Symptoms: everything is fine in the freezer, but in refrigeration chamber high temperature and the compressor runs non-stop, which gets very hot.
Since the refrigerator compartment is used, as a rule, much more often than the freezer, problems with it occur much more often.
If you notice that the refrigerator has become worse at cooling or is not freezing at all, immediately begin to deal with the problem. To begin with, we advise you to carry out a simple task on your own: it is possible that the original reason is simple to the point of banality: the refrigerator is not installed correctly (crooked or too close to heating battery
), problems with electrical wiring, the seal has dried out, the defrost button has “sunk” and other little things. If no visible simple faults are found, then the cause is a breakdown of one of the internal units of the refrigerator: thermostat, temperature sensor, fan, blockage in drainage system
, electronic control unit, compressor.
In such situations, it is better not to try to repair it yourself, but to immediately contact a workshop. But first, read the other sections on this page: perhaps this will help you more accurately determine the root cause of the problem.
Freezer doesn't work
Symptoms: the temperature in the freezer and refrigerator compartments is high and the compressor runs non-stop and gets very hot. If problems arise in the freezer, then they often spread to the refrigerator: after all, freon first goes into the freezer, and if it doesn’t freeze there, then most likely the same will happen in the refrigerator.
Possible reasons
for a non-working freezer, in general, the same as for the refrigerator: see section " " on the same page.
Primary diagnosis
Often something in the refrigerator does not work for the most ordinary reasons, which you are quite capable of eliminating on your own - start with them.
A "snow coat" has grown
Everything is clear here: you forgot about the freezer and it’s all overgrown with ice: get some rags ready and defrost the refrigerator. Ice blocked the sensors One of the consequences of the growing “snow coat” may be blocking
Incorrect temperature selected
It is possible that you have installed too high temperature in the chamber, which is why the food there began to quickly deteriorate. It is difficult to advise anything here: select the right temperature experimentally, and do not forget that different products require different cooling for their preservation. You should not set the temperature too high in an attempt to save on electricity: you will lose more on spoiled products.
Refrigerator is overloaded
When there are too many products in the refrigerator, and if they also block the fan, the compressor may not be able to cool them. Unload the refrigerator compartment a little, redistribute the food so that the fan is free.
Refrigerator is not installed correctly
If the refrigerator was installed by someone with crooked hands, ignoring the obvious requirements for installation, very soon this will affect the quality of the refrigerator. For example, it may not be installed quite level, causing the door to warp and get into the refrigerator. warm air from the room. Or something is preventing the door from closing tightly. By the way, you yourself might have forgotten to close the door tightly: don’t be lazy, check it again. Naturally, you need to make sure that the refrigerator is not located too close to appliances that generate a lot of heat, or under direct sun rays. You should also check that the gap between the walls of the refrigerator and standing nearby items are not too small.
Electrical wiring problems
Sometimes it happens that the wrong voltage is supplied to the refrigerator due to poor contact between the plug and the socket: a rare case, but for your own peace of mind it doesn’t hurt to check.
Fan is faulty
It’s easy to check: look into the refrigerator compartment and watch the fan work: if it doesn’t turn on for a long time, it means you have one more problem; You can just listen: when operating, the fan motor makes a characteristic sound. However, it often happens that the fan simply froze. If even after defrosting the fan does not spin, call a technician.
Freon leak
Check the back of the housing: if traces of corrosion are visible there, this means a freon leak. This problem most often occurs in refrigerators with a bottom freezer. It is better to call a specialist who will provide the necessary sealing and refill the freon.
"Eternal defrost"
A completely anecdotal case: the defrost button got stuck. Inspect it carefully, and if you notice that the button is skewed and clamped in the wrong position, press it out, and then figure out why this happened - maybe some kind of breakdown or design defect. Well, or you yourself simply forgot to turn it off: it’s an everyday matter - it happens. The same applies to the "Vacation" button, which you did not turn off after returning from vacation.
The seal has dried out
Symptoms: the door seal is dry, cracked, and does not fit tightly.
