Refrigerator Repair (Not Cooling, Defrost System)

[@OVI-Wan-Kenobi-8]

This is probably the best refrigerator troubleshooting video I have ever seen. It covers various different scenario cases as well as gives a good overall understanding of how a fridge works, which is important when doing any troubleshooting.

[@sohesunk1960]

This video is INCREDIBLE! You clearly state all the problems that could go wrong with the defrost system, how to diagnosis the problem and how to fix it. Over the summer, I am manually defrosting every 2 weeks. When I do it again in a few days, I will get my multimeter and figure out if its a bad sensor or a bad heating element and then try to fix it myself. A repairmen said it would cost $100 just to come to my rural location and diagnose the problem. I have a receipt left by the previous home owner showing he paid $200 to have the "defrost control board" replaced 10 years ago. Thanks to this video, I can determine, myself, for free, if that repair needs to be done again or if it is something else. THANKS!

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks to everyone for leaving such encouraging messages! I had a fairly difficult day on Friday and it was a big lift to see that even though nothing seemed to be going right for me I was still able to help a few other people out with these videos! Thanks for the comments!

[@michaelr5606]

This is an old video but it’s still helping people like myself. This is the most succinct and easy to understand video I’ve come across and I’ve seen quite a few. Thank You!

[@applianceassistant]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@oldengguy]

I know you posted this nearly 10 years ago, but here in 2020 you sure helped point me in the right direction! Thank you for the lesson in the basics of how the auto defrost works. I'm sure that's my problem due to the back panel of the freezer just covered with frost, and after removing that panel I found the whole coil area caked with ice. I'm getting all that ice off so I can check the thermostat and heating element.

[@knewknots]

THIS VIDEO HELPED ME FIX MY FRIDGE. I HAD NO MONEY TO HIRE A REPAIR PERSON OR BUY A NEW ONE. I WATCHED THIS VIDEO, UNPLUGGED FRIDGE OVERNIGHT AND PLUGGED IN WHEN I WOKE UP. THE FRIDGE WORKS PERFECTLY! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!

[@Collected23]

As a technical support representative for Samsung home appliances UK, I find this video VERY helpful! A very easy troubleshooting tutorial for consumers, which can be used before requesting an engineer to come out to see your appliance. Thank you for this great video.

[@alexmussman6372]

Seriously, this video is amazing! Freezer was cold, fridge was warm, door was ajar this morning when I woke up. Wouldn't cool down even after 5 or 6 hours. I pulled the freezer door and bins out and lo and behold the entire coil was covered in ice. Hit it with a hair drier, filled nearly the entire evap pan, then emptied said pan. While I had it all apart, I checked the thermostat for continuity just to rule it out and all was good and well there! Put it all back together and everything is running ship shape! Thank you!!!!

[@applianceassistant]

Nice! Thank you!

[@ElectoneGuy]

This explains a lot. My side-by-side Frigidaire's defrost stopped working and the freezer coil turned into a block of ice. With no air movement, everything started getting warm. The fridge repairman replaced the thermostat, but also said that the "board" should also be replaced at a cost of $300. He ordered the board, but for the 3 or 4 days before the part arrived, the defrost cycle operated normally both the fridge and freezer side were nice and cold. I kept checking the coil in the freezer and there was no ice buildup. I canceled any further repairs because the board was obviously not needed.

[@lanceraustin]

Now THIS guy... knows how to communicate instructions. Thank you, sir!

[@applianceassistant]

Tha'ts awesome! Watch very closely in the next few days to a week for frost accumulating on the back wall of the freezer! If you see frost it's an early warning that you have a mechanical problem and food loss is soon to follow. Hopefully you don't need it, but if you do, I have a lot of refrigerator troubleshooting content on my website. The link is in the description of the video. Thanks for commenting!

[@205dcc]

just wanted to say thanks to this video for saving me a small fortune with my fridge freezer!

[@applianceassistant]

@djkaneck1 Great! Just keeping the settings on "factory recommended" in the middle should be good. Main maintenance tips would be... 1. to clean the dust out of the black coils under the refrigerator with a vacuum from time to time. 2. make sure the doors are not getting blocked from closing all the way by some rogue catchup bottle or ice cream container. Thanks again for watching, commenting, and sharing!

