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

amdhunter

amdhunter

Lifer
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

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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. 🙁
 
Last edited:
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.
 
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.
 
amdhunter said:
Anyone know if I can fix it myself? I am leaving the country tomorrow and this couldn't have happened at a worse time. 🙁
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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)
 
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. 🙂
 
Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.
 
Red Squirrel said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.

pcgeek11 said:
Stuck in defrost mode.
Click to expand...

Yep, very likely.

Imp said:
Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.
Click to expand...

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.
 
z1ggy said:
You have lots of money, just go buy a new one.

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

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.
 
Rubycon said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Thank you, free repair lady!
 
Imp said:
Our fridge is on the fritz and making really loud clicking sounds intermittently... but it still blows cold inside and hot outside.
Click to expand...

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.
 
mmntech said:
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
amdhunter said:
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?
Click to expand...

Some policies do cover loss of perishable items. They will not cover repairs to the fridge though.
 
amdhunter said:
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?
Click to expand...

Just call your landlord and let him deal with it?
 
amdhunter said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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