Over time, the door seal dries out, causing cold air to leak out: if the disease has gone too far, the compressor has to spend too much time maintaining the required temperature, it overheats, and the protective relay can simply turn it off (or the compressor will break down altogether, which will a real disaster). If after a visual inspection you notice problems with the seal, it is better to replace it.
Freon leak
Symptoms: the compressor motor runs for too long, almost without pauses, a sharp increase in temperature in the chambers is possible.
One of the most common causes of problems in the operation of the refrigerator chamber is a freon leak: no refrigerant means no cooling.
The standard reason is that, trying to speed up defrosting, you helped yourself with a sharp object and overdid it. Natural wear and tear of the evaporator tubes cannot be excluded, of course, which is why cracks appear in them, especially in old refrigerators. By the way, the opposite situation also happens - an excess of freon, but the consequences are the same. Call a professional: he will seal the holes and fill the refrigerator with freon to normal levels.
Cooling system clogged
The free passage of freon to the evaporator tubes may be prevented by a blockage in the cooling circuit system, for example, in a capillary tube. Only a master can fix this problem: using special equipment, he will blow out the circuit and top up the freon, if necessary.
Drain hole clogged
Symptoms: there is ice and frost on the walls of the refrigerator compartment, and water has accumulated below If during defrosting drainage hole
foreign objects have entered that interfere with the flow of water, it will accumulate at the bottom of the chamber, evaporate and turn into ice on the walls of the refrigerating chamber: it is clear that any ice in the chamber impairs its cooling.
You just need to clean the drainage hole; it won’t hurt to rinse it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
If the thermostat (or temperature sensor or air sensor) is broken, the control board receives incorrect information about the temperature in the chamber, and the control module issues incorrect commands to the compressor.
To check that it is the sensor that is at fault, you can temporarily disconnect it and connect the contacts directly: if the compressor begins to work more quietly, then the sensor is faulty and it is better to replace it. But we still advise you to contact a specialist, because installing the wrong sensor or its inaccurate connection can damage a much more expensive unit: a control board or a compressor.
Control module failure
Symptoms: the compressor works intensively, pauses in its operation are chaotic.
A broken electronic control module may send incorrect commands to the compressor that do not correspond to the actual temperature situation in the chambers. Here you can’t do without calling a technician: he will either update the module’s firmware or replace it.
Compressor broke
Symptoms: the compressor motor cannot be heard.
The most unpleasant case is the breakdown of an expensive compressor: it can rarely be repaired, as a rule, it has to be replaced.
This should, of course, only be done by a specialist from a specialized service, who will provide him with reliable components, high-quality tools and additional equipment, and detailed technical documentation.
If you have a refrigerator with two compressors, then it is quite possible that the chamber for which the broken compressor is responsible will stop freezing, while the other one will work normally.
Problems with No Frost
Symptoms: ice crust on the walls, water in the pan, fan does not work or works constantly. No frost system functions differently than standard drip system cooling, and the fan in the freezer plays an important role in this: without it, cold air will not be distributed throughout the chamber and cool the products. It is very simple to make sure that the fan is working: its motor makes a slight characteristic noise. Typical reason
- there is a lot of ice on the fan blades, they are frozen: you urgently need to defrost the refrigerator.
The No Frost system functions differently than a standard drip cooling system, and the fan in the freezer plays an important role: without it, cold air will not be distributed throughout the chamber and cool the food. It is very simple to make sure that the fan is working: its motor makes a slight characteristic noise. A typical reason is that there is a lot of ice on the fan blades, they are frozen: you urgently need to defrost the refrigerator.
In refrigerators with a dry freezing system, the heating element sometimes burns out, which is why the fan blades can become covered with ice.
Only an experienced specialist can install this and replace a faulty heating element.
The freezer works but the refrigerator does not.
Which refrigerator should I buy so that in the future there will be no problems with either the refrigerator or the freezer?
Which refrigerator is better, a refrigerator with a single freezer compartment or a refrigerator combined with a freezer? Of course, someone will say it’s a single-chamber one, because with combined ones there can be breakdowns, for example, the freezer works but the refrigerator compartment doesn’t. But that's not true!