[@joyhanson8654]

When I had it on medium it started working again. But I wanted it colder. Big mistake. Then I tried unplugging it now it doesn't work at all

[@brianarsenault9281]

An excellent presentation here. My only mistake was not watching this one first. Two thumbs up!!!

[@dahill64]

Great video. Well presented. Just the right balance of tech vs common sense.

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Glad it helped!

[@marywilson1223]

Thanks for the video, explaining where the fan was located in the freezer was spot on. Found the ice build up, the fan was hitting. Probably was my fault the vents were a bit covered. Cleaned it out, put the covers back and seems to be working fine.

[@Sharkie626]

I want to say. I first watched your video in 2011, and 3 years later, it still comes in handy, let me explain how. We have the same Whirlpool-made Top-Freezer model that you showed in this video. We have one of those outdoor cabanas, and early this year our freezer door would bind just before fully closing, and none of us noticed it for a while, so, considering it is outside, you can only imagine how much humidity was going into the freezer. The ice got so bad, that it blocked off the drain hole, and when the refrigerator went into defrost, the water from the melted ice started going though the air-return slots and making puddles on the refrigerator shelves below. Since we didn't have any thing that can spoil in it yet, I took one of the steps in this video. I shut it off by the circuit breaker (because it is easier than pulling it out to unplug it) and kept it off for 2 days, because I kept the doors closed due to pollen outside. I came back to it then, and the ice was all gone, and everything was nice and dry again, so I turned it back on. 2 weeks later, there is no more huge ice build up, or puddles on the shelves. Thanks again!

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks for posting this!

[@garybatts3145]

This is the best description of the "defrost cycle" I have seen. It helped me fix my Maytag fridge for about $25. You have a wonderful way of describing this technical defrosting process. Thanks!

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@haramichio3460]

Very Great.@@. This is Links buy Refrigerator product amzn.to/1lbDX2O. It very good & cheap. free shipping. with $199.00 you save $125.99. too great. thanks read.

[@youtubeledar3838]

Gary Batts My assistant position

[@youtubeledar3838]

Thanks assistant manager

[@lizr9894]

This video helped us get our side by side fridge working when it stopped cooling. The freezer door had been left ajar (more than once). To make things worse the air conditioning broke and the room temperature was in the mid to high 80’s. We removed the crispers and found the vent going from the bottom of the fridge to the coils on the freezer side was clogged with ice. Used a blow dryer to melt the ice and it started working again.

[@StayHumble86]

I use a hair dryer to defrost mine every month. My refrigerator cost me 80 bucks and I am okay with it. It keeps a temperature of 40 degrees on a normal setting. Thanks for the video though it was thorough explanation. 👌🏼

[@eTChist]

By far the best video on troubleshooting a faulty fridge/freezer I've seen. Thanks so much!

[@Chiefbigcorn]

I was just freaking out because my ice cream was melting and my ice maker wasn't making ice. This explains a lot. You know what they say! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle!

[@applianceassistant]

Thank you! If you are getting frost up near the front by the door you may to check the door seals... But yes probably it will work. Just make sure the door is closing and sealing well. Good luck! Thanks for the question!

[@rhettpeter83]

There’s something about the American accent when spiked with intellect that really relaxes me

[@Langor]

You just increase my fridge knowledge by over ninethousand points. Was able to clean it up proper (drain was clogged by ice) but i don't know if it's the de-icing cycle that's not working or if it was just the clog that caused the issue.

[@DemonPorkRAWR]

So a few months ago my fridge turned off one day and didn't turn back on. I learned about the defrost timer and how turning it with a screwdriver/giving it a tap can get it going again, which worked for me for a while. However, recently my fridge no longer goes into defrost mode, and the freezer/fridge have gotten warmer. The freezer part is cold enough to preserve food and get drinks cold but can't keep ice frozen and the fridge is only slightly below room temp. I've recently replaced the temp control thermostat but that didn't work. The screwdriver in the defrost timer no longer does anything but turn the fridge off after turning it a few times. Could replacing the defrost timer be the fix or did the issue get worse? Your video quality is very good btw, you are a real professional.

[@brt-jn7kg]

What did you do to fix your refrigerator cuz you literally verbatim described what mine is doing

[@leepresley2055]

Is your refrigerater running?

[@Robbie939]

This is the most informative video I've seen on KZbin. Learned a lot from it. Thanks for posting.

[@cheryllynnrobertsca]

This is most helpful to explain how the defrost system works. I will give it one more try to unplug rather than just turn off before calling a repairman.

