Fridge running warm, help troubleshooting?

Hi all, I have no prior experience with anything to do with heating/cooling, so please bear with my ignorance.

I have a Hotpoint refrigerator, Model #CSX22GRBGWWC. It came with the house I bought 4 years back no I'm not sure how old it is, but it looks "modern".

Recently noticed my ice cream was not as firm as it should be, so I checked the fridge thermometer and the fridge is up to 50*F. Cranked the cold levers all the way to cold, but no change. I vacuumed the huge amount of dust out from the bottom, but after two days the fridge is still 50*F. Freezer is about 20*F.

Looked around in the back and I see that there is a fan blowing on the compressor. I have checked this a variety of random times over the last few days, and the fan is always running. The compressor is always hot to the touch, with one tube to it always quite hot and the other tube always quite cold. This all seems good. I'm assuming that this combined with the fact that the fridge *looks* relatively new should mean that I'm probably not leaking/low on freon.

I'm not sure if it is continuous, but I definitely noticed that at least some of the time there is cold air blowing at the top of the freezer compartment, and it feels very cold to my hand. Probably it is still only 20*F though, since this is right where I stuck the thermometer. The thermometer suggested a max temp of 0*F for the freezer, and I believe it since my ice cream is still soft :)

It wasn't obvious to me how to get the back panel off when I glanced, but I think this is the next step I need to pursue. After searching around, my best guess is that perhaps the defrosting electronics are constantly heating, which the fridge is then not able to overcome to bring the temp down.

I guess my questions are this: (1) Do you expect that the back of the fridge should definitely have a panel that I can open? Or could it be I need to empty out the fridge and look for access from within the freezer compartment?

(2)Does my guess of a defrosting issue sound likely at all?

Thanks much! Adrian

Reply to
ahains.mapSoN
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Adrian,

You should be able to locate the small defrost timer on your fridge. If it sticks in the "on" position, then your fridge is stuck in defrost mode. My first suggestion is to observe the timer and check it periodically to see if it is moving. If it isn't moving, then you can usually move it manually to get it into a position in which the defrost mode is off. That buys you some time to go purchase a new timer and install it (or remove and repair the old timer if you are so inclined).

Good luck, Gideon

=========

I have a Hotpoint refrigerator, Model #CSX22GRBGWWC. It came with the house I bought 4 years back no I'm not sure how old it is, but it looks "modern".

Recently noticed my ice cream was not as firm as it should be, so I checked the fridge thermometer and the fridge is up to 50*F. Cranked the cold levers all the way to cold, but no change. I vacuumed the huge amount of dust out from the bottom, but after two days the fridge is still 50*F. Freezer is about 20*F.

Looked around in the back and I see that there is a fan blowing on the compressor. I have checked this a variety of random times over the last few days, and the fan is always running. The compressor is always hot to the touch, with one tube to it always quite hot and the other tube always quite cold. This all seems good. I'm assuming that this combined with the fact that the fridge *looks* relatively new should mean that I'm probably not leaking/low on freon.

I'm not sure if it is continuous, but I definitely noticed that at least some of the time there is cold air blowing at the top of the freezer compartment, and it feels very cold to my hand. Probably it is still only 20*F though, since this is right where I stuck the thermometer. The thermometer suggested a max temp of 0*F for the freezer, and I believe it since my ice cream is still soft :)

It wasn't obvious to me how to get the back panel off when I glanced, but I think this is the next step I need to pursue. After searching around, my best guess is that perhaps the defrosting electronics are constantly heating, which the fridge is then not able to overcome to bring the temp down.

I guess my questions are this: (1) Do you expect that the back of the fridge should definitely have a panel that I can open? Or could it be I need to empty out the fridge and look for access from within the freezer compartment?

(2)Does my guess of a defrosting issue sound likely at all?

Thanks much! Adrian

Reply to
Gideon

Hi,

Nope.

Empty out the freezer and the back wall inside the freezer covers the evaporator/cooling coils.

Nope....rare to have that!

*Some* common trouble makers....
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jeff. Appliance Repair Aid
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Reply to
Appliance Repair Aid

I did some exploratory surgery last night and found this to be the case, everything was behind the false wall of the freezer section. The problem was then readily apparent that the defrost is not working properly - the evaporator stuff was completely buried in frost. I let it defrost overnight, and I now see the defroster heater and the defroster thermostat. Looking at my wiring diagram, I see where the defroster control should be (top of fresh food section), so I'll start doing the defrost troubleshooting outlined at the site you referenced.

Thanks for the tips, I think I may have proper refridgeration before long! :)

-Adrian

Appliance Repair Aid wrote:

Reply to
ahains.mapSoN

I have a Hotpoint refrigerator, Model #CSX22GRBGWWC. It came with the house I bought 4 years back no I'm not sure how old it is, but it looks "modern".