Advantages of a single-chamber “friend”. Minimum components
, therefore, a minimum of problems in the future.
Minimum energy consumption.
The biggest drawback! Frequent manual defrosting. Especially on hot summer days, during humid air
and when it is used incorrectly, for example, when a warm product is put in the refrigerator.
To make it easier for users to defrost the refrigerator, designers have created models of single-door refrigerators with a cooling system similar to those in refrigerators with two chambers. This is how new models with two evaporators appeared. One evaporator is required to cool the refrigeration chamber to a positive temperature of +10°C. The second evaporator is needed to cool the freezer to negative temperatures so that frozen food can be stored there. In the freezer, the temperature drops to the number indicated by the snowflakes on the freezer door. The freezer compartment is completely isolated from the refrigeration chamber by a tight door, which immediately follows common door
technology. Because of The refrigerator evaporator freezes up quite quickly when the compressor is running. As soon as the compressor is stopped, the evaporator begins to defrost automatically due to the natural flow of heat from the food stored in the refrigerator, hence the name - the crying evaporator. The second evaporator freezes very slowly, since the temperature in the freezer is low, which means the humidity is low. Therefore, without removing food from the refrigerator, the freezer can be defrosted manually and very rarely.
Conclusion? Buy a refrigerator combined with two evaporators. But be aware that it may happen that the freezer works but the refrigerator compartment does not - call a refrigeration equipment repair expert.
The advantage of single-door technology, but with two evaporators and a cooling system, like in a two-chamber refrigerator.
Easy defrosting of the unit.
Temperature regulator.
Automatic.
Disadvantage: the freezer must be melted manually.
The combined model is both a refrigerator and a freezer at once. And each chamber has its own regulator. That is, the main advantage is convenience.
Refrigerators are available for sale, both with one compressor and with two. In both cases, the cooling in the freezer can be changed, regardless of the temperature in the refrigerator compartment.
The freezer can be at the top, bottom or side, depending on the model. And here the main drawback is that such a problem may arise - the freezer works but the refrigerator compartment does not.
As you can see, both models have their pros and cons, therefore, you need to choose a refrigerator based on convenience, price and the number of family members.
Household refrigerator - complex device, therefore, attempts to repair it yourself without appropriate training can lead to unjustified losses: as a result, you will still have to call a specialist.
The phenomenon when the freezer works, but the refrigerator does not, is caused by serious malfunctions. There are several reasons why the refrigerator compartment fails, while the freezer continues to function. However, in order to understand why there is no cold in the unit’s chamber, you need to know the principle of its operation.
How does a refrigerator and freezer work?
The heart of the refrigerator is the compressor. It is this that generates the pressure that forces the refrigerant to move toward the condenser, where the gas becomes liquid. During this process, heat is generated, which can be seen if you touch the back wall refrigerator. Next, the freon squeezes through narrow tubes and becomes a gas again. It takes all the power of the compressor to push the refrigerant through. Then the freon enters the evaporator and boils there. The evaporator is the source of cold.
Exactly freezer is wrapped around these tubes first: from here the cold spreads further (by gravity or with the help of a fan). If there is no cold in the freezer, there will be no cold in the entire refrigerator. After this, the refrigerant returns to the compressor, thus completing the circulation cycle. It follows from this that the freezer compartment will still have a low temperature in case of most unit malfunctions.
First signs of trouble
The lack of cold in the refrigerator compartment manifests itself in the fact that the freezer compartment begins to freeze, and in the refrigerator the temperature jumps to approximately +20 °C. The second sign is non-stop operation of the compressor. Due to the lack of periodic shutdowns, it begins to get very hot.
If these signs are present, then the refrigerator needs to be defrosted for a day and turned on again. Sometimes it starts to work properly: otherwise you will have to call a specialist who will identify the faulty part or system. The culprits for this state of affairs may be some components and parts.