[@charliephoto6959]

Your description of how side by side freezers/refrigerators work gave me the information I needed to fix my refrigerator. The compressor was working fine, the freezer was cold, but the fridge was not. I was able to find the frozen over area behind a panel in the fridge section and melt away the ice with a hair dryer. Thanks so much, you've saved us a ton of time and money!

[@SuperMcbatman]

I can imagine you've helped save many people a bunch of money! You're a legend, thanks mate

[@roxiemorgan2099]

This video may have saved Christmas at our house. Now we can buy gifts and not a fridge! The instructions were easy to follow and in terms I could understand. Awesome!

[@applianceassistant]

It is difficult to cover every variation on one video, so its nice when attention is called to other methods. Thank you!

[@darrenw.taylor2084]

Somewhere around four years ago my refrigerator had stopped the defrost cycle. I've replace the defrost timer, heater and even the refrigerator thermostat, with no avail. I've been defrosting it manually for the whole time since; about every six months. Thanks to you sharing this video, I was able to locate the part that I believe I need to get it back on track. The bi-metal thermostat. Once it arrives, hopefully this will fix the problem. Thank you for sharing this video! You may have saved me $500 or more.

[@MrRafboy]

Darren W. Taylor props to you man. I'm like that too...never give up lolll

[@darrenw.taylor2084]

Thank you! I installed the sensor and it has worked like new ever since.

[@ayoubhawari4575]

Darren W. Taylor sqsa

[@hmangaihkimamrab1170]

Darren W. Taylor

[@RegencyPub101]

i'm old enough to remember my mom defrosting the fridge every month or so when i was a kid - thanks for bringing back memories.

[@applianceassistant]

Yes there are many different kinds. Most are just process of elimination... check the heater and the thermostat and if the doors were not left open then it is probably the control. Some GE refrigerators have a thermistor that should read about 60Ω of resistance when 0ºF that is how the control board knows when to activate a defrost cycle. But most just have the three defrost components and no sensor. Hope that helps! Thanks for the question!

[@Mxsmanic]

Excellent video! Informative and well produced. I actually don't think the problem my refrigerator has corresponds to the ones discussed here, but it was still interesting to learn about the problems that can occur. Added to my favorites!

[@kira3691]

Yesterday, I defrosted my freezer by removing the back panel & using a hair dryer to melt the build-up. My fridge works again, but I noticed more build-up this morning. What can I do to prevent this from recurring? Thanks in advance!

[@collen6681]

Check if fridge doors are closing. No air must enter e fridge.

[@Justin-qc1hu]

​@@collen6681 ya 9 years too late bro 😂

[@visionrocks4368]

​@@Justin-qc1hu😂

[@ReymarkAlvarez]

He probably bought new one by now😂

[@ddogz03]

@applianceassistant thanks for the reply and sorry for not getting back to you sooner but the holidays were insane as usual. we did end up getting a new fridge. we got a good deal and could not be happier. thanks again for your time.

[@Judixify]

Thank you so much for uploading this! I was able to fix our refrigerator without a call to the repairman, or my dad. :D

[@user-oh1xg4my6g]

8 years ago, if you're still alive, how long did your fix last

[@applianceassistant]

That's what it's all about my friend! Good for you! and thanks for the comment!

[@MrRafboy]

thank you sir. my Samsung side by side 6 year old fridge is not cooling. freezer is ok. now i have the basics

[@applianceassistant]

Oh yea a 120VAC short to neutral or ground will spark a lot more than that! I was just jumping the circuit into a defrost cycle :) Thanks for the comment!

[@jetw9522]

it's so informative! thank you very much, you helped a lot! I wish you good health and good luck! 😊

[@applianceassistant]

@DavinaDrones That is an excellent point! Putting warm food into the refrigerator can cause frost to accumulate and block air passages. The defrost system should be able to correct that over a small amount of time if it is working properly. However, even short rises in refrigerator temperature can greatly reduce the life of your stored food.

[@anthonypass6337]

I just want to say that your information is and was a good start but my issue was the Fan motor had fail. This should be considered as well because the defrost was working. So please check to see if the fan is turning.

[@applianceassistant]

Anthony Pass Thanks for highlighting the fans Anthony. Defrost issues are the most common. however, the evaporator and condenser fans are definitely something to pay attention to!

