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#1
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Rant on ......
I got a new Whirlpool side by side fridge 2 years ago. So, yesterday I was changing its horribly expensive water filter for the water and ice. So I decided to check the condenser coils for cleaning. To my amazement they were packed with dirt. Now comes the good (actually bad) part. While you can vacuum the front-most coil, where most to the dirt collects, all of the remaining coils are not cleanable. Sure, you could tip the fridge on its side and get it from the bottom. The coils are zig-zagged starting in front, going up at 45 degrees to the floor towards the rear. As you go towards the rear the coils then go down at 45 degrees and so on. There are about 4 or so of these up and down coils. The front-most coil blocks access to all the rear coils. There's no room to get into the sides, only the bottom. I looked at the manual and it says, "There is no need for routine condenser cleaning in normal home operating environments." What? I've never seen a condenser, even in the cleanest homes, that doesn't need periodic cleaning. Even my old built-in Kitchen Aid with the condenser on the top, needed cleaning. How can they even claim Energy Star Compliance? I called they "Customer Experience" line. I know why they call it that ... every time I have talked to them, it was literally an experience! They were of NO HELP, as usual. I talked to the supervisor. She was of NO HELP. I asked about how they can claim "Energy Star" compliance and she said "it is Energy Star compliant", litterally ignoring what I had said. Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. They replaced the entire door. Still does it. The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. |
#2
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Jun 18, 9:25*am, Art Todesco wrote:
Rant on ...... I got a new Whirlpool side by side fridge 2 years ago. *So, yesterday I was changing its horribly expensive water filter for the water and ice. *So I decided to check the condenser coils for cleaning. *To my amazement they were packed with dirt. *Now comes the good (actually bad) part. *While you can vacuum the front-most coil, where most to the dirt collects, all of the remaining coils are not cleanable. *Sure, you could tip the fridge on its side and get it from the bottom. *The coils are zig-zagged starting in front, going up at 45 degrees to the floor towards the rear. *As you go towards the rear the coils then go down at 45 degrees and so on. There are about 4 or so of these up and down coils. *The front-most coil blocks access to all the rear coils. *There's no room to get into the sides, only the bottom. *I looked at the manual and it says, "There is no need for routine condenser cleaning in normal home operating environments." * What? *I've never seen a condenser, even in the cleanest homes, that doesn't need periodic cleaning. Even my old built-in Kitchen Aid with the condenser on the top, needed cleaning. *How can they even claim Energy Star Compliance? I called they "Customer Experience" line. *I know why they call it that ... every time I have talked to them, it was literally an experience! *They were of NO HELP, as usual. *I talked to the supervisor. *She was of NO HELP. *I asked about how they can claim "Energy Star" compliance and she said "it is Energy Star compliant", litterally ignoring what I had said. *Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? *If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. *There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. *They replaced the entire door. *Still does it. * The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. *He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. *That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. No need to apologize. With the prices of these appliances these days, having a lemon in the house is beyond merely aggravating. Joe |
#3
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
In article ,
Art Todesco wrote: The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. I bought a side-by-side whirlpool about two years ago, that was about two years old when I bought it. Had the ice build-up problem until I figured out that the dispenser door can get lodged ajar by a piece of ice. That leads to a melt/freeze cycle that creates an ice jam. Once in the habit of checking that the flapper closes securely, the problem stopped. |
#4
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Sorry to hear. I repair refrigerators, and some other
