Hello all,
My 11-year old Whirlpool ET18NKXDN01 refrigerator always ran a lot and noisier relative to other refrigerators, but recently I noticed it runs pretty much all the time now. The door is not opened frequently, so you'd think it would shut off for long periods of time, but it ran non-stop all weekend.
It is cooling and freezing as it should (middle settings on both), but there is a lot of humidity inside. No water is collecting in the bottom of the compartment, but the sides of the freezer and the food compartment are damp and condensation forms the minute the door is opened. I do not have an ice maker and the tenperature of the room the unit is in is generally around 74 degrees F. I don't know anything about refrigerators but it seems to me like it's stuck trying to defrost the freezer? I vacuumed the coils under the unit as best I could given the limited room from the front; I'd probably have to take the back panel off the bottom of the fridge to get at them (assuming this doesn't damage anything -- the fridge is "working" so I'd hate to run the risk of messing something up.) When I was vacuuming I noticed there was water in the drip pan, so I'm assuming this is not clogged?
I'm trying to determine what I should do. If it's probably something simple, then, fine, I'll call for service. But if there are odds it's going to run me $200+, that would be the motivation for me to go out and try to find a quieter running unit.
If a new unit is the way to go, suggestions for quieter ones are appreciated. When I bought the one I did, I never thought about the noise level it would generate.
Also, if it's on the verge of dying, guesses as to how long I might have to get a replacement would also be appreciated.
Thanks much!
MMoniker