[@jasonramsingh9947]

Try this to get the freezer working again. I have an LG Top-Bottom Fridge that was having the same trouble. Compressor and exterior fan were working fine but the freezer was not cooling. I removed the front interior trim of the freezer and saw that the evaporator fan was not working. I carefully unscrewed it from the housing frame behind the trim and checked the resistance and continuity on the wire connector which were excellent. Now I've seen repairmen who would just tell you to replace the fan but at that time of day that was not an option. Having done this before with a standing fan, I realised that all this fan wanted was a cleaning and lubricating of the magnets and impeller respectively. Eventually over time with these two there is a build up of dirt, and rust in some cases, which must be cleaned and so here is where WD 40 is your best friend. I used some of this on a paper napkin to wipe the two surfaces after which I used some treadmill silicone oil, you can use something similar, on the curved surface of the impeller as well as the shaft and end joint housing. I reinstalled the evap fan and plugged it in. Not only did it spin, but it spun faster than before. Also, make sure you clean the plastic fan blade which should just pop off the impeller shaft. I placed mine under the faucet and used some dishwashing soap. Hope this tip helps someone to save some time and money. 😀

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks for sharing!

[@applianceassistant]

Well it was worth a shot... : ) that's a tough one to recognize because have not had a refrigerator noise compared with a old truck idling in a driveway before so I have no point of reference... that's a great description though! Can you post a short video or audio clip?

[@sannyalbert5092]

This is an absolute gold. I love this honestly. This video inspired me to get my appliance repair Springfield VA from S&E appliance repairs.

[@coldblackice]

You took me from zero to hero! I fixed the fridge a couple weeks ago! I've since referred many people/friends/family to it as well :) Question -- my friend left the door open overnight :/ Frost has been growing on the back freezer wall over the past 24-36 hours. I'm guessing that the defroster isn't given enough time on the cycle to melt it all away, hence the growing? What can I do besides transferring all the food and airing it out? Can I manually advance multiple melt-cycles in a row?

[@tekkieee]

It was the thermostat. It had open circuit when testing it at freezing temp. The thermostat and heater for my model is sold as one unit. My freezer is now working normal. Thanks for the video.

[@cloakanddagger5675]

Awesome! I don't have the money to buy a new fridge, and I was about to look into calling a repair man. But now I don't have to. Very helpful! Lol

[@user-zh4rf7cm4f]

Hi, I am from Algeria. I have a certificate in repairing the fridge, air conditioner and washing machine. But I can not work in my country. Please help me to emigrate to your country and pay you money for your money.

[@RIPToNateDoggIHadToRegulate]

عباس بوقندورة lol

[@generalzailoq55]

@@user-zh4rf7cm4f Good sir, are you still looking to emigrate? We require human conscripts for an upcoming invasion in the Gliese 581 system. We intend to eat our enemies, and we will require over 700 refridgerator engineers to keep the flesh fresh while we fight on the ground. You will be treated well, you will receive food and wear clothes, and depending on the quality of your work you may be offered the opportunity of lifetime servitude under the Empire of Zakesht, not only for yourself but also your offspring.

[@yonkerstuber]

Thank you. your video is clear, concise and easy to understand.The electronics are still confusing, I don't know exactly how to use a multimeter. But thank you, this is really helpful in understanding how the defrost cycle functions.

[@MrMac5150]

Here is a simpler way that we use instead of all these voltage checks, through on a amperage gauge, compressor running and cold air coming out should draw 1 to 2 amps, now turn the defrost timer till it click, on comes the heater 1 to 2 amps, now heater will run till cold temp thermostat reaches 45 degrees off goes the heater element, and you tested all that with out taking off anything. Wow.

[@applianceassistant]

MrMac5150 sorry I missed your comment from so long ago. I love using an amp meter! Very helpful. Thanks for the comment/ tip!

[@royale6]

Ordered thermostat, thermistor and heater for my machine ( ~$90 INCL overnight shipping) While I waited I heard some had success by letting their fridge completely melt and restarting. (Ice and some dry ice for my ice chests added $20.) Sure enough, it's working! While my parts are new-in-package the online company will refund returns for a YEAR. Holding for a while in case I need them. A service visit would surely have been at least double those costs. Thanks again!

