evaporator fan manually, for period of time, to see if this solves the problem. (You'll see water dripping from drain tube into pan) (If timer is not solid state you may be able to see if its motorized timing mechanism is turning) If running heater and evaporator fan manually solves problem than timer is bad. Also: Open doors and allow compartments to warm up and feel for air coming in thru vents into freezer and refrigerator. (you may need to hold door light switch(es) closed, light off) You should hear compressor turn on for this to occur. You may simply have blocked air passageways and/or an inoperative damper (present in some refrigerators).
* While you have front and back bottom panels removed, clean dust from coils.
(search the internet for a small enough vacuum cleaning tool to do the job)
I thought this site was quite informative: http://applianceguru.com/forum1
This depends on your preference. A refrigerator can be set to 35-50 degrees but around 37-40 should be an ideal temperature. It will limit the spreading of bacteria but not freeze your food. A freezer should be below freezing which is 32 degrees.
When water freezes in the freezer section of a refrigerator, the heat is typically removed by the refrigeration system which then releases it into the surrounding room. The heat is transferred outside of the refrigerator, contributing to warming the room slightly.
In most refrigerators, only the freezer is actively cooled by the compressor, while the refrigerator section relies on cold air being circulated from the freezer. There's usually insulation between the two compartments, and adjustable vents control how much of that cold air enters the fridge side. The temperature dial in the refrigerator doesn’t make the fridge colder directly—it just opens or restricts airflow from the freezer. If these vents get blocked, the fan fails, or the airflow is restricted by frost buildup, the fridge can warm up even if the freezer stays cold. Source : appliancerepair-sd dot com
AnswerPossible causes:vents between fridge and freezer sections are clogged with ice. Warranty guy told me to unplug 24 hours, replug and everything should work out.Fautly thermostatClogged/dirty evaporator coils (underneath in newer models, on back in older models)Bad "Adaptive Defrost Control Board", Google it, it's an easy fix, about $35 on ebay, just make sure you get the right one for your model fridge.
its not always at the bottom its just the way yours is made some other people have asked why is it at the TOP of the refrigerator so my answer is that its just a selective spot depending on what fridge you have. In fact, the majority of refrigerator/freezer combinations have the freezer on top. As mentioned in other posts, hot air rises and cold air sinks, so freezer-on-top models can transfer cold air to the refrigerator without using as much electricity as other models, making freezer-on-top models the most energy efficient refrigerators (generally speaking) that you can buy.
The purpose of the freezer fan in a refrigerator is to circulate cold air throughout the freezer compartment. This helps maintain a consistent temperature and ensures that food stays frozen. The fan also helps distribute cold air to the refrigerator section, contributing to the overall cooling process by keeping both compartments at the desired temperature.
Top-freezer refrigerators are generally the most energy efficient type compared to bottom-freezer and side-by-side models. This is because the freezer compartment is located above the refrigerator section, allowing cold air to stay in the freezer and prevent warm air from entering the refrigerator. Additionally, models with an Energy Star rating are designed to be more energy efficient overall.
When water freezes into ice in the freezer section of a refrigerator, the heat energy is removed from the water and transferred to the refrigerant in the cooling system. The refrigerant absorbs this heat as it evaporates, moving through the evaporator coils. This heat is then expelled outside the refrigerator through the condenser coils, allowing the cooling process to continue. Essentially, the freezer removes heat from the water and releases it outside the appliance.
There could be several reasons why your side by side refrigerator is not cooling properly while the freezer is working fine. One common issue is a malfunctioning evaporator fan, which circulates cold air from the freezer to the refrigerator section. Another possibility is a blocked air vent between the freezer and refrigerator compartments. Additionally, a faulty temperature control thermostat or a problem with the condenser coils could also be causing the issue. It is recommended to consult a professional technician to diagnose and fix the problem.
the freezer serves a very important role in our society without it food losses would be off the charts border line ludicrous... it makes sure the foods we are not going to be eating for a while stays good... freezeing it in time... so that we may eat it in the distant future... and because the refrigerator part doesnt get cold enough to freeze anything
One possible reason is because of the size of the freezer compared to the size of the refrigerator portion. If the refrigerator portion were placed over the freezer, then you would have to kneel down to use the freezer. Another part of it could pertain to convection. Cold air tends to circulate down. So with the right amount of gap between the freezer portion and the rest, just enough cold air can flow down to cool the refrigerator. So the evaporator coils are only in the freezer and yet can cool the entire unit. If the evaporator coils were on the bottom, then only the lower portion of the refrigerator would be cool since heat rises, and some of the cavity space would be wasted. So for simplicity and efficiency, the coils are placed on top and that this area is made the freezer. So they cool only the freezer and have a small opening to let the cold air come down (or warm air to come up to be more accurate) to reach the 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit needed for the refrigerator. Sometimes there is an adjustable damper there. The thermostat is just for the refrigerator in most cases, since if the refrigerator is within proper range, the freezer would be too, all because of the design. On those with a control for the freezer, that control generally moves a little damper (door). So the colder you set the freezer, the harder you are making the refrigerator portion to cool. Since the actual thermostat is located in the refrigerator section, the longer the compressor must run to make that compartment the proper temperature when you close the damper (by setting the freezer control colder).
If only the freezer works in your refrigerator, it could be due to a malfunctioning thermostat, which might be preventing the refrigerator compartment from receiving power. Another possibility is a blocked air vent, which restricts cold air from circulating into the fridge section. Additionally, a failing compressor or a refrigerant leak could also contribute to the issue, causing the freezer to operate while the fridge remains warm. It's advisable to check these components or consult a technician for a proper diagnosis.