Posted: 6/14/2006 11:52:55 AM EDT
|
Several years ago I remodeled my kitchen and I replaced the refrigerator with a brand new double door GE. I took the old one (which was another GE and about 25 years old) and put in the garage for beverages, bulk foods, etc. Anyway, the old fridge in the garage sometimes would warm up and not cool back down. So a friend of mine who is a refrigeration and AC tech told me what to do: First, pull the plug to cut power to the unit. Then empty all the contents into coolers with plenty of ice. Then remove all the shelving grates. If the unit is a vertical model (freezer on top, fridge on bottom) you will have to remove the "floor" of the freezer. This is where the coils are located. Once the floor of the freezer is removed you should see ice/frost built up on the coils. Take a common household hairdryer and apply hot air to the coils and melt all the ice/frost. Once the ice and frost has melted replace the floor of the freezer. Then tip the unit to one side and vacuum the coils and the compressor located on the bottom of the unit. Also, make sure the little fan on the bottom by the compressor turns freely. Put the shelving grates back in and plug in the unit. Put a little refrigeration thermometer (commonly found at China Freight Tools for a few bucks) in the unit. Allow it to run for about four hours before you put the food back in. Within 18 to 24 hours, voilà ! the unit should be running as good as new and the thermometer should register normal operating temp (between 38-42 degrees in the fridge and 20-25 degrees in the freezer). This simple maintenance procedure should get your refrigerator/freezer back up and running in no time, and all at no cost. Just be careful when you are doing it. I have completed it several times now and it really works (as long as there is nothing else wrong). I hope this can help save you some money on a service call, or worse, having to replace an entire unit. Joe |
I broke it you fix it..isn't that the way it goes |
|
Hey Joe, I'm not an HVAC tech, but I would consider replacing the unit. 38-42 for the fridge is a little high unless it's just for veggies, but worse, 20 degrees is considered pretty ridiculously hot for the freezer by modern standards. There might be nothing wrong with the unit; it's just that it's 25 years old. (I've been told that old-school 'civilian' reefers can't do 0, although every freezer I've used does) Or it could be that the freezer thermo you're using is broken. They are generally accurate for only a few months after you buy them. I recommend buying another one for a couple bucks and sticking it in there. It almost definitely won't match your current one. Hopefully by a 20 degree difference. :) |
Sorry guys. The temps that I posted were not accurate. Those temps were taken after only four hours. When I checked the thermometer late the next day the freezer was below zero, and the fridge was about 35 degrees. Everything is back to normal. Thanks for the heads-up on my boo boo. Be Safe. Joe |