[@applianceassistant]

@MrMindShifter The defrost cycle should happen every 8 to 10 hours of compressor run time which is usually every few days depending on how often you open the door. If the food is frozen generally you are okay. Ice cream is an excellent indicator of proper freezer temperatures because it changes consistency very rapidly depending on temperatures. It's also a great reason to stock some ice cream :) Mechanically the thermostat is the only thing that may be causing large temp swings...

[@aleemramjag5071]

Hi I have a GE double swing door refrigerator , freezing very good but not defrosting , I change the defrost thermostat an same issue , please advise if I should change control board or otherwise . Thank you

[@rogerdelawder6764]

applianceassista

[@PreppingAngel]

My duel unit. It can be fridge or a freezer keeps freezing up the bottom fan. What could be wrong with it?

[@applianceassistant]

@Terabass It sounds like you are on the right track. In most cases a heating circuit component will ether work or not...so if you can get it to work with your computer you likely have a electrical supply problems. Realistically frost should not accumulate at the diffuser unless there is a problem with the defrost system or the door was left open, so you may want to check the defrost thermostat or let it melt down before you decide if you want to fork out the cash for a new control board.

[@bobmorgan1762]

Outstanding layman terms.

[@applianceassistant]

@gaptoothed1 All you can really do with no tools is unplug it, open the doors and pray. But If refrigerator temperatures have been an ongoing minor issue you may want to take a close look at where the cold air enters the fresh food area. You may want to double check that model number, I don't think you have a door in the air passage...It is probably being blocked by ether frost or food. The main tool you would need is a 1/4" nut driver you could probably find at the dollar store. Good Luck!

[@svtcontour]

Amazing video. Thank you sir!

[@applianceassistant]

The temperature should rise during the defrost cycle so if the thermostat is working properly then it should be closed trying to start the cooling cycle again. Also the defrost timer only advances when the compressor is energized so it cannot advance into the defrost cycle unless the thermostat is closed "on" energizing the circuit. Thanks for the question!

[@Ay0oJAY]

How to change the transmission fluid on nissan frontier

[@applianceassistant]

I hope so! I have been so busy with repair work I have not had time to put another one together... However, I have video, and a script that is about 75% done for a very common new washer design (with lost of issues) so I hope to get that up in the next few months! Thanks for your interest!

[@jazze5700]

Thanks for the tips!

[@applianceassistant]

My pleasure, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for the comment!

[@lystrawilliams9111]

A great day to you, is there a video showing how to replace a defrost element

[@applianceassistant]

@@lystrawilliams9111unfortunately, I do not have one but there are likely other videos showing how to replace the one for your model. If you put your model number into one of the big parts dealers they will often have replacement instructional videos. Good luck!

[@applianceassistant]

@coldblackice Good detective work my friend! Danger is relative...Using a multimeter to test for continuity and voltage might be slightly more prudent but it worked for ya so hey... In that case it is unlikely that you could cause an additional problem, but jumping wires can damage expensive control boards if your not careful what circuits your connecting. Congratulations on the fix, and thanks for the comment!

[@thegannclan]

Thank you for giving your knowledge in such a way that is easy to understand. I do have a problem with my Kenmore Frig. The freezer has not been freezing right for a little while. It is on the bottom of the system and I just thought that when we shut the frig part that the freezer door would open and that was causing the problem. While the other night the outside of the freezer part was very hot to touch. I pulled it out and the dust that was on the back was as thick as a piece of felt.

[@applianceassistant]

@pcZero713 Thank you for taking the time to write this! You are just the kind of person that I started this whole thing for! I'm glad I could help...God is good, cares for us, and is very trust worthy!

[@taovan]

Great instructions! Our fridge was not cooling for two days and I was able to identify the problem by watching your video and fix ours. Thanks for posting applianceassistant!

[@applianceassistant]

@redhot916spd That's wonderful to hear we need more honest repair people in the field. Thanks for the comment, I'm glad you found it helpful! and Good luck!

[@josephc.marche9560]

Thanks so much for your video's!!....after watching several I was confident in taking on the project. Your step by step trouble shooting really gave me the confidence and expertise to properly repair my fridge and I know I saved allot of money because I didn't have to call the repair guy.....again Thanks so much, I'll be back:)

[@applianceassistant]

joseph c Marche You're welcome! Glad it helped!

[@ForViewingOnly]

EXCELLENT VIDEO, thank you!!! Amazing to find something so well made and informative in an age when KZbin is becoming saturated with useless videos.