Recently noticed my ice cream was not as firm as it should be, so I checked the fridge thermometer and the fridge is up to 50*F. Cranked the cold levers all the way to cold, but no change. CY: Turning up the thermostat only helps if the rest of the fridge is working.

I vacuumed the huge amount of dust out from the bottom, but after two days the fridge is still 50*F. Freezer is about 20*F. CY: Vacuum is always the first step. Well done!

Looked around in the back and I see that there is a fan blowing on the compressor. I have checked this a variety of random times over the last few days, and the fan is always running. The compressor is always hot to the touch, with one tube to it always quite hot and the other tube always quite cold. This all seems good. CY: The fan running all the time means that the cold control (thermostat) is always calling for cold. So, the compressor is running full time.

I'm assuming that this combined with the fact that the fridge *looks* relatively new should mean that I'm probably not leaking/low on freon. CY: Who can tell?

I'm not sure if it is continuous, but I definitely noticed that at least some of the time there is cold air blowing at the top of the freezer compartment, and it feels very cold to my hand. CY: Cold air blowing is good. If the freezer is frosted over (defrost problems) there won't be any air blowing.

Probably it is still only 20*F though, since this is right where I stuck the thermometer. The thermometer suggested a max temp of 0*F for the freezer, and I believe it since my ice cream is still soft :) CY: Sounds right.

It wasn't obvious to me how to get the back panel off when I glanced, but I think this is the next step I need to pursue. After searching around, my best guess is that perhaps the defrosting electronics are constantly heating, which the fridge is then not able to overcome to bring the temp down. CY: I can think of a few other possible problems.

I guess my questions are this: (1) Do you expect that the back of the fridge should definitely have a panel that I can open? Or could it be I need to empty out the fridge and look for access from within the freezer compartment? CY: Depends what you want to get to. What part do you want to service?

(2)Does my guess of a defrosting issue sound likely at all? CY: Defrost problem will result in low air flow in the freezer and refrig. It's very possible. Sounds very likely, as one tube off the compressor is "always cold". The smaller tube off the compressor should be hot, and the larger one should be room temp or slightly warm (conducted heat from the warm compressor).

Thanks much! Adrian

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

You should be able to locate the small defrost timer on your fridge. CY: Lets give the guy some clues. Please tell him what one looks l ike, and where it's likely to be.

If it sticks in the "on" position, then your fridge is stuck in defrost mode. CY: Not the problem here. Condensor fan running, remember.....

My first suggestion is to observe the timer and check it periodically to see if it is moving. If it isn't moving, then you can usually move it manually to get it into a position in which the defrost mode is off. That buys you some time to go purchase a new timer and install it (or remove and repair the old timer if you are so inclined). CY: Not an issue here. Compressor running, remember? Might be stuck in "run" mode.

Good luck, Gideon

=========

I have a Hotpoint refrigerator, Model #CSX22GRBGWWC. It came with the house I bought 4 years back no I'm not sure how old it is, but it looks "modern".

Recently noticed my ice cream was not as firm as it should be, so I checked the fridge thermometer and the fridge is up to 50*F. Cranked the cold levers all the way to cold, but no change. I vacuumed the huge amount of dust out from the bottom, but after two days the fridge is still 50*F. Freezer is about 20*F.

Looked around in the back and I see that there is a fan blowing on the compressor. I have checked this a variety of random times over the last few days, and the fan is always running. The compressor is always hot to the touch, with one tube to it always quite hot and the other tube always quite cold. This all seems good. I'm assuming that this combined with the fact that the fridge *looks* relatively new should mean that I'm probably not leaking/low on freon.

I'm not sure if it is continuous, but I definitely noticed that at least some of the time there is cold air blowing at the top of the freezer compartment, and it feels very cold to my hand. Probably it is still only 20*F though, since this is right where I stuck the thermometer. The thermometer suggested a max temp of 0*F for the freezer, and I believe it since my ice cream is still soft :)

It wasn't obvious to me how to get the back panel off when I glanced, but I think this is the next step I need to pursue. After searching around, my best guess is that perhaps the defrosting electronics are constantly heating, which the fridge is then not able to overcome to bring the temp down.

I guess my questions are this: (1) Do you expect that the back of the fridge should definitely have a panel that I can open? Or could it be I need to empty out the fridge and look for access from within the freezer compartment?

(2)Does my guess of a defrosting issue sound likely at all?

Thanks much! Adrian

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Wasted a lot of bandwidth there, Stormy. You could have shrunk your entire message down to, "Oops, looks as if you forgot that the condenser fan is still running."

Reply to
Gideon

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