OT: Fridge too hot

[Mark]

Hi,

We have a Samsung SR-L36 Fridge/freezer. It's a single compressor frost free model with fridge on top and freezer at the bottom. Recently (in the hot weather) we have noticed that the fridge temperature is too high (up to 12C). The freezer is fine at below

-20C at present, although it did frost up once or twice recently.

We have turned it up to the maximum and it has not helped the fridge. The compressor runs infrequently as normal. It is heavily loaded as we have a big family. Can anyone give advice on how to diagnose this problem? It seems to have an eletronic thermostat and the controls are 5 LEDs on the front panel.

Maybe someone knows where I could get a repair manual for this?

It's not old at about 4 years.

TIA, Mark

[Andy Cap]

If it's actually faulty I don't know the answer BUT we have noticed our fridge appears to be struggling of late, due obviously to the prevailing conditions.

If however I check the thermometer first thing in the morning, it is still always between 0 - 5 as usual, which is the right temperature for a fridge.

I have come to the conclusion that frequent visits and being in the habit of leaving the door open while you pour out the milk, that kind of thing, means it has to work extra hard, re-cooling the air each time.

We have tried to be a bit more thoughtful about how we use it and more careful in not leaving the door open for longer than absolutely necessary and I'm convinced now that there's nothing actually wrong with it at all.

Andy

[Dave Liquorice]

Single compressor units sometimes only have a stat in the freezer part. Provided the freezer part is cold the compressor won't run and cool the fridge as well. Easy to test for open the freezer a few times to get the compressor running and monitor the fridge temp, if it returns to normal there is your "problem". It's not a fault as such just the system getting near to its desgin limits and assumptions about how quick the freezer warms up.

[Paul]

One of the most common reasons for your problem is that the AUTO Defrost is not working properly.

If the evaporator in the freezer is starting to get blocked with frost/ice the fan will be unable to blow the cold air up into the fridge.

The defrost timer or heaters may be faulty or more likely because of the hot weather and the door being constantly opened to get drinks and ice the evaporator has just built up an excess that the fixed defrost time cannot clear.

If you are able to empty the freezer and switch it off over night giving it a good old fashioned manual defrost you will probably find that it will work fine after the defrost.

[Zoinks]

I know it's sad but I've always kept a thermometer in the fridge and glace at it every time I get milk for the tea (about 20 times per day). In the abscence of any other information, it's nice to know that it's at the correct temperature - the fridge, not the milk.

Z.

[mogga]

Put less in it to see if that helps. An extra shopping trip is better than food poisoning. If you are persistent in overloading it consider buying a bigger one.

[Mark]

LOL!

I would if I could afford it!

Mark