[@applianceassistant]

Thank YOU! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@1SHAce]

It was the Power Control Board. Luckily, he gave me a discount on the part of: 50% which saved me $129.00 The total with part, labor & service call was: $360.00 with tax. Thanks for the compliments.....:) If I ever get to CA, I'll look you up! lol!!

[@alexmcdonald8134]

Best video I have seen thus far on fridge troubleshooting

[@applianceassistant]

@HackettMomma You should definitely try manually defrosting the unit first. You may have a mechanical defrost problem but it's always a good idea to try the manual defrost first. Especially on a weekend like Thanksgiving when the doors are likely to be left open on accident. Also warm food in the appliance creates steam = frost = cooling problems. Good luck! If that doesn't do it email me through my website and we can figure it out. Thanks for the comment!

[@applianceassistant]

@Mutalator182 About 98% of the time, letting it thaw out should fix it of the time from what you've described (door being left open, freezer very cold, fridge warm). Better with the doors open, that way you are sure all of the air ducts have melted completely. Sometimes the ducts won't fully thaw it the doors remain closed. Good luck! Thanks for the comment!

[@applianceassistant]

@sikesterone Some freezers have visible condenser coils located under or on back of the freezer. Other "hot wall" freezers use condenser coils foamed into the side walls of the cabinet for getting rid of the heat that is removed from the freezer. However if there are condenser coils under the freezer you may want to give them a good cleaning with a shop vac or an condenser cleaning brush. Dust can build up and block the heat from escaping efficiently causing parts of the cabinet to heat up.

[@vinhhoach1854]

Love your video, others break down to sections which can be confusing, I watched at least 10 others with no result, some were bored as hell but yours is the best.... thank you

[@applianceassistant]

@thegannclan Hot surfaces are usually an indicator the the cooling system is pulling heat from the freezer compartment correctly but it is having a difficult time getting rid of the heat that has been drawn into the system, so the heat within the system tends to try to escape from other locations such as the area between the freezer and refrigerator doors. some refrigerators have a heater to keep condensation from gathering there so its not a sure fire indicator, but a good clue.

[@applianceassistant]

on most residential refrigerators the timer motor is only energized when the thermostat is closed and the appliance is actively cooling. So that 6 hours can take more than a day to accumulate. there are many different timers 8- 10 hours is also very common. Thanks for the comment.

[@lightlyokedsands4142]

My auto defrost Kenmore freezer had to be manually defrosted every 2-3 months. Replaced the thermostat, heating element and timer and still would ice up. Finally figured out that the defrost thermostat was mounted too close to the heating element so that it was short cycling during the defrost cycle. Moved the thermostat to the top of the cooling coils and that fixed it. Now the coils get fully defrosted during each defrost cycle!

[@manojavier4119]

Thanks a lot! Your video helps me understand what's wrong with our Zipel side by side fridge. It seems like in the freezer section, the heater does not activate to defrost the coils that's why the ice builds up and blocks the vents that blows cool air all the way to the top. Great video!

[@applianceassistant]

Yes that would cause fresh food cooling problems. That evaporator fan looks like a normal 120 AC voltage motor so apart from some very strange control issue you probably just need a new fan motor. You can eliminate the control as a cause by checking for AC 120 at the fan terminals with a volt meter. If that looks good it is definitely the fan motor. If you need to buy the fan I would appreciate it if you purchased through the links on my website! The link in in the video description. Thanks!

[@Onanewjob]

I was thinking that a 6 minute video won't help or cover many types of issues. Know that I have watched it I now know I was wrong. Thank you for the help.

[@applianceassistant]

Nice! Thank you!

[@PhoenixStarman]

Excellent. Why don't they tell you this in the manual. Our LG French doors seals both ripped inside of a year and had to be replaced. Now the new ones are doing the same thing and I tapped them. Noticed some accumulated frost in the freezer for a few days and bang. Refrigerator went into defrost mode which made me believe something broke. Contacted a repairman...didn't say a thing about auto defrost. Bought a new Whirlpool, ice maker had a leak, Loews replaced with another. Made in USA but they forgot to connect the hose which was pinched behind the ice maker unit. Didn't find out until the new one was being installed. LG now working fine. Everyone has two or three in Arizona

[@applianceassistant]

@thegannclan Hopefully just cleaning the condenser coils really well will fix your problem. You will also want to check the fan the pulls air across the coils and compressor is working and not jammed up. That is the other very common thing that happens with refrigerators...air flow problems when it comes to the dissipation of heat from the condenser coils under the refrigerator, dust can effect how well the freezer cools. If the coils are clean and its still not cooling well... Not so good.

