Refrigerator Maintenance Tips

Xringer · 01-26-17, 07:06 PM

I saw this video on YT and suddenly realized, that we had been cleaning under
the front on the fridge, (per the manual), but Never removed the back panel and cleaned back there..
Our 'New' fridge is 23 years old! (Wife 'guessed' it was about 10 or 12 years old)..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpHM...youtu.be&t=23s

When I took off the back panel (cardboardish), the compressor and fan area
looked a lot like the heat sink area around an Intel 486 CPU that's been running full time since the 1990s..
One massive dust bunny..

We cleaned out everything we could reach, but I fear that white residue on
a copper joint might be from leaking R12..
The fresh food area (bottom section) is in the mid 40s..
I think it's been in the 35F range for decades.. Now, it's too warm..

Temps still aren't down after 24 hours, so I've opened (fully) up a vent that brings Cold air down from the freezer..

If it's still too warm mañana, then I need to start shopping..

pinballlooking · 01-26-17, 08:56 PM

I do this clean out once a year. Just to help out my refrigerators power usage.

Daox · 01-27-17, 01:34 PM

Good reminder for me too. Thanks!

Xringer · 01-27-17, 05:35 PM

I checked my IR pistol on a cup or water with ice cubes, and it displayed 31ish deg F.
So, it should be accurate enough to tell if the old fridge is dying. Plus, cold beer isn't all that cold.
I'm starting to read online reviews. First find that's the size of the old one: WRT138FZDW

where2 · 01-27-17, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xringer

When I took off the back panel (cardboardish), the compressor and fan area looked a lot like the heat sink area around an Intel 486 CPU that's been running full time since the 1990s..
One massive dust bunny.

Mine has a snail shaped flat plate coil which in 2002 was a dust bunny after only one year of continuous airborne cat fur. At that point, I fashioned a coarse air conditioner filter out of synthetic filter floss to collect the fur. Now, I just wash the filter like I do with the A/C air handler.

I've had more problems due to defective "automatic defrost controller boards" than anything in my side-by-side. Once the ADC board relay contacts begin to burn out, the freezer coil blocks up with ice and leaves the refrigerator compartment warming up calling for more cooling when the compressor is giving it all it can, running continuously. At that point, I defrost the freezer coil with a hair dryer, and order a new ADC board.

Xringer · 01-27-17, 09:55 PM

The paperwork says Dec 1994.. Seems like a long time.
Anyways, we found a replacement unit that seems to be in stock..
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-1...White/50285239

In the mean time, I've moved the milk over in front of the cold air vent,
to keep it from going bad too fast..
Got visit Lowes tomorrow, if the rest of the old fridge is still in the mid 40s..

I'm so glad we don't have a cat.. We were cat sitting a while back and
there was a trail of black cat hair all over the house..
In the den, my wife gathered up a pile so big, we could have built another cat..

creeky · 01-27-17, 10:25 PM

Is your fridge making an intermittent clicking sound?
Last week we heard this weird clicking. Finally, few days later, noticed that the freezer was melting.
Long story short. New compressor relay and overload ... fridge and freezer are working again.
Easy check. Take the relay out. Shake it. If it rattles. That's your problem. Good luck.

pinballlooking · 01-27-17, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeky

Is your fridge making an intermittent clicking sound?
Last week we heard this weird clicking. Finally, few days later, noticed that the freezer was melting.
Long story short. New compressor relay and overload ... fridge and freezer are working again.
Easy check. Take the relay out. Shake it. If it rattles. That's your problem. Good luck.

I had this exact same issue about 5-6 years ago replaced it and it is still running strong today.

jeff5may · 01-27-17, 11:13 PM

Besides the defrost control, the defrost heating elements also open up. The symptom in this case is barely below freezing freezer section and warm fridge section. With the side by side units, this is worse than over and under units. Since cold air falls, the freezer air finds its way to the bottom fridge section much more easily. With the side by side units, the cold air tends to stay in the freezer side when the evaporator turns to a solid block of ice.

Then again, the thing is pretty old. The new ones are shiny and have LED lighting in them and stuff. Most are a lot more energy efficient than the old dogs as well. Durability is another story, as most newer models have solid state controls (rather than gears and contactors) in them. Beware of lightning and power surges...

