Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.

On Mar 10, 3:02*am, nitroamos wrote:
Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.

Check the fan inside the freezer and see if its working OK.

On Mar 10, 12:02*am, nitroamos wrote:
Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.

A refrigerator only 9 yoa is almost certainly a frost free.

I had a similar problem but it may not be the same. My symptoms were
the freezer getting too warm. Repairman had to replace the 'defrost
heater' that comes on each defrost cycle. When he pulled the cover
off, the interior was a solid block of ice. Watching him, it was not
a difficult problem and parts not very expensive. The service call
though...

Harry K

nitroamos wrote:
Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.



Hi,
First thing to check is defrost timer.

On Mar 10, 10:51*am, Tony Hwang wrote:
nitroamos wrote:
Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.

Hi,
First thing to check is defrost timer.- Hide quoted text -


Yes, defrost timer and element are the likely suspects. Frost frees
are set to run from anywhere from once a day to every couple days.
Basicly, it's just a heating element on the freezer coils that heats
them up so the ice melts and runs off.

You can find exploded diagrams for your model which will help if you
want to work on it yourself at many of the online parts websites.

ok, i now know that i have a defrost timer, because I found it. :-)
I just set it to defrost and plugged it in, so now I wait. I could
have tested it without taking off the panel... oh well, now I know.

These are the instructions I'm following:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4504020_test...ost-timer.html
although maybe i'm going to have to buy an ohmmeter.

some other notes: i know the fan is working ok, because my fixit
friend lubricated it recently when it wasn't working ok.

thanks for the help so far!


this is fun... i'm a fixit kindof person, but only while writing
computer software... so far.

Notes, for you guys, and for future reference:

I tested the defrost timer as prescribed, and the compressor never
turned on. I could feel some heat on the "barrier" or "shelf" between
the fridge and freezer (where I believe the air ducts are) so
something was defrosting, although I don't think the heating element
near the freezer coils ever turned on... (I hope it wasn't supposed
to).

The Sears website has a nice system for searching your model number
(other websites I had tried didn't work), although the model displayed
was different from what I have. For example, the model displayed
didn't have a defrost timer... No worries, I just looked up the part
number for the timer, and they had it. Well, it was a part that had
been "upgraded", a favorable signal... perhaps the old part design had
problems. Anyway, it was only a 30$ part, but they were going to
charge me 10$ for 1 week shipping, or 22$ for 2 day shipping. Well,
what a ripoff, and who can wait that long without a fridge these
days?? I just called them, and they told me which store in the LA area
had it in stock. So 1 hr shipping for free! The guy at the store told
me I got the last one...

Anyway, I tested the new timer in the same way as the old one, since
obviously if the new unit fails in the same way as the old part, then
perhaps I'd done the test wrong, or the new part was broken, or there
was some other problem, etc. The new part passed the test. Now I just
have to wait for a couple weeks to see if frost builds up because I
don't know of any other way to know if I've in fact isolated the
problem...

I'll bet I just saved ~100$ (and gained experience) by doing this
myself! Or I just saved the cost of a new unit. Thanks guys!

References:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...93&pop=f lush
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/part...supplierId=253

That, or defrost problems.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Mike rock" wrote in message
...

Check the fan inside the freezer and see if its working OK.

harry k wrote:
On Mar 10, 12:02 am, nitroamos wrote:
Hi -- I have a 9 yo Kenmore freezer+fridge. It's set up so that the
fridge is cooled by siphoning air off the freezer. The problem is that
the freezer is building frost, blocking the duct, and thereby warming
the fridge. I don't think this is a "frost free" device, so i don't
think it's supposed to defrost itself (although how would I know?).

Normally, perhaps this wouldn't be a big issue, except that I've now
had to defrost it twice in the space of a few weeks. I've googled
around thar intarwebs for advice... here's what I've found:

1) check the seal by closing the door in a dollar bill and seeing if
there's tension. it looked like there's tension all around.
2) Defrost for minimum 24 hours. We didn't wait that long before
because we didn't know if frost was the problem. This time, I'll wait
until tomorrow to plug it in again. But surely that doesn't explain
where all the frost is...
3) I don't open the fridge or freezer very often... so I don't believe
that's my problem. I'm in California, which is pretty dry, although it
has been humid recently. But it's hard for me to believe that's enough
to produce all this frost. I've lived here for several years now, and
none of the other freezers i've used have had this problem (although
maybe they had defrosters).
4) I don't keep a lot of food in my freezer or fridge. Is that a
problem? One fix-it guy I know mumbled something about a lower heat
capacity, but I don't see why that would mean I'd get more frost.
5) I typically keep 3 ice trays in my freezer, and I refill them
often... is it possible that the ice is subliming? Or evaporating?
Enough that is to produce perhaps 1 liter of water from frost?
6) Perhaps, sometimes, I (or a guest) isn't closing a door all the
way... but that seems unlikely since there's a bit of a magnetic
attraction.

Anyway... the point of my post is to see if anybody has any ideas for
things I can try to minimize or slow the growth of the frost... how
help me figure out what to try to fix it. That same fix-it guy from #4
told me to just buy a new one, but that's not worth it for me because
I'm going to (probably) move away this summer.

A refrigerator only 9 yoa is almost certainly a frost free.

I had a similar problem but it may not be the same. My symptoms were
the freezer getting too warm. Repairman had to replace the 'defrost
heater' that comes on each defrost cycle. When he pulled the cover
off, the interior was a solid block of ice. Watching him, it was not
a difficult problem and parts not very expensive. The service call
though...

Harry K

I had a similar problem which was caused by failure of the clock timer
which turns the defrost cycle on/off.

EJ in NJ