Freezer compartment fine, fridge warm. Any ideas?

[Barns]

Hi, I've got a fridge freezer and the freezer section is as cold as the Arctic but the fridge section doesn't get cold at all even though it's at the coldest setting. I thought the temperature of both was controlled by the same system so this wouldn't be possible but I'm no expert. Does anyone know why this is happening? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Barns]

Is the condensate getting to the outside ie melted water has to get to the outside if not it turns to ice very very quickly
Pict

I don't understand, sorry. There's no water on the outside of the unit i.e. there are no leaks. Is that what you meant?

 

[malcolmsanford]

I think what Pict means is that when the unit goes onto defrost normally the melted ice will go via a tube onto a tray normally fitted on top of the compressor that then evaporates it. If this pipe is blocked the defrosted water will not leave the compartment and will ice up.

 

[Marvo]

I also noticed quite a loud bubbling sound when I opened the freezer door. It's coming from behind the back wall of the freezer compartment. Is that normal?

Thanks

I wouldn't worry about bubbling or gurgling sounds unless you can hear them from a couple of meters away. It's probably just noise of expansion and evaporation.

If the problem is persisting I would defrost again and remove the plastic panel in the back of the fridge compartment. Somewhere between the freezer and the fridge will be an air channel that allows cold air into the fridge. There's sometimes a control flap that's operated by a bi-metallic device and it's probably jammed closed. I would take advantage at the same time and clean out the internal surfaces with some bleach and water. Also check any drain pipes are flowing freely etc. If there's any fans also check they run whilst you hold the door switch closed as they often stop intentionally when the door is opened.

 

[Barns]

I couldn't get the plastic panel off the back of the inside of the fridge. I managed to get the other two plastic parts off up the top, one with the thermostat to change the temperature and another bit but, even though I removed the two screws at the top of the panel I still couldn't get it off, there was very little room around it for leverage and it's quite flush with the back of the fridge.

Is there any special knack to it?

The only metallic thing I could see was a small, vertical metal cartridge (like a mini scuba diving tank) about 5 centimetres tall/0.5 cm wide behind a plastic grille which I could raise but would then drop back down with gravity. Presumably not what you meant by the bi-metallic device but thought I'd mention it.

I found the tray for condensate and it had a shallow pool of very dirty, oily water with a heating element in it, like a kettle, presumably to help it evaporate. It is next to the compressor rather than below/above it.

Yes, the fan goes on when I press the door close light switch and off when I release it so the fan's at least working.

Thanks all for your help so far!

 

[Marvo]

Hmmm, the oily water part is worrying. Is there actually oil and not just dirt? If there is oil you probably have a gas leak. Oil travels around the inside of the refrigeration system pipework loop along with the refrigerant gas so normally wherever there's a gas leak there's also an oil leak to some degree or other.

Just a word of warning, if there even might be a refrigerant leak please be very careful, some of the newer generation refrigerants are propane based and highly flammable when they mix with air.

I'm not sure how the internal panels come out but it might be time to get a professional to look at it if you've checked for all the obvious problems and drawn a blank.

 

[Barns]

Sorry, I hesitated before writing "oily" since it wasn't the rainbow sort of sheen you get with normal oil on water it was more of a black/dark brown scum floating on the top in sections, like continents on a map in a way, although it wasn't the standard seven continents of course! That's the best way I can describe it anyway!

But yes, I agree, I think I'll call a man in since I can't get that panel off. I sincerely doubt he'll be a "professional" though and I'm sure he'll charge me an arm and a leg just for removing the panel and reopening the jammed valve though...such is life!

Thanks ever so much Marvo.

 

[Marvo]

That sounds normal, the scum is probably just mold or fungus, where there's condensate water and warmth it grows. Splash a little bleach in there once in a while and Bob should be your uncle.

If you're out in the sticks then your local fridge guy will certainly charge you less if there's an ice cold beer in the freezer and a couple of decent sized chops tanning on the Barbie

 

[the pict]

This is common that you cant get the back panel off, most likey there is a foil sheet with a defrost element stuck onto it this sometime adheres itself to the back panel and removing it means destroying this foil sheet most domestic fridge engineers will carry a compatabile spare however given your loacation this may not be the case,
Pict