Xringer · 01-28-17, 09:30 AM

It seems to be running almost perfectly normal. Just like it always has.
Maybe the noise is not as loud.?. Due to the good cleaning of dust bunnies..?.

The only thing odd, is the slightly higher temps..
Now that we have the vent dumping more cold air from the freezer,
the top left side shelf is about 38F, so we've moved the milk to the left side.
Else were, it's a bit cooler, but still in the low 40s..
On the downside of the full-vent setting, the freezer temp are no longer
on the low -negative range, but 8 to 10 degrees warmer. -5 is now 5F..

I guess the freezer temp is fine-tuned by dumping it's cold down below,
with a simple vent.?..

It almost seems like the main temperature control has lost some of it's range. At the low end..

I think we are going to skip the road trip and just watch this thing for a few days..

I wonder if there is a leak that can be detected with the new 'Freon Leak detector'?
Maybe I should pull the back cover off and try some snooping for a leak.?.

01-26-17, 08:56 PM	#2
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	I do this clean out once a year. Just to help out my refrigerators power usage. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-27-17, 01:34 PM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Good reminder for me too. Thanks! __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-27-17, 05:35 PM	#4
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I checked my IR pistol on a cup or water with ice cubes, and it displayed 31ish deg F. So, it should be accurate enough to tell if the old fridge is dying. Plus, cold beer isn't all that cold. I'm starting to read online reviews. First find that's the size of the old one: WRT138FZDW __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-27-17, 09:55 PM	#6
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The paperwork says Dec 1994.. Seems like a long time. Anyways, we found a replacement unit that seems to be in stock.. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-1...White/50285239 In the mean time, I've moved the milk over in front of the cold air vent, to keep it from going bad too fast.. Got visit Lowes tomorrow, if the rest of the old fridge is still in the mid 40s.. I'm so glad we don't have a cat.. We were cat sitting a while back and there was a trail of black cat hair all over the house.. In the den, my wife gathered up a pile so big, we could have built another cat.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

01-27-17, 10:25 PM	#7
creeky Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: a field somewhere Posts: 304 Thanks: 64 Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts	Is your fridge making an intermittent clicking sound? Last week we heard this weird clicking. Finally, few days later, noticed that the freezer was melting. Long story short. New compressor relay and overload ... fridge and freezer are working again. Easy check. Take the relay out. Shake it. If it rattles. That's your problem. Good luck. __________________ Current projects Chevy Volt battery pack conversion To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Blog that is down right now but will return To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Business where I sell solar stuff [url]https://www.bobolinksolar.com

01-27-17, 11:13 PM	#9
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	Besides the defrost control, the defrost heating elements also open up. The symptom in this case is barely below freezing freezer section and warm fridge section. With the side by side units, this is worse than over and under units. Since cold air falls, the freezer air finds its way to the bottom fridge section much more easily. With the side by side units, the cold air tends to stay in the freezer side when the evaporator turns to a solid block of ice. Then again, the thing is pretty old. The new ones are shiny and have LED lighting in them and stuff. Most are a lot more energy efficient than the old dogs as well. Durability is another story, as most newer models have solid state controls (rather than gears and contactors) in them. Beware of lightning and power surges...

01-28-17, 09:30 AM	#10
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	GE tbx18jatjrwh is almost working.. It seems to be running almost perfectly normal. Just like it always has. Maybe the noise is not as loud.?. Due to the good cleaning of dust bunnies..?. The only thing odd, is the slightly higher temps.. Now that we have the vent dumping more cold air from the freezer, the top left side shelf is about 38F, so we've moved the milk to the left side. Else were, it's a bit cooler, but still in the low 40s.. On the downside of the full-vent setting, the freezer temp are no longer on the low -negative range, but 8 to 10 degrees warmer. -5 is now 5F.. I guess the freezer temp is fine-tuned by dumping it's cold down below, with a simple vent.?.. It almost seems like the main temperature control has lost some of it's range. At the low end.. I think we are going to skip the road trip and just watch this thing for a few days.. I wonder if there is a leak that can be detected with the new 'Freon Leak detector'? Maybe I should pull the back cover off and try some snooping for a leak.?. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less.. Last edited by Xringer; 01-28-17 at 09:33 AM.. Reason: Leak detector