big problem, beer refrigerator not cooling

[mdub]

The texas heat is taking its toll on my beer refrige. Its a modern GE side by side, probably less than 10yrs old The freezer is working fine but the refrigerator is not getting below 40, and in our current heat wave is sitting at 50.

I've cleaned out the coils with compressed air so i dont think its that. The compressor does get pretty hot to the touch, but i think that's normal.

Any thoughts on suggestions for a fix?

 

[The Frisco Kid]

I'm in North Texas, but I assume your ambient temps are pretty similar to ours... 40 may be the best you're gonna get in the current heat. Did it cool better last summer?
If so (and I assume it did) check to see if the evaporator is frosting up. Thermostat and defrost board are my guesses without looking at it.

 

[cwlo]

I'm thinking the coil is all frozen up, because something in the defrost system is not working. Coil will be like a block of ice, keeping freezer cool, but the ice blocks the vent that allows air to circulate down into the refrigerator. If you find that is the case, defrost timer, defrost heat coil, or defrost thermostat are usual suspects.

If you can find the defrost thermostat, they usually have an opening where you can turn with a screwdriver to put into defrost mode. You should then hear some crackling as the coil is heated/ice melted if its working. Anyway, find where the coil is at, and take the cover off to get the full story.

Chris

 

[W650Mike]

My beer in Eastland is cold if you get in a bind. 6½hr drive - but it's seriously cold; almost slushy cold. If you get in a bind. And I'll probably have one with you.

 

[Ryf]

if there is only beer in it? (no foods etc) move the beer to the house and unplug it if its frozen. let it sit overnight and plug it back in. other wise, is compressor running? good luck though, the beer fridge on the fritz is just bad news. only thing worse would be if you were OUT OF BEER. things freezing up is generally a sign of needing service etc. (a/c units freeze up when low on freon/coolant)

 

[matouse3]

This is certainly an emergency.

Hole saw from freezer compartment to the fridge compartment?

 

[38Chevy454]

I'm thinking the coil is all frozen up, because something in the defrost system is not working. Coil will be like a block of ice, keeping freezer cool, but the ice blocks the vent that allows air to circulate down into the refrigerator. If you find that is the case, defrost timer, defrost heat coil, or defrost thermostat are usual suspects.

If you can find the defrost thermostat, they usually have an opening where you can turn with a screwdriver to put into defrost mode. You should then hear some crackling as the coil is heated/ice melted if its working. Anyway, find where the coil is at, and take the cover off to get the full story.

Chris

My guess is what cwlo said. Frozen up coil preventing air circulation.

 

[dipper]

My guess is what cwlo said. Frozen up coil preventing air circulation.

but the OP said he cleaned out the coils.

 

[mdub]

I'm thinking the coil is all frozen up, because something in the defrost system is not working. Coil will be like a block of ice, keeping freezer cool, but the ice blocks the vent that allows air to circulate down into the refrigerator. If you find that is the case, defrost timer, defrost heat coil, or defrost thermostat are usual suspects.

If you can find the defrost thermostat, they usually have an opening where you can turn with a screwdriver to put into defrost mode. You should then hear some crackling as the coil is heated/ice melted if its working. Anyway, find where the coil is at, and take the cover off to get the full story.

Chris

I have not checked for internal ICE, but I have not seen any. I have a couple of coolers to protect the beer in the short term. I'll try to open it up tonight.

Not sure where to find the thermostat, I've read that thermistor could be the problem, i'm assuming this is what they use for the thermostat.

 

[Steevo]

+1 for CWLO's diagnosis.

On mine ( a Frigidaire side-by-side), the defrost temp switch on the coil inside the freezer failed, causing the coils to freeze up and block air flow across them, into the refrigerator section. Apparently, the defrost timer kick on the circuit, which runs the heater coil that runs between the cooling coils, and the temp switch opens the heater circuit when the coil temp reaches a certain temp, indicating defrost is complete. If the temp switch fails open, the timer kicks on, but no power flows to the heater coil, and the fins fill up with frost until it is blocked completely.

 

[38Chevy454]

My guess is what cwlo said. Frozen up coil preventing air circulation.

but the OP said he cleaned out the coils.

He cleaned the external condenser coils, not the internal evaporator coil.

 

[Mmfh]

Mine has done this a couple of times, Whirlpool gold side by side. There is a passage on mine that go's from the freezer compartment to the fridge, two actually. One up top and one below. Keeps cool air going to the fridge. A couple of times when warm out the door didn't get closed all the way, too much beer inside probably, it allowed the inside passages to freeze up and stop air flow from freezer to the fridge.

As was said above, you might try moving the beer for a day or so and let that thing completely thaw out. Plug it back in and let it rip and see what happens..

Good Luck, at all cost save that damn beer!!!

Mm

 

[darkk]

but the refrigerator is not getting below 40

You drink beer cold?

 

[NiceToy]

You drink beer cold?

You don't?

 

[tribbles]

You don't?

Well, a lot of British people don't. But then again, they have Lucas refrigerators.

 

[nehog]

Good lord man, you don't have a backup beer cooler?

 

[cwlo]

One other possiblity is that the evaporator fan is not working. It won't blow any cool air to the fridge, yet the freezer will still be cool since the coils are in it.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[premierplayer]

One other possiblity is that the evaporator fan is not working. It won't blow any cool air to the fridge, yet the freezer will still be cool since the coils are in it.

Good luck.

Chris

This

 

[darkk]

You don't?

The french will drink anything at any temperature....besides if it's warm, less moochers.

 

[Mister Moose]

My beer in Eastland is cold if you get in a bind. 6½hr drive - but it's seriously cold; almost slushy cold. If you get in a bind. And I'll probably have one with you.

Please state the brand, type, and quantity of said free cold beer.

 

[mdub]

Okay I checked evaporator tonight and it looked good. No ice and both the top and bottom ducts were clear.

I'm thinking the thermistor on the refrige side could be bad.

 

[boostedgt]

Well, a lot of British people don't. But then again, they have Lucas refrigerators.

and they never drink and drive because the cars have Lucas electrical systems

 

[Mmfh]

I've had problems with different appliances in the past and I've always found help on this forum.
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/

Jake the guy who runs it is very sharp. He has always helped me when I couldn't figure it out.

Try it.

Good Luck!

Mm

 

[kald]

Condenser fan working?
Edit:
Whatever you do, don't "transfer the beer to the house", that is the worst advice I have ever heard! Every 10 or 15 minutes when getting a fresh one, your wife will be saying "Your having another one?". It's just not worth it man, drink the 50 degree beer, drink it hot if you have to, but keep it in the garage!!

What happens in the garage, stays in the garage!

 

[W650Mike]

Yummy Beers:

How's it coming mdub?

 

[mdub]

W650Mike, you are making me drool....

still pretty warm in there, starting to look on the other forum suggested above...

 

[rlitman]

Good lord man, you don't have a backup beer cooler?

That is exactly what I was thinking.

But before we even discuss that, I really think this thread should be pulled, or at least renamed.
As soon as I read the subject of this thread, I immediately had to call home and find out if my beer fridge was still functional. Thank goodness my wife answered the phone to tell me I had nothing to worry about. Otherwise I would have had to make an hour trip home from work just to be sure.

Seriously, it is about as bad as naming a thread "baby unicorn and kittens trapped under your collapsed house"! It just isn't right.

May I suggest a better title, such as:
"SOS: my beer fridge is threatening alcohol abuse with warm beer"
or something like that. It conveys the urgency of the message, without spreading fear to people who take their beer refrigeration emergency backup plans more seriously.