What does it mean if my fridge won't stop running (no, it's not a joke) and the freezer is loaded with frost?

Question

The seals seem fine, but the refrigerator suddenly won't turn off (adding about $40/month to the electric bill), and the freezer is full of frost. Thanks for any advice!

Answer 1

Defrost system is on the blink. The evaporator coil is frozen over with ice blocking cold air from entering into the fresh food section------and this is where the ref. thermostat is located. If the T=stat does not get cold enough==it will never "tell" the compressor to shut off==and so it runs on. Your temperature in the fresh food compartment has by now become too warm to keep food--warming up is"nt it-----------OK==You need to empty the freezer section and manually defrost it. You can just unplug it and open the doors to let it defrost=you decide how to do this best. Afterwards==plug it back in and operate it in a normal manner==but==this will only last 3 or 4 days(?) and then it starts all over again.The ice /frost in the freezer will come back. The problem lies in the defost system which is made up with(1)defrost timer(2)defrost terminator(3)defrost heater(s)(4)wiring. Any one of these can be at fault causing your problem.---------Do this--locate the defrost timer. this could be hiding behind the bottom where the toe plate is---or inside the fresh food compartment somewhere--perhaps behind the plastic cover for the light. what you are looking for is a little hole where the d/f timer is.Inside this little hole is where you can "turn" it clockwise with perhaps your finger tip or a flatblade screwdriver. With the compressor running==listen to it==turn the d/f timer slowly until it clicks and the compressor shuts off. Stop==the ref. is off now. Ok==go take a break=wait to see if the ref. comes back on by itself==this can take a half hour +plus of waiting. After say a hour of waiting and it never came back on by itself==then I would replace the defost timer. If it did come back on ==then the d/f heater(s)is bad or the terminator / or a bad wire connection.The freezer section will have to be taken apart in order to get at these parts. Are you up to this? You might want to call a serviceman at this point, or even consider another ref.==it"s your call to fit your need. Good Luck

Answer 2

You seriously need to unplug it before it gets overheated and starts a big old fire. Somethings wrong with the thermostat or the motor. Shut it off. Defrost it. Pull it away from the wall and vacuum off everything on the back. On the front at the bottom there is probably a grill of some kind to keep things from getting pushed underneath. You can pop it off and clean that too. It gets clogged up with dust and stuff and won't let the air circulate underneath. Good luck.

Answer 3

Given the symptoms I'd almost guarantee that there's a leak in the door seal. You need to have someone who knows about refrigerators look at it. Get some references before you have anyone do that and make sure whether there's a charge for just looking at it and, if so, how much. I've worked with refrigerators and the door seal was almost always the culprit in cases such as yours, but not always. This is why you want someone who is qualified to examine the device.

Answer 4

It could be a number of things. Is your thermostat working properly? Has the seal perished or, is it damaged and in need of replacing? Are you not closing it properly because it is too full? They would all cause it to freeze too fast. I used o have a chest freezer many years ago and that used to freeze up if it was nearly empty. I ended up putting boxes filled with crumpled newspapers in the bottom. Another cure I found was to line the inside with polystyrene sheets salvaged from packaging.

Answer 5

I'd guess your defrost thermostat is bad, and it never defrosted.
And It won't until you replace the part.
Now, with all that frost forming, it may have blocked up the evaporator fan, adding to the frost.

If you repair this yourself or call for service, don't act until the fridge is completly defrosted. unplug it and take out all the food.
No one can work on it with all the frost exisiting.

Answer 6

check the thermostat and the preset temperature. it could be one of these two......

1.....
thermostat probably broken. the freezer/compressor should stop when the the freezer inside has reached its pre-set temperature. so thats why the freezer/compressor wouldnt stop running. cuz even when the inside is cold enough, but the thermostat does not cut-off the freezer.

2...
the preset temperature is set way way way too low... thus making the freezer 'think' that it has not reach the required temperature yet.. try to set the temperature a little higher.

if no2 doesnt help, its most likely problem no1.... hope it helps...
cheers

Answer 7

Remove whatever food you have in the fridge, put those items in a cooler with ice, then unplug the fridge and open the fridge door until it defrosts.

Answer 8

Refrigerator Will Not Stop Running

Answer 9

try vacuuming the back of it where the coils are,and underneath the fridge.
also a must is defrosting, check the setting on the thermostat you may have that up too high

Answer 10

YOU HAVE TO GIVE A MODEL NUMBER SO SOMEBODY CAN LOOK UP WHAT TYPE OF REEFER YOU HAVE. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY POSSIBILITIES. IS THIS A 2 DOOR OR 1 DOOR FRIDGE? ECT.