Freezer runs too cold

May 18, 2011 27 Replies

GE chest freezer, 6 years old, something like 19 cubic feet, model FCM7DRBWH.



The temperature runs to -15 to -10 degrees F when I have it on the warmest setting, which is to say it is colder than what I want, namely 0 degrees.



I am afraid it may be wearing out its compressor.



What is probably wrong?



Thanks.



parts diagram:

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owner's manual:
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How much food is in your freezer ?

It sounds like it is almost empty if it is maintaining temperatures like that on the warmest setting (which is 1 on your freezer)...

~~ Evan

Defrosting? What model and brand?

diagram:

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It is full, but not packed tightly. The food is in cardboard boxes, but it doesn't nearly fill all the space.

Not self-defrosting, although I have never defrosted it yet in six years. I don't open it much. The frost looks about 3/4" at the thickest, but mostly more like 1/2". Maybe frost covers 15% of the inside. Most of the inside has no frost.

GE Model FCM7DRBWH, as mentioned in the OP. See the OP for documents.

I would try defrosting. Maybe the ventilation ducts were all clogged...

Sorry for missing that.

I don't believe there are any ventilation ducts. It is just a chest freezer, not a refrigerator/freezer.

Probably not any ventilation ducts as it is not self defrost. But the thermostat sensor may be cover in ice. Anyway, it should be defrosted. We have an upright that needs it after a humid summer even though we have central air. We try to do it once a year. We did it this past fall on a day where it was cold outside. As the freezer is only 3' from a door, we shoved the food outside while doing the defrost. But if the frozen food is kept in a pile and maybe covered with a blanket, it's not a problem.

is the compressor running ALL the time, NEVER shuts off?

can you get the compressor to shut off by turing the temper control knob?

Mark

Fully defrost it, this is a very common problem, both with freezers and refrigerators. Plus it's cheaper to do than buying anything in the way of parts..

diagram:

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Hi, Tried to adj. 'stat? Usually mounted in the back near the compressor.

diagram:

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Okay, I'll do that, I guess.

But the owner's manual does not mention frost as a cause of too-cold temperature.

diagram:

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Ummm, do you mean some thermostat other than the "cold control"? That is what it is called in the parts diagram. It seems to be the same as what the owner's manual calls the "temperature control", which is on the front side, to be adjusted routinely by the user.

What adjustment do you mean in the back near the compressor?

diagram:

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Yes, but it does happen in some cases. Empty the freezer, leave the lid open, and pull the plug. Leave it overnight, or until all the ice is melted. Put the frozen food in a cooler or some such. I have a few summer parties at my house (I have a big inground pool) and I have 2 big Igloo coolers. One for beer and one for soda. I have put frozen food in them when I had to defrost my old fridge/freezer that sits in the garage (due to a frozen valve in the open position, which turned the whole unit into a freezer, and froze everything stored in the fridge section).

diagram:

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even faster: empty the freezer and aim a small fan at the open door. my small freezer can be de-iced in about 20 minutes that way.

=3D=3D And after defrosting set so that the temperature is -15 F to -20 F which is where they should be for proper storage of frozen food. Near

0 F is too warm. =3D=3D

I'd want to freeze stuff at those temperatures. I don't see it as a problem.

Seems to me if it's a mechanical thermostat they usually go bad by going higher in temp. A digital model can have a thermister going bad, or the electronic reference is going bad sometimes caused by the power supply going bad. It's not the compressor, or congestion, unless the sensor is obstructed by food, or dead bodies.

Greg

In looking at the PDF first thing wrong is there is no picture of device which all good manuals should hhave at beginning. Second problem not even one diagram what or where is temp control. Next question, where and how do yo measure, and have you checked top to bottom ?

Greg

If the freon is low or clogged, it will be colder near top.

Greg

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