appliances. Usually, Whirlpool are easy to repair, and the parts are reasonably priced. Sounds like they made a mess of this one. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "Art Todesco" wrote in message ... Rant on ...... I got a new Whirlpool side by side fridge 2 years ago. So, yesterday I was changing its horribly expensive water filter for the water and ice. So I decided to check the condenser coils for cleaning. To my amazement they were packed with dirt. Now comes the good (actually bad) part. While you can vacuum the front-most coil, where most to the dirt collects, all of the remaining coils are not cleanable. Sure, you could tip the fridge on its side and get it from the bottom. The coils are zig-zagged starting in front, going up at 45 degrees to the floor towards the rear. As you go towards the rear the coils then go down at 45 degrees and so on. There are about 4 or so of these up and down coils. The front-most coil blocks access to all the rear coils. There's no room to get into the sides, only the bottom. I looked at the manual and it says, "There is no need for routine condenser cleaning in normal home operating environments." What? I've never seen a condenser, even in the cleanest homes, that doesn't need periodic cleaning. Even my old built-in Kitchen Aid with the condenser on the top, needed cleaning. How can they even claim Energy Star Compliance? I called they "Customer Experience" line. I know why they call it that ... every time I have talked to them, it was literally an experience! They were of NO HELP, as usual. I talked to the supervisor. She was of NO HELP. I asked about how they can claim "Energy Star" compliance and she said "it is Energy Star compliant", litterally ignoring what I had said. Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. They replaced the entire door. Still does it. The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. |
#5
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Jun 18, 4:46*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote: Sorry to hear. I repair refrigerators, and some other appliances. Usually, Whirlpool are easy to repair, and the parts are reasonably priced. Sounds like they made a mess of this one. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus *www.lds.org . "Art Todesco" wrote in message ... Rant on ...... I got a new Whirlpool side by side fridge 2 years ago. *So, yesterday I was changing its horribly expensive water filter for the water and ice. *So I decided to check the condenser coils for cleaning. *To my amazement they were packed with dirt. *Now comes the good (actually bad) part. *While you can vacuum the front-most coil, where most to the dirt collects, all of the remaining coils are not cleanable. *Sure, you could tip the fridge on its side and get it from the bottom. *The coils are zig-zagged starting in front, going up at 45 degrees to the floor towards the rear. *As you go towards the rear the coils then go down at 45 degrees and so on. There are about 4 or so of these up and down coils. *The front-most coil blocks access to all the rear coils. *There's no room to get into the sides, only the bottom. *I looked at the manual and it says, "There is no need for routine condenser cleaning in normal home operating environments." * What? *I've never seen a condenser, even in the cleanest homes, that doesn't need periodic cleaning. Even my old built-in Kitchen Aid with the condenser on the top, needed cleaning. *How can they even claim Energy Star Compliance? I called they "Customer Experience" line. *I know why they call it that ... every time I have talked to them, it was literally an experience! *They were of NO HELP, as usual. *I talked to the supervisor. *She was of NO HELP. *I asked about how they can claim "Energy Star" compliance and she said "it is Energy Star compliant", litterally ignoring what I had said. *Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? *If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. *There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. *They replaced the entire door. *Still does it. * The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. *He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. *That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. I don't know that the way the Whirpool is built is so unusual. I have a two year old Kitchenaid side by side and while I can see the front of the coils, I also can't see any way to clean anything but a small portion. Which is somewhat understandable, since they have the coils underneath, not in the back where they were out in the open. My complaint is that they should then include a filter which is at the front and accessible. As for meeting Energy Star, that's easy to explain. There is a series of govt tests that must be met and AFAIK, they have nothing to do with the coils being accessible. How much impact having some dirt accumulate on the condenser over the years would make on efficiency is anyone's guess. |
#6
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:16:05 +0000 (UTC), "A. Baum"
