(Updated: Fixed!) Help me please! Fridge blowing hot air. :(

[amdhunter]

Super sent a technician to fix my fridge finally and he replaced whatever was broken with this: http://www.amazon.com/Supco-RCO410-Start-Kit/dp/B008YDSH6E

Don't know what it is, but my fridge is perfect now. Seems a bit quieter for some reason also, and not clicking on and off as much as it used to. Actually, not clicking at all..?

Original OP below:

I unplugged it for now.

Opened the fridge today and it blew out the hottest air you can imagine. Everything spoiled and turned black, and it's blowing hot air though all the vents.

There is a ton of cool air blowing from the bottom of the fridge, and I can hear a faint click as if the compressor is trying to kick in.

The super of my building is completely useless and does nothing for me, and I don't want to shell out for a new fridge.

Anyone know if I can fix it myself? I am leaving the country tomorrow and this couldn't have happened at a worse time.

 

[effowe]

I guess when you live with someone long enough you begin to pick up their traits.

 

[amdhunter]

Took me a second to get that.

Anyway I can hear the compressor clicking, but it doesn't seem to want to kick in. Is this thing done? I looked in the back and the coils are dry if that means something. The fan is blowing on them fine.

 

[gotsmack]

try putting it in reverse, you want the cold air inside and the hot air outside.

You can thank me later.

 

[disappoint]

 

[Markbnj]

No, there is probably nothing you can do yourself. Since you have to leave I would clean it out and leave the door blocked open so it can air out while you're gone. Schedule a service call for when you return, unless the fridge is worth less to you than the $150-200 it will cost to get someone out there to look at it.

 

[Northern Lawn]

Anyone know if I can fix it myself? I am leaving the country tomorrow and this couldn't have happened at a worse time.

If you're leaving on a trip and can't get it fixed, take everything out, clean it up and leave the door wide open while you're gone. Unplug it too.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It almost sounds like it's operating in reverse, not sure how that would happen, I suppose if it's a screw compressor it could actually be going backwards. If it's piston then that can't really happen unless some valves arn't operating correctly within the compressor? Bad capacitor maybe? Just guessing here.

I'm not a hvac expert myself, but maybe post a pic of the back and which lines are hot and which are cold and maybe someone can confirm this.

Either way it's probably an expensive fix as it would most likely require to discharge and recharge it. May be better off to buy a new one unless it's a high end one and worth repairing.

 

[pcgeek11]

Stuck in defrost mode.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

http://www.doityourself.com/forum/e...pliances/315190-fridge-blowing-hot-air.html#b

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2008/05/08/refrigerator-blowing-warm-air-in-the-icebox/

 

[Rakehellion]

Anyone know if I can fix it myself? I am leaving the country tomorrow and this couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Sounds like it's the best time. You don't have to worry about all your food spoiling while you're gone.

 

[Fritzo]

You have a Limbaugh brand fridge. That's a feature of those models.

 

[NoTine42]

FWIW, my vans A/C was blowing hot air because it was low on "freon"

After finding and fixing the leak and recharging, its cold, again.

But, like posted above, I think a relay sounds more likely for a refrigerator. (Pipes not subject to the same stress as a moving vehicle)

 

[z1ggy]

You have lots of money, just go buy a new one.

Say hi to the gf for me! errrr rather,... hola!

 

[DrPizza]

I'm no refrigeration expert.

You could try replacing the relay, and/or the start capacitor. I think those parts are relatively cheap. If that doesn't fix it, then I'd scrap it. Unless it's a $1500 side-by-side that's relatively new, I doubt it's worth the cost of a repairman; since you can pick up a used fridge in good working condition for $100-$200 on Craigslist these days. (See if you have a used reconditioned appliances store in your area.)

And, on another note, those reconditioned appliances stores - I wonder how often they get their appliances from the "we'll deliver your new appliance and haul away your old appliance for free" deals. Washing machines - $10 coupler & people replace the machine. Dryer: lint buildup leads to thermal fuse tripping - people replace the machine. Fridge: cap or relay goes, people replace the fridge. Instead of buying a $10 part, and perhaps watching a 5 minute video showing how to replace that part (plus clean out the lint in the case of the dryer), people would rather completely replace the appliance.

Damn it, speaking of which... guilty. Just ordered a $370 water pump (bust out another thousand), because there's no factory rebuild kit. It can be rebuilt for about $20, but I have to order separate parts from 4 or 5 different companies; and don't have time to wait. Well, I guess it means I'll end up with a spare that I can quickly swap out.

