fridge freezer problem

[Heathcliff Bambino]

Couple months ago the fridge stopped being cold. It turned out the freezer was all frosted up to the point where the little fan in the back was blocked. I defrosted the freezer, made sure the fan was turning, and then everything worked fine for a while. Now, the freezer is starting to frost up again, and the freezer temperature is in the 20's. So far the fridge is still cold but I have a feeling we are going down the same road. What makes this happen?

It's a kenmore bottom-freezer fridge, and judging by the hairstyles in the operating manual, I'd say it's about 35 years old. It has 2 controls, a "cold control" which we keep at about 2 out of 5, any higher the stuff in the fridge freezes, and an "air control" which I think is supposed to balance the coldness between the fridge and freezer. We have to keep that at about 4 out of 5, or likewise the stuff in the fridge freezes. So in short, the compressor and all that seems to work just fine, it seems to be a control problem of some sort.

[jim]

you have just one control for the compressor and its the thermostat... it controls the temperature of the unit.. the other knob you see if the one that control the opening from the freezer allowing the cold air to come out to the refigerator from the freezer compartment where the cooling coil(evaporator) is located. if you are satisfied with the temp. in the freezer then you adjust the air flow with the other know and it will let the air out of the freezer to the rest of the refrig. so you will have cold drinks,etc.... once you are satisfied with the temp in the refrig.drinks, etc. then you can set the other knob, the adjustment for the COLD in the freezer... this might not make sense, but do this... turn off the refrigeratro by turning the know that controls the cold to OFF... you will hear the motor stop... now you will know what knob controls the compresser to the evaporator coil in the freezer....... turn it back on and follow the booklet you have.... the other knob just control the air flow from the freezer to the refrigerator part of the unit....

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

You have a defrosting problem. One of these items is defective. Defrost timer, defrost terminator, or the Defrost elements.

TURTLE

[jeff]

Hi,

*Sounds* like a frost free failure if white like snow....clear is more like icing and a possible drain issue.

If the refrigerator is not defrosting itself the frost will come back after your manual defrosting....defrosting it may just be removing the result and not the cause.

Some frost free helps....

jeff. Appliance Repair Aid

[Dan O.]

There's a problem in the fridge which needs to be corrected not just the symptom (frosting) removed.

If the frosting is occurring evenly across the whole evaporator (cooling) coil, you likely either have a defrost system problem as Turtle suggested or you have excessive air leakage into the fridge like from poorly sealing or ripped or cracked door gaskets.

You can read how the defrost system is suppose to function on frost free refrigerators at the following link.

How does a frost free refrigerator's defrost system work?

If the frost build-up on the evaporator coil is more in one place than the rest, you may have a refrigeration system problem ($$$+).

BTW. If you find you need any part for your fridge, you can find tips about what information will be needed to get the correct replacements in the 'Repair Parts' section of my site linked below.

Dan O.

- Appliance411.com

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[Stormin Mormon]

I was about to say that, too. I'd add that you should NOT call the sears guys -- that company is terribly expensive. Find someone nearby who does refrigeraors. It's a fairly easy fix.