You were about to have a bite to eat and found that the inside of the refrigerator was abnormally warm and the freezer was excessively cold? Or does the compressor run continuously, although it was silent from time to time yesterday? To learn about the breakdown of such an expensive device is not at all pleasant, is it?
But, perhaps, the problem will not be as global as it seemed at first glance, and it will be possible to fix everything with one's own hand. We will help you find out why the refrigerator does not work, and the freezer works, and tell you how to fix the detected malfunction.
The article contains the most common causes of this kind of breakdowns, and considers ways to correct them. Visual photos and video recommendations from experts have been selected to help locate a malfunction in various models of refrigerators.
The device of a typical refrigerator
The compressor pumps freon (cooling agent) into the condenser assembly with its pressure. There gaseous refrigerant condenses into the liquid fraction. This process is accompanied by the release of heat, which is removed through the rear panel of the refrigerator.
The liquefied freon is fed into the system of thin tubes, after which it again takes on a gaseous state, and when it is in the evaporation unit, it boils. Evaporator and generates cold. Freon completes his circuit, returning to the compressor.
The resulting cold primarily goes to the freezer, and from it is already supplied to the refrigerator - forcibly or naturally. This gives the freezer the ability to maintain a cold temperature even if some parts of the unit break down.
In two-compressor refrigerators, one compressor serves the freezer, and the second - the refrigerator. This is convenient because at will you can turn off any of the cameras and use only one
As soon as there is a lack of cold in the cooling compartment with a properly functioning freezer, you need to try to analyze the situation yourself.
User actions in case of suspected malfunction of the unit should be as follows:
- establish through observation which particular chamber does not get cold;
- check if there are any heat sources near the refrigerator, for example, radiators, heaters, stoves, etc .;
- determine whether the rubber door gasket is intact, whether there are objects (pieces of food, crumbs, etc.) that prevent the door from closing tightly.
It will also be useful to examine the rear surface of the refrigerator for mechanical damage, and for all components and systems for the presence of rye, oxide.
The reasons for the lack of cold, their elimination
With proper operation of the freezer compartment, the causes of damage to the refrigerator compartment can be very different. As an ordinary temporary lack of electricity in the network, as well as a serious breakdown of the compressor, which almost always leads to a rather expensive replacement.
No. 1 - the simplest problems of the unit
Before starting the analysis of the problem, you should make sure that the unit is connected to the electrical network, that the wires, extension cords, outlets, and that the power supply to the room is working properly.
One of the culprits is a loose closing of the camera door due to user oversight. There is a constant flow of warm air into the room from inside the room.
Cold may be absent due to the long period of operation of the refrigerator without scheduled defrosts. It is necessary to turn off the unit, carefully defrost it and turn it on again in a day.
To properly defrost a refrigerator, you need to unplug it from the network, open it wide, extract all the contents and wait for it to fully defrost. It is forbidden to speed up this process in any way. Melt water is collected in containers and disposed of.
There are situations when the freezer compartment is filled with products too tightly, so that there is practically no free space. According to the rules of operation, this is undesirable, since there should still be a space for air circulation.
When the products for freezing lie close to each other and tightly packed, all the compressor power is spent on freezing its huge volume, and there is not enough cold for the remaining compartments.
It is better to freeze food in small parts. When freezing, it is not recommended to fill the freezer “to failure” - this is fraught with compressor failure
The refrigerator itself may not be installed correctly - right next to the wall, when the heat cannot be completely removed, or close to heating appliances - the temperature detectors get lost. They give the compressor signals to increase its power, but cooling in the refrigerator does not occur, because it turns into heat along the way.
This malfunction mainly occurs if the freezer box is installed inside the refrigerator. This problem is eliminated by a complete long-term defrosting of the entire unit, installing it away from heat sources, turning it on in standard rather than enhanced mode.
It is forbidden to place the refrigerator near heat sources. This not only destroys it, but also significantly increases the cash costs of electricity
No. 2 - breakdowns in conductive systems
In order to understand the causes of more complex breakdowns, you need to know how the refrigerator works and how it works. Only then will the origin of the problem be understood. As a result, the correct ways to solve the problem can be found.
Capillary system. The culprit in the capillary system can be the culprit of the breakdown due to the ingress of foreign substances into the pipeline - moisture, oils, litter from the filter that has become unusable, and so on.