[@applianceassistant]

Sounds like an air flow problem... I would suggest looking at the refrigerator troubleshooting section on my website. There is a link in the comments section of this video. There is a door that opens and closes to regulate the air flow into the refrigerator section. That could be broken in the closed position, or the fan in the freezer may not be working, or frost could be blocking the air from moving into the fresh food area. I hope the article helps! Good luck!

[@royale6]

Excellent video. It's great how it became more understandable when you put today's newfangled machines in context with the old ones (when we had to empty the whole thing and let it completely melt) Your explanation helped me troubleshoot and am ordering a thermostat. I'll update what happens.

[@acclaim1990]

Thanks you for helping me understand how a fridge works. Just saved me couple hundreds dollars.

[@OVI-Wan-Kenobi-8]

@ 4:25 This was all I needed to do, but I also took the back panel off inside the freezer compartment and chipped away the ice build up @ 2:20 that was blocking the cold air from going into to the fridge compartment. I'm not sure what caused all that ice build up, it might have been from setting the freezer compartment too cold over the last 5 years or one of doors might have been left slightly open overnight. I'm not sure about the thermostat and/or defrost heater being broken or not, it's not really a big deal for me as long as cold air is still be blown into the fridge compartment, if the ducts ice up again I will just manually remove the ice build up. MANY THANKS, GREAT VIDEO!

[@applianceassistant]

@06GTFanatic The fan in the freezer should definitely be on if the compressor is running. You may just have a problem with the evaporator fan. You should also check the coils down by the compressor and make sure they are clean. Email me through my website with your model number and I can do some more checking for you. The link is in the vid description. Glad you liked the video! Thanks for posting!

[@mcskullyali332]

Hi I have a beko fridge freezer the freezer part is not defrosting no more and building up with ice, what can I do to sort it out.

[@DigitalMediaCanada]

hey thanks for this video. My fridge wasn't cooling so I found your vid. It is very clear and well explained. Like you said at the end of the vid, I think my problem was my kids left the freezer door open overnight (it's a basement fridge that we keeper extra stuff in). While the freezer at the top was frozen, the fridge below felt like room temperature. 2 jugs of sour milk later got me to investigating. Many thanks for this great video!

[@taraprincess2712]

🎉

[@applianceassistant]

@jurnagin Normally turning the controls all the way up would not cause a block of ice, but there may have been a defrost problem or ice buildup that caused you son to think that he needed to do that in the first place. If the problem comes back after a few days after you deiced it check that the air ducts are clear and the evaporator fan is working. If all that looks good you will need to check the defrost thermostat and timer for proper operation.

[@applianceassistant]

@23chilled I feel your pain! That's kind of why I started this project. Because you want to be sure its not some little 15-75 dollar switch, timer, or thermostat that would cause you to swap out a 500-3000 refrigerator at 5 years. Most compressors would not give out at 5 years... It happens, but very rarely.

[@canariomoedano]

Thank you very much, the bottom vent in my fridge side was covered with Ice and air was not circulating causing my fridge to not cooling. I check many videos before you and I was ready to go out and buy a new one. I just save a little more than $1000 buck

[@usiruk]

You video is awesome, I should have watch it before working on my freezer. My upright freezer would get slightly cold when plugged in, but the fan would not spin even after I changed out the evaporator fan motor, relay and capacitor already but it worked for a few days only. It's making me crazy.

[@shawnshing614]

Just want to say thank you for education us about the malfunction of the refrigerator . That was priceless . Sincerely. Thank you sir

[@applianceassistant]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Glad you liked it!

[@applianceassistant]

Congratulations!! keep an eye out for new frost in the next few weeks. hopefully nothing, but its always good to catch it before the refrigerator starts to warm up... Thanks for taking the comment!

[@applianceassistant]

@khanomarkhan Nice! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@bbstaraimee]

thank you so much LOL! i tried the flat head screw driver in the back of the fridge et voila! FIXED! YOU are AMAZING. I honestly can't thank you enough. I'm laughing at how simple that was and who knows what it would have cost to call in a repair man to fix it!!