Sunday, May 7, 2017

Major Home Appliance Repair Notes

How Will I Get My Freezer To Work Again?


A freezer, one of the most important of the major home appliances can, from time to time, stop working properly and must be repaired promptly.

 No one wants to see their food supply perish as a result of a broken freezer. This can be quite a dilemma for many of us.

We should gather some idea as to the workings of the freezer before we rush into calling in a technician. Repair costs can quickly mount up to more than the value of the freezer.

A freezer operates by cooling and in order to diagnose the cause of problems it is essential to understand how the freezer cools things and what parts are required for this process. Knowledge of the operation of the freezer will allow the owner to understand the repair needed or what do expect when a technician is called in.

Essentially a freezer cools the air inside the freezer by transmitted cold gas through a network of tubing around the freezer box, the cooled gas is processed by a compressor. Warm air inside the freezer is exposed to the cold walls of the freezer, the freezer thereby is cooled.

The cooling process involves a compressor, motor driven that converts a gas(refrigerant) by compressing it, and then pumping it through an expansion valve to the inside of the freezer. As the refrigerant passes through the expansion valve, pressure on the gas is reduced and the temperature drops.

This is a simplified explanation as to the workings of the freezer, it allows us to start to diagnose whatever is malfunctioning.

Initial steps (courtesy of  AcmeHowto)

Freezer Troubleshooting Guide

SymptomCheck
Click on underlined items for further information
Freezer does not run and the light does not work
  • Make sure the freezer is plugged in
  • Check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker
  • Test the power outlet for voltage
  • Inspect the electrical cord for damage
  • Eliminate use of an extension cord, if any is being used
  • Check the outlet voltage
  • If power is reaching the electrical outlet, trace the freezer wiring and test components as you go. Either there is a short, which must be located and repaired, or the freezer has sustained electrical damage
Freezer does not run, but the light works
Freezer light does not work
Freezer is not cold enough
Freezer is too cold
Freezer is noisy
    Freezer runs continuously
    Freezer starts and stops frequently
    Freezer does not defrost automatically
    Freezer has an unpleasant odor
    • Remove spoiled food
    • Clean freezer interior with a solution of hot water and baking soda
    • Clean the door seals
    • Remove breaker strips and check for wet insulation
    Water on floor outside of freezer
    Water inside the freezer
    • Check for a clogged drain tube
    • If you have an ice-maker, check freezer and ice-maker for level



    That summary should be most helpful in maintaining a freezer.