wrote: On Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:25:34 -0400, Art Todesco wrote: snip Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. They replaced the entire door. Still does it. The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. Don't feel too bad. I bought a Sears Kenmore side by side with ice maker, front door water and ice dispenser and had nothing but trouble with it 3 years after purchase. Had the ice maker paddles replaced, door electronic controls replaced a couple times. Then I came home to a flooded kitchen floor one day. The electronics had decided to switch on the water dispenser. On inspection there were several fried components on the control board. I took this up with Sears and after just a week of arbitration received a $2200 credit with Sears to pick out any fridge I wanted. I found a nice Samsung over/under for $2100. Sears also payed for the water cleanup and damage to downstairs carpeting. So all in all I can't really bitch too much besides the horror of walking into a flooded kitchen and the week inconvenience of not having a fridge. Luckily I have an old Kenmore out in the garage for beer that served well in my time of need They don't make 'em like they used to. I replaced our GE top-freezer last year after the compressor seized. A 500 buck fridge lasting only 9 years. And the compressor was banging after 5-6 years. At least there was no maintenance. Plain Jane model. The new Kenmore bottom freezer was about $800 and I have no idea how long it will last. Seems they're all made in Mexico now, and the compressors are sealed units. Like you, I have a spare, but in the basement. A Westinghouse that has to be over 50 years old.. Single door with the small flap door freezer inside. Works every time, quietly. The one that failed had the same deal with most of the coils being unreachable. And I have dogs. Haven't tipped the new one yet to look at the coils. As Art said, you need compressed air. --Vic --Vic |
#7
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:16:05 +0000 (UTC), "A. Baum"
wrote: Don't feel too bad. I bought a Sears Kenmore side by side with ice maker, front door water and ice dispenser and had nothing but trouble with it 3 years after purchase. Had the ice maker paddles replaced, door electronic controls replaced a couple times. Then I came home to a flooded kitchen floor one day. The electronics had decided to switch on the water dispenser. On inspection there were several fried components on the control board. I took this up with Sears and after just a week of arbitration received a $2200 credit with Sears to pick out any fridge I wanted. I found a nice Samsung over/under for $2100. Sears also payed for the water cleanup and damage to downstairs carpeting. So all in all I can't really bitch too much besides the horror of walking into a flooded kitchen and the week inconvenience of not having a fridge. Luckily I have an old Kenmore out in the garage for beer that served well in my time of need In a time of great need, you can hire a Brit to drink warm beer for you. |
#8
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
I gave up on ice makers many years ago, I now have 6 trays and use filtered
water and never run out of ice. "Art Todesco" wrote in message ... Rant on ...... I got a new Whirlpool side by side fridge 2 years ago. So, yesterday I was changing its horribly expensive water filter for the water and ice. So I decided to check the condenser coils for cleaning. To my amazement they were packed with dirt. Now comes the good (actually bad) part. While you can vacuum the front-most coil, where most to the dirt collects, all of the remaining coils are not cleanable. Sure, you could tip the fridge on its side and get it from the bottom. The coils are zig-zagged starting in front, going up at 45 degrees to the floor towards the rear. As you go towards the rear the coils then go down at 45 degrees and so on. There are about 4 or so of these up and down coils. The front-most coil blocks access to all the rear coils. There's no room to get into the sides, only the bottom. I looked at the manual and it says, "There is no need for routine condenser cleaning in normal home operating environments." What? I've never seen a condenser, even in the cleanest homes, that doesn't need periodic cleaning. Even my old built-in Kitchen Aid with the condenser on the top, needed cleaning. How can they even claim Energy Star Compliance? I called they "Customer Experience" line. I know why they call it that ... every time I have talked to them, it was literally an experience! They were of NO HELP, as usual. I talked to the supervisor. She was of NO HELP. I asked about how they can claim "Energy Star" compliance and she said "it is Energy Star compliant", litterally ignoring what I had said. Luckily, I was able to drag the hose from the garage air compressor, up the stairs and blow out the coil .... everyone has an air compressor, right? If the house had a particularly greasy environment, I'm sure the air might not clean the further back. BTW, this isn't the only problem with this unit. There are many. The most frustrating one is that frost builds up in the ice maker. You have to chisel the ice build up and that's if you can remove the ice bucket/grinder. They replaced the entire door. Still does it. The authorized repair guy said that if this where a house with 5 kids and no AC he might expect this. He said that his engineering contact at WP told him, to tell the customer that it was the customers' responsibility to keep the parts free of ice build up. He told me he wouldn't tell HIS customers that, although in a round about way, he did. That's why he changed the entire door. Sorry for venting. |
#9
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Probably for appearance sake.