Due to clogging, the cooler does not reach the end - everything is in order with freezing, there is even ice formation. And the products in the second chamber do not cool - this compartment is warm.
Signs of clogging of capillaries can be confused with a breakdown of a different nature - a malfunction of the evaporator. To accurately determine the cause of the problem, analyze the temperature of the discharge system in the section "condenser-compressor". If the heating there is insignificant or partial, and cooling is quick, then the cause is a blockage of the capillaries.
However, there is an opportunity to correct the situation on their own: if the congestion is uncomplicated, then a light tapping on the pipeline will move the cork from its place and the path for freon will be freed.
If tapping does not help, you need to contact a master who professionally cleans the tubes, installs a new clean filter, replaces freon, and removes unnecessary air from the evaporator.
First, the temperature between the compressor and the condenser is measured, and then a decision is made to replace the capillary tube or to repair it
Drainage system. The drainage system in refrigerators with a weeping wall can also become clogged. If it is not cleaned for a long time, congestion may appear in it that does not completely allow melt water to pass through, it accumulates at the bottom of the chamber and flows out.
Over time, plastic cracks, and water flows into the gaps and oxidizes the metal parts of the device, corrosion corrodes them, and the refrigerant starts to leak out. They clean the drainage system with a regular pharmacy rubber bulb. It is filled with hot water and poured into the channel with a sharp movement under the greatest pressure.
If necessary, this is repeated several times until the system is completely cleaned. Dirty drained water from a special tray should be removed after the procedure.
Refrigerators are available with a small brush in the drain hole. It is designed to regularly clean the entrance to the drainage system. The cleaner it is, the less likely it is to get a major blockage in the system.
Another tool for cleaning the drainage system can be a bicycle / car hand pump. If these devices are not available, or the blockage is stuck very firmly, a long wire / wire will help.
The tip of the wire is bent into a loop and inserted into the drain hole with twisting movements, while feeding it back and forth. The duration of the procedure is about three minutes. You can combine two methods - wire cleaning with a spill of water.
You can check the result of efforts by testing the system. A little water is poured into the drainage tube and the drain rate is noticed in a natural way. If it does not go away, the cleaning procedure is repeated.
No. 3 - problems with automation, electronics
A temperature detector is installed in the refrigerator. It can be damaged by substances and liquids from food, or have a factory defect.
If the sensor shows incorrect information, the compressor of the refrigerator operates at high capacities and quickly fails during such operation. The solution is to replace the detector with a new serviceable module, which can only be done by a specialist.
Other built-in sensors and electronic control systems can also malfunction, and mechanical buttons break and become clogged. Unnaturally long interruptions in the operation of the compressor will tell about such problems, when the electronics incorrectly show the air temperature in the refrigerator compartment and sets the wrong mode of operation.
It is recommended to inspect all electronic and automatic elements for serviceability, in case of breakage, replace unusable parts. It is better to turn to a qualified master for this, unless the user himself has the necessary knowledge and skills in this area.
Each sensor has its own contact on the connector. Check their performance by measuring resistance. Another sensor - room temperature - is located on the main electronic board
If the refrigeration unit is equipped with one compressor and NoFrost system, then the problem may be caused by a jam in the camera cooling regulator. If this occurs in maximum cold mode, the compressor cannot handle the high load. The solution is to replace the valve.
No. 4 - refrigerant leak from the system
Freon can enter the room air through micro-holes in the tube system. These holes occur during improper use.
For example, in a situation where the refrigerator has not been defrosted for too long and a thick layer of ice has grown on the tubes, and there is little time for defrosting.
Often the user, trying to speed up the process of defrosting the unit, knocks the ice with solid objects. The result is mini-damage.
The less freon left in the refrigeration unit, the less cold will be generated, and the compressor will receive an additional large load and wear out faster. In this case, it is recommended to immediately seal the system and charge with refrigerant. This requires special equipment and knowledge.
No. 5 - malfunction of one of the compressors
In refrigerators equipped with two compressors, only one of them breaks down. Then the freezer compartment works properly, and the refrigeration compartment does not receive its portion of cold. A sign of this is the start of the compressor and an instant stop or its complete inoperability.