Capillary tube
It is located in the evaporator circuit. If foreign substances get inside the capillary system, the freezer will still work, but the refrigerator will not. Usually small chips or oil get into the tube.
As a result, freon is no longer able to fully circulate through the capillaries (refrigeration system) and simply does not reach the freezer. If all this is true, then you need to call a specialist as soon as possible, because the compressor receives additional load, which can lead to its breakdown.
You can try to fix this problem yourself: try gently tapping the capillary tubes to knock out debris. Sometimes it helps. If there is no result, then you need a specialist. The technician’s task is to clean the capillary system, change the filter, evacuate the evaporation system and fill the refrigerator with freon.
Temperature sensor (refrigerator compartment)
Most often, its failure is associated with water and food entering the device body. But sometimes the failure of the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor occurs due to a manufacturing defect. Moreover, it may not appear immediately, but after some time. In such cases, you will have to install a new device. Here, too, it is advisable to hurry: the compressor will also work at the limit, which sharply reduces its service life. The operation of replacing the device does not take much time.
Evaporation system and compressor
The refrigerator compartment of the unit does not work if there is a leak in it. This occurs when tubes made from aluminum or copper develop cracks and holes. Freon passes precisely through the pipe system and leaves it through cracks, mixing with the atmosphere of the room. And if there is no freon, there is no cold.
As a result, the compressor tries to restore pressure and begins to work at the limit, which also leads to its premature wear or breakdown. Typically, cracks in pipes appear in old refrigerators.
If you use a two-compressor refrigerator, then it is quite possible that the failure of one of the compressors will lead to a lack of cold in the refrigerator compartment. Everything is clear here: one compressor is responsible for the freezer, the second for the refrigerator compartment. Compressor failure is most often associated with wear, but it can also be a consequence of a defect or installation of a low-quality device, which is typical for inexpensive models. Such a malfunction can sometimes be determined by a decrease in the noise of the refrigerator.
Very often people contact the service with one question: Why is the freezer in the refrigerator not working?, because it itself functions normally? The question, let’s say, is urgent and requires a quick fix, especially if it’s hot outside and there’s simply nowhere to put the food. But you won’t be able to fix everything in a couple of minutes: first you need to determine the cause of the thaw in your freezer, and only then try to fix something.
The reasons for the breakdown may be the following:
- Inattention when using. IN modern refrigerators There is a special regulator that allows you to set the required temperature in the freezer or refrigerator. Take a look at them - maybe you or someone in your household inadvertently turned the toggle switch to the lowest possible position, which is why the freezer simply stopped coping with freezing.
- Ice freezing. Ice in the freezer is normal, but only until the moment when there is so much of it that the door simply won’t close. Because of this, outside air enters the freezer, which warms the existing ice during a break in the refrigerator’s operation (it does not always work, but at a certain interval).
- Using the refrigerator for too long without any repair or Full time job at maximum capabilities (for example, setting the coldest mode in the summer heat). Because of this, the refrigeration chamber motor fails - it just runs for a couple of seconds, and then it can’t handle it and turns off again.
- Excessive use may damage the temperature sensor. Because of this, the freezer will work, but with very long breaks. This problem is relevant only for refrigerators electronic control. In the case of electromechanical refrigerators, the thermostat fails.
- If you have a refrigerator that has a no-frost system and a crying evaporator, a special switch may fail. You will notice this as follows: the freezer will freeze, but not as much as you would like it to.
- If you defrosted the freezer, and after that it did not work, remember whether you “helped” by chipping off the ice or placing dishes with hot water. If yes, then, most likely, you “killed” your device with your own hands - only old refrigerators were resistant to such manipulations, while new ones require more careful handling.
How to fix?
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons for breakdowns. What to do with them? You can handle some of them yourself, but some jobs can only be done by a professional:
- Just turn the dial to the desired position and wait. If the freezer works, then your problem is solved.
- Defrost the freezer (without using any “folk” remedies, such as chipping ice) and thoroughly wipe all seals.
- In this case, only replacing the compressor will help. The minimum cost of work is 3500.
- Replacing a broken sensor. The minimum cost of work is 2000.
