How long does a refrigerator door need 2 be open for food to spoil? For minor fridge problems? For major ones?

Question

I am especially interested in the functional, mechanical problems that can arise with the refrigerator, from the fixable to the unfixable. Thanks!

WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS ABOUT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND THE TIME THEY TAKE TO HAPPEN. Thanks for the info about the food spoilage, but I have enough answers on that and it wasn't my main question! ;) Thanks again.

Answer 1

put your fridge outside (in the north-east). and it will be good throughout the winter.

Answer 2

It is possible that the evaporator coils accumulated an excessive amount of frost on them during the period the door was open. It is also possible that the compressor overheated and has shut itself off and refuses to start while it is still hot. This is more unlikely from your description. It is possible the unit will correct itself eventually. The defrost cycle will eventually remove the excessive frost if it is there. To speed up the process and since you have no savable food to cool you can turn it off and leave the FREEZER door open overnight. This should be enough to thaw the evaporator coils or cool the compressor. This should also be long enough to cool the compressor if it is overheated. The coils are located on the floor of the freezer section. If the freezer fan cannot blow air through them the refrigerator section will not cool. Most people tend to turn up the controls and this will also prevent cool air from reaching the refrigerator. How you say? There are usually 2 controls. The freezer control is a butterfly baffle that either opens or closes off air flow between the refrigerator section and the freezer section. The other control usually called the refrigerator control is regulated by the refrigerator temperature. It controls the amount of time the compressor is running. If the controls are turned all the way up, The freezer control is trying to keep all the cold in the freezer section. You should set the controls for normal operation and leave them there. Normal is usually midrange for the freezer (baffle) control and less than half way up for the temperature (refrigerator) control.

Answer 3

You should have your fridge door on an angle with the lowest part being the back. If the door is left slightly ajar this angle will cause the door to swing back shut on its' own, thus avoiding the problem that you are referring to in the first place. The motor in this case will have to work overtime and since it is an electrical one it will keep running until the desired temperature is achieved. Since this machine is meant to cycle it is not intended to run for extended times of 5 to 6 or greater hours and could overheat and breakdown. Tilting the fridge door is your best bet and try to remember to close it next time. It is a wonder that the makers of refrigerators have not come up with a better closing system after all these years. Maybe they need to work on a gravity door which will close automatically as gravity will do it for them.

Answer 4

There shouldn't be any mechanical problem other than a higher electrical bill A refrigerator has the same components as a air conditioner (different refrigerant,) When a heat wave hits and your air conditioner runs 24 hrs a day it will still be fine, relax and don't worry about it.

Answer 5

If the door is open for a day(5-8 hrs.) then the temperature is no longer what it should be. but if you can get it cool again fast, then your milk and meets will probably be good for a few more days depending on the expiration date. make sure the temp. is @ least 33 -35 degrees F . To b sure, always take a good whiff before eating or drinking things in question.

Answer 6

The time factor is irrelevant depending on where you are, I mean tropic or temperate?. Temperature differences are the problem. Should your fridge temperature raised above -13 deg. C to positive side your meat will be rotten esp pork which could not tolerate 3 deg C difference. Should the temperature raised further above 4 deg C. your milk and dairy products will be spoiled, your vege's and fruits are okay at room temperature.

Answer 7

How long have you been on this earth. You should have known the answer to this question years ago. Even food in a a propererly operating ref. has a shelf life. You don't have to wait until it turnes into a lab experiment to toss it out.

Answer 8

4 to 6 houres will start to spoil the food.

Answer 9

most foods will spoil if not kept below 42 deg. If he door will not seal or close the thermostat control will keep the compressor running constantly resulting in inevitable failure.

Answer 10

all foods spoil in different temps . minor or major.