The compressor can also stop working due to long or incorrect operation, wear and tear, due to factory defects, due to its low quality and low price
In almost all cases, this problem is solved by replacing the faulty module.
No. 6 - problems with sealing gum
The rubber seal on the door of the refrigerator compartment may be damaged, peeled off, and dried. The drying of the rubber element is mainly due to the long idle time of the unit in a state of inactivity.
Due to the malfunction of the seal, warm air from the room gets the opportunity to penetrate the chamber and increase its internal temperature. The compressor amplifies its power, pumping more and more cold, but this does not save the situation, but only wears it out.
If the gum is damaged, the optimal solution is to replace the seal with a working new one. To do this, remove the door from the hinges, clean its contour from unusable gaskets, and mount a new
For a dried rubber pad it is possible to try to restore the lost elasticity by treating with boiling water:
- they take it off;
- soaked in boiling water;
- then set in place.
If the gap is formed in a single copy and is small, you can simply glue the seal in this place with silicone, instant glue. As a temporary option, before acquiring and installing a new gum, you can fill the gaps formed with cardboard inserts.
Sometimes the situation is corrected by hinging the door in the opposite direction, but here you need to consider the location of the refrigerator in the room, because there must be free space to open the door.
Garbage accumulates in the folds of the sealing gum, mold is bred. Over time, the rubber in this place becomes thinner, and cracks arise through which unwanted warm air passes. It is recommended to prevent regular gentle cleaning.
It happens that the door does not close tightly, not because of problems with the seal, but from the arising of the fragility of its fastening, when the fasteners are loosened. Then you need to tighten the hinges, screws, and the problem will be eliminated.
No. 7 - mechanical and chemical damage
On the case of the refrigerator cabinet mechanical damage can appear - cracks, holes in the back wall. Usually they form after improper transportation, operation.
This is fraught with the penetration of warm air from the room into the refrigerator. The temperature inside cannot reach the desired level, the compressor runs non-stop, but this does not solve the problem.
If the hole is small, you can try to fix it yourself. To do this, the refrigerator is turned off, completely thawed and dried, the damaged area is carefully cut off, filled with new insulation or foam, and then covered with foil.
Can crack the walls of the housing and from the inside of the unit. The user is almost always to blame for this - during defrosting, or tight packing of products, the walls can be punctured with hard, sharp objects
An area with a risk of cracking is located near all fasteners - too much tension on the nuts can subsequently lead to breaks in these places. Repair gaps in the same way - with the help of sealing with a sealant.
No. 8 - oxidation and rust on the tubes
Before diagnosing the oxidation of the metal tubes of a refrigerator, one should know that green layers are not related to corrosion. This is a consequence of the interaction of solder flux with oxygen in the room. Such a plaque is prohibited.
Seeing rust spots on the tubes, you can try to carefully clean them and paint them - ordinary, or automotive spray
The danger of tube corrosion is that over time it completely corrodes their walls, through the formed holes the refrigerant starts to leak into the air, the compressor operates at maximum power.
Contrary to this, the cold does not enter the refrigerator compartment, because it is only enough for servicing the freezer. If measures are not taken in time and corrosion is not removed, the compressor will fail, and then unit repair will be expensive.
Rust treatment is effective against rust stains with a rust converter, which can be found in special stores or with ordinary household vinegar (9%). Before processing, it is recommended that they be tested in small quantities in one small area.
If no surprises have arisen, the product is applied to all rusted areas, left for some time for the reaction of surface oxidation with air, polished with a soft cloth.
A selection of stories to identify diverse problems with refrigerators of different brands and the process of troubleshooting.
Video tips on how to properly look for a malfunction: before disassembling the components, the unit must be completely defrosted without using force. The video demonstrates how a properly working know-how evaporator should look like:
Finding the reason for the lack of cold in the refrigerator compartment of an Atlant unit with an operating freezer. An example of a fault diagnosis in a compressor.
Video tutorial on replacing a compressor with a working one using special tools:
Indesit refrigerator: troubleshooting a leak in the heating circuit in the video:
It must be remembered that the correct operation and timely quality service of the refrigeration unit will maintain its operability for many years.
If the cold still ceases to flow into one of the refrigerator compartments, then it remains to be determined the background of the problem that caused this breakdown. Knowing her, you can independently try to fix everything on your own.
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