 

[Imp]

Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.

 

[Rubycon]

It almost sounds like it's operating in reverse, not sure how that would happen, I suppose if it's a screw compressor it could actually be going backwards. If it's piston then that can't really happen unless some valves arn't operating correctly within the compressor? Bad capacitor maybe? Just guessing here.

Most small residential "fridges" use either piston (reciprocating) or scroll type compressors. There's no reverse cycle (aka heat pump) however on some models a hot gas bypass valve can be used to invoke a defrosting cycle in which if it failed that way would make the inside very warm.

Stuck in defrost mode.

Yep, very likely.

Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.

That could be the snap disc (klixon) overcurrent protector. The compressor could be too hot or its head pressure running too high. Allowing this to continue will shorten its life considerably and increase operating cost. Check the condenser coils for blockage (dust bunnies, etc.). A unit with a blocked condenser is an energy hog. This goes for any air conditioning unit as well.

 

[mmntech]

You have lots of money, just go buy a new one.

Say hi to the gf for me! errrr rather,... hola!

Keeping in mind that on ATOT, everybody makes at least seven figures. It's probably some sort of custom unit. He doesn't have weeks to wait around for them to build it. Nor can't just go to Home Depot and buy a new one like some filthy plebeian. :sneaky:

For what's wrong with it... what Ruby said. Probably need to call someone in to fix it when you get back. If you have a chest freezer, you can probably just freeze most of the stuff for the time being. Is it still under warranty? If it's an old fridge, might just be worth buying a new one. Especially if it's a lower end model.

 

[Imp]

That could be the snap disc (klixon) overcurrent protector. The compressor could be too hot or its head pressure running too high. Allowing this to continue will shorten its life considerably and increase operating cost. Check the condenser coils for blockage (dust bunnies, etc.). A unit with a blocked condenser is an energy hog. This goes for any air conditioning unit as well.

It's pushed up against a wall that probably hasn't been vacuumed/broomed in a few years.

Thank you, free repair lady!

 

[amdhunter]

Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.

That's what this one was doing for months. And yesterday, dead...lol

Thanks for the advice, I cleaned everything out, and will leave the door open. Need to Windex in there a bit to really get some spots out.

 

[alkemyst]

Satan is COMING FOR YOU!

 

[amdhunter]

Keeping in mind that on ATOT, everybody makes at least seven figures. It's probably some sort of custom unit. He doesn't have weeks to wait around for them to build it. Nor can't just go to Home Depot and buy a new one like some filthy plebeian. :sneaky:

For what's wrong with it... what Ruby said. Probably need to call someone in to fix it when you get back. If you have a chest freezer, you can probably just freeze most of the stuff for the time being. Is it still under warranty? If it's an old fridge, might just be worth buying a new one. Especially if it's a lower end model.

It's a decent General Electric that was awesome at keeping stuff cool. Was pretty clean too when I got it. It wasn't until I looked at the back that I realized it has a pretty shitty repair job (cardboard box blocking everything...)

Ah, I'll revisit it in a week.

Someone told me renters insurance might cover it? Will they cover it if the fridge came with the apartment?

 

[alkemyst]

It's a decent General Electric that was awesome at keeping stuff cool. Was pretty clean too when I got it. It wasn't until I looked at the back that I realized it has a pretty shitty repair job (cardboard box blocking everything...)

Ah, I'll revisit it in a week.

Someone told me renters insurance might cover it? Will they cover it if the fridge came with the apartment?

Some policies do cover loss of perishable items. They will not cover repairs to the fridge though.

 

[LucJoe]

It's a decent General Electric that was awesome at keeping stuff cool. Was pretty clean too when I got it. It wasn't until I looked at the back that I realized it has a pretty shitty repair job (cardboard box blocking everything...)

Ah, I'll revisit it in a week.

Someone told me renters insurance might cover it? Will they cover it if the fridge came with the apartment?

Just call your landlord and let him deal with it?

 

[Imp]

That's what this one was doing for months. And yesterday, dead...lol

Thanks for the advice, I cleaned everything out, and will leave the door open. Need to Windex in there a bit to really get some spots out.

I looked up the clicking on Google and the things I read said that clicking every minute or so is a bad sign. Ummmm... ours clicks non-stop like 3 times a second for a few seconds at a time every once in a while. It must be really bad.