- Replacing a unit that has failed. The minimum cost of work is 2500.
- It is necessary to find the place where the damage is located, reseal it and refill the freezer with refrigerant. The minimum cost of work is from 3000.
Contact the professionals
Some people have misconceptions about their abilities. Unfortunately, even if you have the knowledge to identify the problem, you are unlikely to be able to fix it. If The freezer in the refrigerator is not working, it is better to leave this matter to professionals - for example, our company. Without undue modesty, we will say: we compare favorably with our competitors in terms of quality and price of services. All work will be completed on time, and after communicating with the craftsmen you will only have pleasant impressions.
- Set modes according to the weather.
- Periodically call a professional for a preventive inspection.
- Do not defrost new refrigerators with a hairdryer or hot water.
- Do not chip ice from new refrigerators.
Refrigerator is a popular type household appliances, without which it is difficult to imagine a well-established family life. The device preserves the freshness of food, helps preserve frozen vegetables, fruits, mushrooms collected in summer period. Unfortunately, sooner or later the device fails. Problems can be very diverse. It happens that the refrigerator itself does not cool, but the freezer works, what is the problem?
Causes of malfunction
Such breakdowns occur quite often in the operation of the device. The main thing is not to try to deal with them yourself. The first thing the owner should do is call a technician to carry out diagnostics. If the malfunction can be eliminated and necessary details is in stock, the master repairs refrigerators at home on the day of the call or the next day. Possible causes of malfunction during this breakdown:
- freon leak;
- the drainage system pipes are clogged;
- temperature sensor failure.
Freon leakage, as a rule, can occur after long-term operation of a household refrigerator (10 years or more). There are several unfavorable factors that significantly reduce the service life before possible breakdown. And this is due precisely to the leak of freon. Refrigerant charging must be carried out professional craftsman. This is a delicate job that does not tolerate mistakes. Incorrectly filled freon can lead to a possible leak and malfunction of the refrigeration chamber when the freezer is running.
If the temperature sensor is broken, the control module is supplied wrong information, and the chamber stops cooling. To identify this failure, diagnostics are carried out, and then the temperature sensor is replaced.
If the tubes are clogged, the drainage circuit does not function. Blockages form in the tubes themselves. This prevents the refrigerant from circulating freely through the system and entering the chamber. To correct this breakdown, you will have to clean the tubes. And this work can also only be performed by a qualified craftsman.
What to do if the refrigerator does not freeze?
So, if the refrigerator does not freeze, we understand what to do - urgently call a technician. But how will he cope with the breakdown? Firstly, a specialist will not start work without a preliminary diagnosis. Secondly, in addition to the above problems, the refrigerator may not work if one of the compressors fails, namely the one that services the refrigerator compartment and not the freezer. This is a rather dangerous and expensive breakdown that needs to be fixed urgently. The compressor does not have to be replaced entirely, as it can be repaired. Often, repair is a more economical procedure than replacing a part with a new one.
Preparation for inspection and repair
After the technician is called to carry out diagnostics and repairs, the owner must defrost the entire refrigerator. This facilitates diagnostic manipulations. A snow cap, ice, and dampness in the refrigerator compartment will interfere with restoring the functionality of the device. Repair experts note that timely defrosting is an excellent preventive method to prevent possible problems. Experts recommend freeing the refrigerator from frost approximately once every 6 months.
If during inspection the technician discovered a freon leak, most likely the owner defrosted the device accelerated method(removed pieces of ice from the walls of the refrigerator using knives and sharp objects). Doing this is strictly prohibited! With such defrosting, it is very easy to pierce the circuit. Under the influence of mechanical damage, freon breaks out and the operation of the cooling circuit is disrupted. Accordingly, in this situation the camera works, but does not cool. A specialist will fix the gap and fill the refrigerator with freon, restoring normal operation of the household appliance.
After the technician fixes the problem (or makes a sad verdict about the demise of the device), carefully listen to his recommendations about the rules for using your assistant in the future. It is important to know that this also affects the quality and durability of its work.