jeff1
12-14-2013, 04:41 PM
Appliance tip of the week...
Refrigerator Issues we are seeing a lot of now...
If you have a refrigerator with an icemaker in it but the water line is not hooked up yet, make sure the icemaker is shut off!
If the icemaker is left on with out the water being hooked up to the refrigerator, the icemaker will call for water and the fill valve will make a loud buzzzzing or chattering noise.
Some ways to shut off the icemaker:
- lift the wand arm up until it "clicks" into the off position ( wand arm will stay up )
- shut off the toggle switch
- shut off the icemaker with the key pad on the electronic display control
Refrigerator noises...
First you must try to identify whether it is coming from inside or out. Some noises are normal such as groaning in the freezer, this can happen when the compressor shuts off and this is normal. Another frequent noise in some models is a gurgling sound. This can be several things the defrost heater melting the evaporator and the sound is the water running down the drain. Another thing it might be is the refrigerant being converted from liquid to gas and running down the refrigerant line this is normal. A sizzling sound can also be heard and that is the defrost heater melting the evaporator ice, again normal.
The most common problem with noisy refrigerators is the fans. First, where is the noise coming from? If it?s coming from the freezer then it?s probably the evaporator fan motor. Take the evaporator cover (in back or bottom of freezer) off. Once it?s off you should be able to see the fan and confirm that it?s noisy. (Note that in some refrigerators the fan cuts off when you open the door so depress door switch for this test). If the fan is noisy replace it. If its not the fan and the noise is coming from the freezer, then it might be normal. At times there will be a groaning noise coming from the freezer. This is when the compressor has just cut off .If the noise is coming from inside the fresh food compartment, the only thing it could be is the defrost timer. It is often ( not always ) located near the control - replace the defrost timer in that case.
If it?s coming from behind the refrigerator, then that will narrow it down to the compressor or the condenser fan. The compressor and condenser can cause a very noisy refrigerator. Take the back off the refrigerator and look to see if something is in the fan. If there is nothing in the fan, unplug the refrigerator then unplug the fan motor. Then plug the refrigerator back in and if the noise is gone the fan is bad and needs replacing. If the noise doesn?t go away then the compressor is bad ( provided that the defrost timer is not back there and we don?t see that very often any more ). If the compressor is bad, I would suggest either putting up with it or getting a new refrigerator because compressors are very expensive. If it?s noisy when it cutting off, it?s the compressor and, as said, they are very expensive. If its coming from the front of the refrigerator, it?s the defrost timer - replace it.
520 Refrigerator and freezer condenser coil cleaning brush with instructions. Also works great for dryer lint (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=12859)
521 Fridge Aid refrigerator deodorizer (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=597)
jeff.
Refrigerator Issues we are seeing a lot of now...
If you have a refrigerator with an icemaker in it but the water line is not hooked up yet, make sure the icemaker is shut off!
If the icemaker is left on with out the water being hooked up to the refrigerator, the icemaker will call for water and the fill valve will make a loud buzzzzing or chattering noise.
Some ways to shut off the icemaker:
- lift the wand arm up until it "clicks" into the off position ( wand arm will stay up )
- shut off the toggle switch
- shut off the icemaker with the key pad on the electronic display control
Refrigerator noises...
First you must try to identify whether it is coming from inside or out. Some noises are normal such as groaning in the freezer, this can happen when the compressor shuts off and this is normal. Another frequent noise in some models is a gurgling sound. This can be several things the defrost heater melting the evaporator and the sound is the water running down the drain. Another thing it might be is the refrigerant being converted from liquid to gas and running down the refrigerant line this is normal. A sizzling sound can also be heard and that is the defrost heater melting the evaporator ice, again normal.
The most common problem with noisy refrigerators is the fans. First, where is the noise coming from? If it?s coming from the freezer then it?s probably the evaporator fan motor. Take the evaporator cover (in back or bottom of freezer) off. Once it?s off you should be able to see the fan and confirm that it?s noisy. (Note that in some refrigerators the fan cuts off when you open the door so depress door switch for this test). If the fan is noisy replace it. If its not the fan and the noise is coming from the freezer, then it might be normal. At times there will be a groaning noise coming from the freezer. This is when the compressor has just cut off .If the noise is coming from inside the fresh food compartment, the only thing it could be is the defrost timer. It is often ( not always ) located near the control - replace the defrost timer in that case.
If it?s coming from behind the refrigerator, then that will narrow it down to the compressor or the condenser fan. The compressor and condenser can cause a very noisy refrigerator. Take the back off the refrigerator and look to see if something is in the fan. If there is nothing in the fan, unplug the refrigerator then unplug the fan motor. Then plug the refrigerator back in and if the noise is gone the fan is bad and needs replacing. If the noise doesn?t go away then the compressor is bad ( provided that the defrost timer is not back there and we don?t see that very often any more ). If the compressor is bad, I would suggest either putting up with it or getting a new refrigerator because compressors are very expensive. If it?s noisy when it cutting off, it?s the compressor and, as said, they are very expensive. If its coming from the front of the refrigerator, it?s the defrost timer - replace it.
520 Refrigerator and freezer condenser coil cleaning brush with instructions. Also works great for dryer lint (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=12859)
521 Fridge Aid refrigerator deodorizer (http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=153&N=597)
jeff.