Filter in front would clog regularly, and rapidly. Most people would never clean the filter, as like most people never brush and vacuum the coils as it is. Filter would lead to more warranty calls, as the units overheat sooner. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. wrote in message ... My complaint is that they should then include a filter which is at the front and accessible. |
#10
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Vic Smith wrote:
They don't make 'em like they used to. [snip] Like you, I have a spare, but in the basement. A Westinghouse that has to be over 50 years old.. Single door with the small flap door freezer inside. Works every time, quietly. My fridge is a Sears Coldspot that I bought used when I bought my house over 20 years ago, and it is still running like a top. The only issue is that the evaporator coil drainage hose is disconnected somewhere, and the drippings end up in a little pan I keep in the fridge. I have the empty the little pan more often in the summer than in the winter, but that's par for the course, at least until (or if) I ever tear into the unit far enough to reconnect or unplug the hose. Jon |
#11
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
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#12
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
I have a side by side whirlpool fridge could no clean back coils got out my small electric leave blower putonhigh coils are nice and clean fridge working fine problem solved
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#13
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
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#14
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
It's been 5 years since Art posted his cleaning problem, so if he cleans it every 2 years he has cleaned it twice since his OP. He is still lurking in this group and has not posted about this particular problem again, so his air compressor must do the trick. He could tell us how he cleans up the dirt from the fridge/freezer that now is scattered all over his kitchen or wherever he keeps the freezer.....
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#15
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
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#16
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:03:53 -0400, Art Todesco
wrote: When I told the "WP Experience Center" (and it WAS an experience) that a refrigerator must be fault tolerant and must run 24/7/365, she told me that is worked as it should and that's it. I asked if they have it in their sales brochure, that it shuts down and spoils food ... no answer. I'm still working this one. More later. While you're working -- check into subrogation law, warranties and such. I have a friend that works for a subrogation law office. Interesting stuff. The lawyer once won a significant case (Millions) against appliance manufactures. |
#17
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Oren posted for all of us...
On Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:03:53 -0400, Art Todesco wrote: When I told the "WP Experience Center" (and it WAS an experience) that a refrigerator must be fault tolerant and must run 24/7/365, she told me that is worked as it should and that's it. I asked if they have it in their sales brochure, that it shuts down and spoils food ... no answer. I'm still working this one. More later. While you're working -- check into subrogation law, warranties and such. I have a friend that works for a subrogation law office. Interesting stuff. The lawyer once won a significant case (Millions) against appliance manufactures. Better call Saul... -- Tekkie |
#18
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
On Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at 8:19:38 AM UTC-4, wrote:
I have a side by side whirlpool fridge could no clean back coils got out my small electric leave blower putonhigh coils are nice and clean fridge working fine problem solved I've been trying to figure out how to clean these coils since I do not have a compressed air tank and I don't think that one of those cans of compressed air for cleaning electronics would be strong enough. But I do have a leaf blower that I think I will try tonight. But I am concerned that it will make a mess. Thanks |
#19
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
Have a Whirlpool French door/bottom drawer freezer. The coil set up is the zig zag rows described earlier. We take the front grill off, clean whats accessible with the crevice tool of the vaccum cleaner. Theres still tons of dust. We wet towels and wring them out pretty dry and place along the edges of the refrigerator (which is pulled out). With the back plate on the back unscrewed and tipped we put more wet towels along the floor where the dust is most likely to blow. Then we blow from the front to the back with a homemade compressed air bottle. Takes about three fills of air to do a good job. Replace back plate, replace grill, pick up wet towels with dust trapped in them, move refrigerator back, turn on. Repeat as needed ( once or twice a year). I like the leaf blower idea.
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#20
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Warning ... Whirlpool Fridge Unserviceable
danmaa... excellent idea with the damp towels and air compressor. When I suggested an air compressor to my husband he said it'll make a mess all over the kitchen.
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