Fridge Emergency! lol
Calling any members with any kitchen appliance knowledge and experience - especially Fridges!! 
Yesterday I had to De-Ice my fridge as I noticed it had formed a slab of ice on the back wall, I figured maybe it had built up from leaving the door open too much in the summer recently and condensation forming as its not the highest quality of fridges (Electrolux). After keeping an eye on it since yesterday I have noticed the compressor is continually on and is continually pumping gas around itself. The only way I can get it to click off is when I turn the thermostat down to 1 (of 6 settings) and then it will turn off for 20 minutes until it comes back on continuously again - its pretty noisy now too. I normally have it set at 4 and when I turn it down to 2 it fails to stop cooling. Figured it was the thermostat that needed replacing.
I have spoken to a kitchen appliance guy today in email briefly and he says from the symptoms I describe it sounds like 'Its low on gas and has blown its back' which is not fixable so I need a new one. Its 15 years old now and is integrated under the kitchen work unit.
Does anyone have an idea of how long it is likely to work in this condition before it totally stops, and what it means when he says its blown its back? lol
Also is it a case of removing the wooden piece of work unit at the bottom of it then just sliding it out forwards and unplugging it? I cannot currently see the back of it with it being sealed under the work unit?
I need your help guys as I am useless with things like this around the house and fixing things!
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15 years old of a fridge?!? You are a lucky one brother man!!! I’d say on average I get 5 years out of a fridge. When I get a new one and the old one is still working it gets moved to the garage for drinks and such until it gives out and the cycle continues haha.
Amazingly enough, after that summer a year ago it started functioning correctly again and is still a pumpin and 'a grindin away!!! LMAO I was certain it was gonna give out so much so I had one lined up at the local electrical shop for when it did. With it being an integrated under counter one it doesn't vent at all well in the summer and I am high up with no aircon so it gets warm in here. It just stays on permanently in the summer and never clicks off, the back wall ices up and I have to defrost it. Then when the autumn comes in again it starts to work normally just like it did this year.
Sounds like maybe when de icing did you use a tool to try to chip the ice? Could have punctured a line or maybe the pressure from ice punctured a line and its a slow leak. Means fridge is done
Jasonhard45It's quite possible.that the thermostat is "Off" anf not reading the correct internal temp. Try putting a thermometer on the fridge if you have one.
Low refrigerant will freeze up a coil, or static plate which you have, but eventually all the refrigerant would leak out and you would get zero refrigeration. Lopk underneath for signs of oil, a sure tell take sign of a leak.
Lastly vacuum your condenser coil, it's either on the back of the fridge or underneath.
Cheers Buddy!! You sound like you are an engineer are you? So if I remove the wooden kick plate at the front I will be able to see underneath it then?
Depending on the type if fridge you have dmsome have the coil underneath while others have it on the back of the fridge.
I work on refrigeration products and it sounds like it has a leak somewhere. Easy $300 at least if you try and get it repaired. You’re better off getting a new fridge brother.
Cheers for the help mate - I didn't see this at the time
Have you seen my above response about it working again since it has got colder? Does that sound feasible?
Sounds to me like it is time for a new fridge.
Just come back in from looking at some bud - there is now a plan in place for when this one gives up the ghost lol
Ice will also keep air from circulating which allows it to cool efficiently.
Pull it out, unplug it, remove the content, let it defrost. Plug it back in, place a thermometer inside, let it cool.
if it's working put shit back into it.
How long it'll last is like asking when grandpa will croak... any day now; it's had a good life.
LOL
I am dreading getting up and the thing just being Dead, or in a fridges case - Warm!!
Most times appliance repair isn’t worth it. By me it’s $100 for the service call plus parts and labor. The absolute cheapest repair (ignitor) is $300. Sure it’s cheaper than new but the appliance is still full of old parts. . If I can’t fix it myself I get a new one. Just got a new dryer today. Old one wouldn’t power on, ordered online from Lowe’s and delivered today.
Has your electric bill gone up
HAHA This was one of the first things I checked mate but not really that I can tell, but working on the fact it is only a 70 Watt fridge that would still be on anyway, I think the difference may only be an additional 30p per day. But it was one of my first concerns - have I been blowing money on electric?! lol
Sounds like a broken thermostat to me.
Check out this appliance forum. Pro will tell you exactly what is wrong, and direct you to the exact part and instructions to do it yourself. Some jobs are a little too much if refrigerant is involved, but I think your thermostat is on the Fritz.
https://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/
I've never had the gas refilled or serviced bud - is that something you are supposed to do?
No, if you need refrigerant in ANYTHING, there is always a leak somewhere in the system. It really sucks because this when repair guys can get very shady because they see an opportunity to rake you over the coals. They will usually tell you that the cost of repair is about $200.00 cheaper than buying a new appliance. Therefore, most people will just pay for the repair to save the $200, when the repair parts probably cost anywhere from $100-150. The website I posted helped me so much to fix at least five different appliances over the past few years. Granted, I do have some technical background, but what I always tell everyone is that most of todays repairs only require changing parts. When I was an electronic technician many years ago, it was a lot more involved, diagnosing bad transistors and capacitors on a motherboard and having to solder them in and out. Life has definitely become more plug and play.
Problem is with me bud is if I attempt to fix or change a part myself I can see it resulting in electrocution and death and/OR power blow out in my place!! I think I may be as well to just cut my losses the more I think about it all and get a new one if I am just prolonging something that is past its lifetime already
I hear ya, I always have the same fear
At a guess... maybe iced up so much that the freezer part is kept ajar by ice (air get in and has to be cooled) or the seals are perished (on the fridge door (same effect)
The warm air leads to excess moisture condensing, turns to ice...
I'd check how it performs after de-icing, and have a look at the seals... see if perished, or pinholes.... ice can damage them too
I think its iced up Giar because the compressor has been on constantly for some time and maybe I have not noticed past few months, if the compressor is on then the auto defrost function won't kick in is what I have read.
That's makes sense!
I’ve dealt with fridges a little. First off, 15 years worth is great and probably on borrowed time. And if the pro said it’s the compressor (which is sealed, might have a crack now) then that has to be replaced. Which is more, replacing the compressor or a new fridge? Also depends on condition of current one ( door seals, come with a ice cube maker, etc. ). Just my input bro….
Cheers buddy
I guess the new fridge will be cheaper and I figure if its on borrowed time right now then whats the point of putting a few hundred quid into it if a new one is £240 anyway. Just a new thermostat where the part only costs £5 to have fitted and callout charge was going to be £90. Door seal can be iffy sometimes too, sometimes it has come ajar in the night which can't be safe.
I’ve gone both routes. One was under warranty so I learned a lot about what’s fixable. But in the end, it’s the time your are out a fridge that kills you. Parts, tech to come out, etc.
Now I have 2 deep freezers and 1 combo lol. Life much easier.
I completely get that part mate, not having cold drinks and things like butter, cheese etc would be awful for a few days. These integrated appliances are crap too, they are so much smaller inside and are twice as much for what you would get in terms of a free standing version. I want to just get a big fuck off American fridge/freezer but am limited on space. Ohh yeah and I want one with an ice and water dispenser too on the front!!! LMAO
Only way to go bro
With my little farm, I keep lotta meat in deep freezers…..
NOOOOOO!!! - Leave the Goats alone Mac